Tottenham are now being viewed as the main competition to Liverpool to snap up Braga defender David Carmo this summer.
Recent reports suggest that Anfield scouts have watched Carmo on seven separate occasions this season and are ready to trigger his £34million exit clause, if they opt to cash in on Joe Gomez.
The Reds acted swiftly to beat Spurs to the signing of winger Luis Diaz in January. But it looks like the north London club are now trying to return the favour.
The report in the Daily Mirror states that Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund are the biggest rivals to Liverpool in the chase for the centre-back.
Carmo is a left-sided central defender deemed as a perfect fit for Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system. At 6ft 5in he is also a dangerous presence from set-pieces and could replace Ben Davies at Spurs.
The 22-year-old has already played more than 50 times for Braga despite his young age and would allow Davies to become cover at centre-back and left wing-back in Conte’s squad.
Tottenham are also known to have identified Freiburg star Nico Schlotterbeck for the role. However, that’s where the chase for Carmo gets interesting, as Dortmund also want Schlotterbeck.
The Bundesliga giants are expected to land one of the two players, which leaves the door open to Tottenham for the other.
The Mirror adds that Carmo can be bought for as little as £20m, despite mention of his £34m release clause.
Liverpool chase for Carmo an unlikely one
At this stage, it’s also hard to envisage Liverpool pursuing their chase for the player.
Jurgen Klopp already has Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez to call on. And even if Gomez leaves, Carmo is not a like-for-like swap, given that he is left-sided.
Gomez is known to be target for Aston Villa. However, Klopp loves the player and would have been impressed with his excellent display when starting against Newcastle on Saturday.
As for Tottenham, Conte is expected to bring in at least one new centre-back this summer, with the potential of two new wing-backs also on the agenda.
Carmo would certainly fit the bill, it just remains to be seen which sway a potential summer transfer goes.
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