Tottenham Hotspur have one midfielder arriving this summer but are still looking for further additions to Ange Postecoglou’s engine room.
All focus is on Premier League action right now as Tottenham’s push for Champions League action has taken a hit.
Spurs lost 4-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday and the lack of intensity in midfield was real concern.
Yves Bissouma hasn’t been at his best for a while now and most fans would expect to see Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso move on this summer.
Lucas Bergvall will start his Tottenham career this summer having agreed to join from Djurgarden, but the teenager will need time to adjust in the Premier League.
We have seen the likes of Conor Gallagher linked for months now and rumours in recent days suggested that Spurs want the Chelsea ace snapped up before pre-season starts.
Tottenham could look a little further afield though with one target now emerging ahead of the summer window…
Tottenham want Heorhiy Sudakov
Shakhtar Donetsk ace Heorhiy Sudakov is believed to be a target for Spurs this summer.
Reporter Ben Jacobs has told Caught Offside that Tottenham are ‘seriously considering’ a move to sign Sudakov this summer.
It’s suggested that whilst Gallagher is wanted, scouting reports inside Tottenham have shown Sudakov to be a great fit for Postecoglou’s approach.
Sudakov primarily plays as an attacking midfielder but has also featured in central midfield and out wide.
The 21-year-old has bagged seven goals and three assists in all competitions this season and compared himself to James Maddison earlier this season.
Sudakov told The Telegraph that he compares his style of play to Maddison’s whilst also seeing shades of Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
That is a hugely exciting proposition and it’s no great surprise that Tottenham are eyeing such a player to boost Postecoglou’s midfield.
Tottenham relations with Shakhtar
One factor we must point out here is the ongoing situation between Tottenham and Sudakov’s club, Shakhtar Donetsk.
Tottenham snapped up winger Manor Solomon last summer as his contract with Shakhtar came to an end.
The wide man had previously suspended his deal in order to join Fulham thanks to special dispensation from FIFA following the conflict in Ukraine.
Shakhtar have demanded compensation from Tottenham but chief executive Sergei Palkin told ESPN that Spurs offered ‘peanuts’ for Solomon.
Palkin added that there was ‘a sense of disrespect’ in Tottenham’s offers and appealed to Daniel Levy to ‘act in good faith’ and pay a fair fee.
That stand-off with Shakhtar may well be a problem for Tottenham in any pursuit of Sudakov, with the Ukrainian side potentially reluctant to deal with Spurs after this lengthy Solomon problem.
If Tottenham are really keen to land Sudakov, it may be worth sorting out the Solomon situation first and ensuring that relations with Shakhtar are maintained and possibly even repaired – or Spurs could miss out.