- Exclusive with Graeme Bailey
Tottenham are again looking at a young, talented defender from the Championship.
Spurs haven’t been afraid of dipping into the Championship in recent years as they’ve signed the likes of Ashley Phillips from Blackburn Rovers and Djed Spence from Middlesbrough.
Now, Spurs are looking at another young defender from Middlesbrough in the shape of Rav van den Berg.
Tottenham want Rav van den Berg
TBR Football understands that Tottenham Hotspur are showing an interest in Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg.
The 19-year-old joined Boro last season from PEC Zwolle and he enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign, and was named the Teesside club’s Player of the Year.
Van den Berg had interest from the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund prior to joining Boro – but now interest is again hotting up in the Dutch Under-21 star.
TBR understands Boro do not want to sell the defender, but like most Championship clubs, they would not be in a position to reject a sizeable offer, as was evidenced when they sold Morgan Rogers to Aston Villa in January.
TBR understands that Tottenham are weighing up an offer for Van den Berg after doing their homework on him – but they are not alone. Milan and Dortmund remain keen.
There is also other Premier League interest with Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Everton and West Ham United also keeping tabs on his situation.
Tottenham’s young defensive stars
Van den Berg would be the latest in a long list of young defensive stars to come to Tottenham.
Micky Van de Ven and Radu Dragusin are only young in the first-team, while Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorringhton have been tipped for big things in the youth team.
Add into that the fact that Luka Vuskovic is set to join the club next year, and you have a healthy stable of exciting young players.
Described as a ‘terrific’ player by Michael Carrick, Van den Berg is an exciting prospect, and Spurs could have a potential gem on their hands if they got this deal over the line.