Ange Postecoglou deployed two separate teams for each half of Spurs’ pre-season clash against Hearts with a lack of centre-backs meaning the Australian didn’t name a single one in the starting XI. However, the position isn’t a priority for Tottenham this summer.
Central defence was an issue in the first half of the 2023/24 season as injuries to both Cristian Romero and Micky Van De Ven left Postecoglou with the choice of either starting a youth defender or shoehorning a full-back into a more central role.
The Tottenham manager went for the latter, incredibly, playing a back line of four full-backs at one point – Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, and Destiny Udogie. Spurs addressed the issue in January by signing Romanian international, Radu Dragusin, for £26.7 million. (Sky Sports)
The involvement however of Dragusin, Romero and Van De Ven in this summer’s national tournaments has left Postecoglou with only Ashley Phillips as the only recognised central defender this pre-season.
An update provided by Sky Sports states that while other clubs at Newcastle are seeking another central defender this summer, Tottenham don’t currently consider the position a priority.
The news is in spite of Ange Postecoglou’s comments towards the latter stages of the 23/24 season where the Australian stated: “If you’re saying, ‘is it an area we can strengthen?’ [central defence] Yes, it’s probably an area we will look at.” (Football.London)
Caveating the statement later by explaining: “I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That’s planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.”
Spurs Web opinion
Signing a fourth, or fifth if you count Ashley Phillips, centre-back is a difficult scenario to manage. It will be hard to agree a deal with a player who is good enough for the role, but also willing to play hardly any games.
It’s also understandable that Tottenham may not want to fork out a large fee for a player that Is likely to be merely a second back-up option.
Personally, I believe Phillips will be playing the fourth centre-back role next season, and even then, that decision will likely hamper the ex-Blackburn defender’s development.
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