Tottenham have identified a player from Serie A to replace Joao Palhinha in midfield.
Tottenham Hotspur’s position in the Premier League is looking more precarious than ever ahead of the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. They lie 18th in the table, two points adrift of the drop zone, with new boss Roberto De Zerbi tasting defeat in his debut game in charge at Sunderland.
Spurs remain without a Premier League win since beating Crystal Palace on December 28, and they need a huge turnaround in form in their final six matches, starting against Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton in North London. While De Zerbi’s primary focus is on keeping the club in the top flight, club bosses have started planning for the summer transfer window.
Reports over recent weeks have claimed that Spurs will not turn Joao Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich into a permanent deal. This comes after Palhinha’s indifferent form since the turn of the year. Also, Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are linked with moves away from N17, whereas Yves Bissouma’s time appears to be up at Tottenham.
Amid the uncertain futures of several players, Tottenham are planning to raid the Serie A market for a central midfielder.
Tottenham consider move for Juventus midfielder
According to a report from Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (h/t Tuttosport), Tottenham are keeping close tabs on Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram.
Khephren Thuram has performed well for Juventus this season. He has been a mainstay in the side under coach Luciano Spalletti, but the Juventus management does not deem him ‘untouchable’. As a result, the Turin giants could decide to sell the Frenchman in the summer to comply with the FFP rules, especially if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Having signed the 25-year-old in a €20 million deal from OGC Nice in 2024, Thuram’s market value has only doubled since then. So, Juventus could gain solid capital from his sale and reinvest in the transfer market to reinforce their squad.
Tottenham are understood to be weighing up a move for the France international, having identified him as the right profile to bolster their midfield unit. In De Zerbi’s system, Spurs need an anchor in midfield who will not only screen the backline but also help in controlling the tempo of play and progress the ball. Despite being a defensive midfielder, Thuram possesses the skill set to make the team tick over. Plus, he has strong experience in competing at a high level in French and Italian football.
The former OGC Nice star would be an upgrade on Palhinha, who will leave the club when his loan expires. However, Tottenham’s ability to push ahead with a move for Thuram will depend on whether they secure their Premier League status.