Ange Postecoglou is confident of making £25million Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven the fifth signing of his Spurs revamp.
The 57-year-old Australian has prioritised rebuilding the team's defence after their abysmal showings over the last two campaigns. Van de Ven, a 22-year-old left-sided centre-back, has impressed at Wolfsburg.
His arrival would finally address a problem position for successive managers in the white half of north London. Crucially for Spurs, he is keen on the move despite interest in him from elsewhere.
It leaves them in a good position as the Dutchman is one of two defenders they are keen on. The other is Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen. But while 24-year-old Tapsoba is the more ready-made of the two, he’d cost around double the fee Spurs would have to pay for the promising Van de Van.
Postecoglu has already moved swiftly to break up the side that underachieved so spectacularly under Antonio Conte and then Ryan Mason. After confirming the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario came in for £15m from Empoli to replace the long-serving Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham's capture of James Maddison from Leicester for £40m took their summer outlay soaring towards the £90m mark. And they are poised to add bargain winger Manor Solomon following his impressive loan spell at Fulham last month.
The left-sided forward, 23, made 24 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, netting five goals in that time, including four consecutive league games in February and March.
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Solomon has returned to Shakhtar Donetsk after his spell at Craven Cottage finished at the end of the season. His contract with the Ukrainian side runs until December 31, but Spurs will sign him on a free thanks to a FIFA ruling.
Ever since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, football’s world governing body has allowed foreign players in Ukraine to leave as free agents.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou has revealed that he will sit down and speak with Harry Kane about his future amid speculation he could join Bayern Munich. Spurs have rejected a £70m bid from Bayern for Kane and Postecoglou hopes to persuade him to stay put.
“No, I haven’t had any assurances and I wouldn’t expect any assurances. For me I am trying to concentrate on what I know now and Harry is part of the squad,” he said.
“I don’t think it is my role to sit there and sort of treat people in a manner because of their circumstances. I am big on treating everyone the same. Harry is already part of the history of this club and I want him involved here. My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful and that is what he wants as well."
