Tottenham face having to ‘dig deep’ to sign January target as club up price tag | Football | Sport
Tottenham must reportedly ‘dig deep’ to sign transfer target Koki Machida in the January transfer window, it has been claimed. Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise have allegedly increased their valuation of the defender to a ‘hefty’ figure.
Spurs are desperate to sign another defender in January. Cristian Romero’s impressive partnership with Micky van de Ven has been curtailed until the new year after the latter suffered a serious hamstring injury.
As part of a deepening injury crisis at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Van de Ven will be absent until early 2024. Young defender Ashley Phillips has also been ruled out through injury, while Eric Dier appears to be out of favour under Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs started last weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa with a back four made up of natural full-backs. It has prompted the north Londoners to seek reinforcements ahead of the winter market.
It is claimed that Postecoglou is eyeing a move for USG star Machida, whose rise to prominence has seen him become a key player in his first full season in European football. However, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that USG are not prepared to sell the centre-back for less than £12.8million (€15m).
The publication describes that figure as a ‘hefty’ fee for a player who at 26 has played just one year in Europe. Machida has spent most of his career at Japanese outfit Kashima Antlers, joining USG in an initial loan agreement in January. The move was made permanent in the summer.
But Machida could earn a fairytale move to one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs if Spurs turn their interest into a January offer. Postecoglou could pursue a deal as part of his efforts to strengthen his defence.
However, the Australian insists his side’s injury issues have not intensified the pressure to spend in January. Asked about absences changing his plans, Postecoglou said: “No more desire [than there was already].
“We’ve had one transfer window. I don’t think anyone would have said we’ll get everything we need to get done in one transfer window.
“We had a really positive window in terms of the players we brought in all made an impact, we’ve got obviously a couple who are injured at the moment, but there’s no denying all the players we’ve brought in have made a massive impact to the football club. That was stage one.
“Sometimes, circumstances mean that you get to test things that you otherwise you may not have had to if we hadn’t had all the injuries so I’m giving the other players an opportunity to see where they fit in, give them the opportunity to be part of what we are trying to build here. That’s the point we’re in right now.”
