Tottenham Hotspur are now keeping tabs on a young defender from Middlesbrough ahead of the summer who is being developed by Michael Carrick.
Further additions at centre-back is something with Ange Postecoglou has already discussed over recent weeks as one of his targets for the summer window.
“If you’re saying ‘is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at,” he said back in March.
Tottenham have already added Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin to their squad in Postecoglou’s first two transfer windows at the club.
However, the demand of playing a busier schedule next season in the new-look Europa League format will put a strain on Tottenham’s squad depth.
Having been knocked back in their pursuit of Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo in recent weeks, Spurs are being forced to look elsewhere in their search for a fourth-choice centre-back.
The Spurs News has spoken exclusively to HITC Football‘s Graeme Bailey to discuss one centre-back who is on Tottenham’s radar.
Tottenham keeping tabs on Middlesbrough youngster
Although Spurs have already added to their centre-back department over the last 12 months under Postecoglou, they have also seen some exit the club.
Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez have both moved on since Postecoglou’s appointment which has naturally stretched the numbers at times.
Spurs look set to miss out on Fulham’s Tosin with the centre-back looking for more guaranteed opportunities than what Spurs could offer him.
And with this in mind, Bailey has told The Spurs News that Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg is a player who Tottenham have a liking for.
“He’ll be one for the future. We know Spurs have got a very good eye for young talent, as we’ve seen,” Bailey said.
“Van den Berg is a terrific player. He can play right-back, central midfield, defence, Spurs have joined the chase. A lot of clubs like him and a lot of clubs have liked him before he went to Boro; Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Brentford liked him. He’s more for the future, though.”
“If someone offered Boro £15m now, they’d probably get him.”
Rav van den Berg could even be an upgrade on Ashley Phillips
Spurs also added Ashley Phillips last summer and the England youth international has enjoyed a successful loan away at Plymouth Argyle in the Championship.
However, Bailey has admitted he thinks Van den Berg would potentially arrive at Spurs as a more prominent option for Postecoglou to use in his senior side.
“I think he’s probably better than Ashley Phillips. So would he come in ahead of him? Possibly,” Bailey added.
Statistics via FBRef.
The defender would also come with the approval of former Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick who brought him to the Riverside.
With a full season now under his belt in the Championship, Carrick has admitted he has been seriously impressed with what he has seen.
“I just think his presence was a big factor for us. He’s commanding and he’s comfortable in the right way. He’s been terrific all season, really,” Carrick told TeesideLive back in March.