Report: Tottenham and Leicester eye Ajax defender

Add as preferred source on Google

Italian outlet AS Roma Live have claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are rivalling Leicester City among other sides for Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui, ahead of the January transfer window.

Mazraoui, 21, broke into the Ajax side on a regular basis last season – appearing mainly on the right side of the defence but also at left-back and in holding midfield. He clocked up 48 of his 64 senior outings last term, scoring four and laying on five.

He was a crucial part of the Ajax side, helping Erik ten Haag’s men complete the league and cup double as well as reaching the Champions League semi-final, where they were unlucky not to reach the final – being knocked out by Lucas Moura’s hat-trick.

Indeed, the four-time Morocco international played in 11 of Ajax’s 12 Champions League matches last season – starting eight. But this season, injury has limited his game time – managing just eight league and cup outings. He has a contract until 2022.

TBR’s view – Mazraoui could solve Tottenham’s right-back woes

Certainly, Mazraoui is an excellent right-back with enormous potential. Given regular first-team football, he can become one of Europe’s best right-backs and indeed, his form was of that standard last season.

At Leicester, Mazraoui would struggle to get past Ricardo Pereira, who has become one of the Premier League’s best right-sided defenders. But Serge Aurier is far below the quality Mazraoui showed during 2018-19.

Signing the defender would finally solve Tottenham’s right-back woes, following the questionable decision to sell Kieran Trippier. AS Roma and Valencia are also interested.