Former Tottenham target has gone in a strange direction

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Midfielder Tonny Vilhena has completed a surprise move to Russian side Krasnodar – just six months after being linked with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Dutch international has agreed a five-year deal with the club, having spent 16 years at Feyenoord.

The 24-year-old played 258 games for the Rotterdam-based club, and departs for a transfer fee of around €9 million (£8 million) as reported by Football Oranje.

Vilhena had suggested he would leave the club earlier in the season, when he talked up the idea of a new challenge and making a ‘step up’ (via Football Oranje).

It is interesting, then, that Vilhena has made the move he has, when Tottenham Hotspur had apparently expressed interest in him in late 2018.

TBR’s view

As reported on by Calciomercato, Spurs were intrigued about the idea of signing Vilhena as a possible replacement for Mousa Dembele, who would leave the club in January 2019.

There was also some interest from Roma, and at the time Vilhena was playing really well for Feyenoord.

It is therefore quite odd to see him signing for Krasnodar given the apparent interest in him only six months ago, and even stranger taking into account the player’s own comments about wanting to step up.

One has to question Vilhena’s motives for such a left-field move. Perhaps Spurs have had a lucky escape not following up their reported interest as they continue to work on deals for Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele for big money.