Fabio Paratici and Tottenham have a golden chance to start planning ahead once 2022 comes to a close. The opening of the January transfer window will hand Spurs the opportunity to strengthen their current squad and also plot potential summer deals.
Rules allow clubs to start discussing contracts for the following season with players outside of their country who are entering the final six months of their deals. Paratici is a master in this area having done so numerous times during his Juventus spell and then luring Ivan Perisic to Tottenham on a free transfer at the end of May.
Centre-back is one position that Tottenham could look to upgrade either in January or next summer as it's clear to see that another quality addition or two would help the backline hit the next level. So which players out of contract next summer could Spurs start talking to come January? football.london has a look at three possible options.
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Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan)
Tottenham fans know all about Skriniar after they failed to clinch a deal for the Slovakian during the 2020 summer transfer window. A player who would have helped improve Jose Mourinho's Spurs backline, a move never came to fruition despite talks as Tottenham were not willing to meet Inter's big demands for the centre-back as they held out for around £45million.
Tipped to move to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of this term, Skriniar still remains at the San Siro but his current contract runs out at the end of the campaign. A potential signing for £45m 18 months ago, Spurs could get the 27-year-old for nothing if they want to move for him and can wrap up a deal in the first few months of 2023.
Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
Staying at the San Siro, Inter Milan have another defender in De Vrij who has been linked with a move to Tottenham in the past. A player Conte knows very well from his time with the Nerazzurri, the Dutchman would bring a host of experience to the Tottenham backline after excelling on the big stage for club and country during his career.
De Vrij may turn 31 in February but that shouldn't be a reason to look elsewhere as Tottenham did opt for the experience of Perisic in the summer. A member of the Netherlands 2022 World Cup squad, De Vrij has started 11 of Inter's 15 Serie A games so far this campaign.
Evan Ndicka (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Ndicka is going to find himself in the headlines fairly regularly over the next few months as talk over an Eintracht Frankfurt exit gathers pace. Tottenham are one of a number of clubs who have been linked with the 23-year-old, with teams such as Roma and Newcastle United also mentioned as well.
Making a big name for himself in the Bundesliga at Frankfurt with his impressive displays at the back, Spurs fans should be familiar with the player after he featured in both Champions League games against Tottenham this campaign. Rated at £27.6m by Transfermarkt, the left-footed centre-back would be an absolute steal on a free transfer as his valuation in the future will only increase if he continues to go from strength to strength.
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