Here are the Tottenham Hotspur morning headlines for Saturday, August 15.
Spurs tracking trio as potential Aurier replacement
Tottenham Hotspur have identified three potential candidates to replace Serge Aurier, according to The Athletic.
With Aurier’s future uncertain amid reports linking the Ivorian with AC Milan, Spurs are reportedly keeping a close eye on Norwich City’s Max Aarons, Atalanta’s Timothy Castagne and Lille’s Zeki Celik.
Aarons, 20, is firmly established as Norwich’s first-choice right-back having started all but two of the club’s 2019/20 Premier League games as the Canaries suffered relegation back to the Championship.
Castagne, 24, can operate at either right or left-back and has caught the eye as part of Gian Piero Gasperini’s free-scoring Atalanta side this term, while Celik, a 14-time Turkey international, has been with Lille since 2018.
Spurs must offload Aurier before Celik move
Spurs will need to sell Aurier before completing a move for Celik, however, as per Bleacher Report.
Although AC Milan have been heavily linked with Aurier, the Italians are reportedly unwilling to meet Tottenham’s £20million asking price, valuing the 27-year-old at closer to £13m.
Aurier, who signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £23m in 2017, has enjoyed his best run in the starting line-up under Jose Mourinho, managing 31 Premier League starts last season.
Selling Aurier and replacing him with Celik would still leave Mourinho short of natural options on the right side of his defence, although Juan Foyth and Japhet Tanganga can play there if needed.
Vertonghen joins Benfica after leaving Spurs
Former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has joined Benfica on a three-year deal.
The 33-year-old finalised his move to the Lisbon giants on Friday after leaving Spurs at the expiry of his contract.
Vertonghen made more than 300 appearances for the north Londoners during an eight-year spell at the club, including the 2019 Champions League final defeat by Liverpool.
The Belgian hopes to help Benfica qualify for next season’s Champions League group stages, with the Portuguese side facing a third qualifying round tie.
Benfica have also signed German striker Luca Waldschmidt from Freiburg and Gremio forward Everton.
