Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly opened talks with AS Roma over the signing of Roger Ibanez.
That’s according to Italian outlet Roma Giallorossa, which claims that Ange Postecoglou is a huge admirer of the defender.
Spurs are in desperate need of major surgery on their backline after a difficult campaign in the Premier League.
Tottenham shipped an alarming total of 63 goals in the league, more than any other side in the top half of the table.
Postecoglou is expected to target reinforcements in central defence after penning a four-year deal with Spurs last week. And it seems that Roma’s Roger Ibanez is of interest to Tottenham.
Tottenham move for Ibanez
Roma Giallorossa reports that talks between the Serie A outfit and Tottenham have intensified, with Spurs expected to make an offer for Ibanez in the coming days.
The Brazilian centre-back has just two years left on his current deal and is expected to be sold in the coming weeks.
Jose Mourinho’s side are demanding a fee between £25 million and £30 million.
It’s noted that Ange Postecoglou is a huge admirer of Ibanez and despite interest from West Ham, Tottenham are more keen on signing him.
Ibanez has been ever-present under former Spurs boss Mourinho this season and has proven himself as a solid defender in Italy.
He’s been lauded as the ‘perfect’ centre-back and at just 24, he looks set to have a bright future ahead of him.
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Plenty of areas will require Postecoglou’s attention this summer, but none are more pressing than the need to bring in at least two central defenders.
Whether or not Ibanez is the answer to Tottenham’s defensive problems remains to be seen.
Spurs are clearly intent on upgrading their options in the position and have already been linked with the likes of Harry Maguire and Marc Guehi.
Ibanez would represent more of a risk than the two previous names mentioned, but he’s highly-rated in Italy.
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