Tottenham round-up: Valencia right-back linked; Pochettino insists signings will happen; Chiellini praises 20-goal striker

Add as preferred source on Google

According to reports surfacing from the Daily Mail, Tottenham have now joined last year’s Champions League finalists Juventus in a race for Valencia’s talented right-back Joao Cancelo.

Mauricio Pochettino is currently experiencing a mini-crisis in the right-back role, with Kyle Walker leaving for Manchester City and Kieran Trippier – expected to be first-choice – injured on Saturday.

This potentially leaves inexperienced 20-year-old Kyle Walker-Peters as their only natural option ahead of their Premier League opener with Newcastle on Sunday, and the realisation that he needs to invest in his defence has perhaps sparked the Argentine’s interest in the 23-year-old Cancelo.

The north London side will face stiff competitions in Juventus though, with it believed that the Old Lady have been long-term admirers of the Valencia man and are willing to pay £25 million to get him.

It is understood that Tottenham sent scouts to watch Cancelo play for Portugal back in early June.

Speculation of a move for Cancelo comes just a day after Pochettino claimed that he’s currently working on ‘a few signings’ before the summer transfer window closes on August 31.

Tottenham are the only team in the Premier League yet to make a signing so far in the close season, with the only movement of note being the aforementioned Walker’s £50 million switch to rivals Manchester City.

But talking to the Standard, Pochettino remained upbeat: “We are working, trying to add some players to the squad.

“Our idea was, the same as before, to try to provide the team with more strength and try to sign a few players before the end of the transfer window.”

Tottenham finished their pre-season preparations on Saturday with their first match of the year at their new home Wembley Stadium, seeing off Juventus 2-0 courtesy of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

Completely away from transfer news, Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has labelled Tottenham striker Harry Kane as one of the ‘very best in Europe’ in an interview with Italian press.

The veteran Juventus defender – who enjoyed an exceptional season last year as Juventus reached the Champions League final – also claimed that Kane would be a ‘very big loss’ should he ever leave the club.

Speaking to Football Italia after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Spurs, Chiellini said: “I played one time [against Kane] in a friendly match for the national team. I think he’s one of the best in Europe.

“He’s the best striker in England. I think he continues to improve himself year on year, he can join up [play], he [likes] working in the box and working behind the ball.”

The 23-year-old striker put himself Europe’s elite last season on his way to winning the Premier League Golden Boot, being one of only five players to have scored 20 plus in each of the past three seasons.