Tottenham identify ideal Ben Davies replacement in new Argentina international with giant release clause
Tottenham may have found an ideal replacement for one of their veteran stars.
Tottenham are being linked with a move for a defender who is attracting attention in South America. Spurs were caught out at the back due to a lack of depth last season, with centre-back injury issues costing them dearly.
Tottenham currently have Ben Davies and Kevin Danso behind starters Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, while Radu Dragusin is likely to return from his long-term injury in the coming weeks.
Davies is likely to leave at the end of the season, though, with the veteran’s contract set to expire with a renewal not likely due to his age and naturally slipping ability to play at this level.
That could mean Spurs dip into the market to find a replacement, either in January or the summer, and the latest player to be linked is River Plate talent Lautaro Rivero, who has been dazzling in Argentina despite the club suffering a dip this season.
According to El Intransigente, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid are interested in a move for the defender, who is just 21 years of age. River Plate are well aware of his talent, tying him down to a release clause worth £87.1million, but the report claims the Argentine club would likely have to cash in at significantly below that, and they have a fear that a sizable offer could come in for their quickly ascending defender.
Rivero actually won his first Argentina cap on Wednesday night when he played in a friendly for the World Cup champions. Rivero has made 30 appearances for River Plate across all competitions this season. Crucially, Rivero is a left-footed centre-back, like Davies, which can be hard to come by, leading to a premium being placed on transfer fees.
It will be interesting to see if Spurs do make a move, and whether they look to get ahead of Davies’ departure in January or whether they wait until the summer to find a replacement for the much-loved veteran.
Your next Tottenham read, Who Is Fabio Paratici? Tottenham job, FIFA ban and best transfers