Tottenham Hotspur could target Marc Guehi in the future after an interesting transfer claim emerged this week…
What’s the word?
According to the ever-reliable Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic, Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici is a big fan of the Crystal Palace centre-back.
“So Guehi they really like. Paratici definitely really likes Marc Guehi,” the journalist revealed during a recent appearance on The Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.
“There is a guy that is young, English, homegrown, plays for England and he can play along the backline. He’s a fantastic player and there’s a lot of upside to him.”
Pitt-Brooke also suggested that the Eagles won’t get pushed around to sell him as they have no need to with the England international under contract for another four years but it could be a potential signing to look out for in the next couple of windows and beyond.
Guehi would be colossal for Spurs
The Lilywhites have bolstered Antonio Conte’s squad with a trio of defensive additions, including that of Clement Lenglet, who has joined on a season-long loan from FC Barcelona.
He becomes the only left-footed central defender at the club, so you can see why the Italian wanted a signing there. But they continue to be linked to other options, ranging from Pau Torres of Villarreal to RB Leipzig gem Josko Gvardiol.
Should Spurs make a move for Guehi?
Although Spurs have another problem brewing at Hotspur Way and that’s with their homegrown quota, something that Guehi would help fix.
The likes of Japhet Tanganga and Harry Winks are expected to leave the club before deadline day on September 1st and that would mean that Conte is a further two players short when it comes to registering English talent.
Guehi, who came through the system at Chelsea, would be a like-for-like replacement in the registration list to either of the departing duo. His experience and performances for Palace also highlight why he’d be a solid signing.
Only three players registered a better WhoScored rating over at Selhurst Park, which suggests that Guehi was a mark of consistency under Patrick Vieira.
He also registered 1.62 interceptions, and 1.28 blocks per 90, via FBref, who have compared his statistical profile to that of Torres and even Leonardo Bonucci – a stalwart of Juventus and the Italian national team and someone that Conte has managed before.
Guehi’s former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik once dubbed the 6-foot colossus an “absolute tank” and claimed that he was “massive,” only adding to the reasons why Spurs should make their move.
The Englishman is currently valued at a whopping €70m (£60m) by CIES Football Observatory, who assess the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis, so it’s clear that he wouldn’t come cheap but then again, proven homegrown Premier League players never do.
Whether it be this summer or next, the north Londoners must put Guehi high on their wishlist as he would be quite the coup indeed.
AND in other news, Paratici could seal bargain 7th signing in “special” dynamo, won’t cost Spurs a penny…
