Report: Spurs working to sign 'the perfect defender in the making', £26m price tag

Tottenham Hotspur are once again being linked with Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

Links between Spurs and the Brazilian powerhouse go back nearly two years.

Now, ahead of the summer transfer window, speculation linking Tottenham and Ibanez is doing the rounds again.

According to Giallorossi.net, via Sport Witness, Spurs and Newcastle United are in the picture for the 24-year-old.

Roma chief Tiago Pinto is apparently looking to raise €60m from sales this summer.

He hopes to achieve this by selling two players, and Ibanez is one of those, according to the report.

Tottenham, Newcastle and Atletico Madrid are all keeping tabs on the 6ft 1in defender, who can also play in midfield.

All three are ‘making concrete moves’ to secure Ibanez’s services in the summer, added Giallorossi.net.

Spurs – or the Magpies or Los Colchoneros – can reportedly expect to pay around €30m (£25m) for the Roma ace.

Our view

Tottenham could certainly do with bolstering their ranks this summer, particularly in defence.

The Spurs back line has been far from watertight and led the side down far too often.

With that in mind, a player like Ibanez would be a great shout for Spurs.

In 2021, Chiesa Di Totti waxed lyrical about Ibanez in an in-depth scouting article.

“Strong? Yup. Fast? You bet. Technical? Mhmm,” they wrote.

“Roger Ibanez is the perfect defender in the making, and the second best U-23 player in Rome.”

They added that he “has what it takes to become a once-in-a-generation defender.”

And for just £25m, that’s hardly going to break the bank for a top Premier League club with high ambitions.

However, Tottenham need to be mindful of the strong competition they could have for Ibanez’s services.

After all, Newcastle look like they could go on to become a Premier League force, thanks to their financial muscle and fanbase.

And Atletico are always going to be in and around the La Liga title race as well as competing in the Champions League.