Tottenham are planning to table an offer for AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea and West Ham.
The Brazilian international, 24, has been a key player in AS Roma’s success in the last two years under Jose Mourinho. He enjoyed a strong 2022-23 campaign, making 48 appearances across all competitions and helping Jose Mourinho’s side reach the Europa League final where they were beaten by Sevilla in a penalty shootout.
Roger Ibanez’s form has caught the attention of Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham. It is believed that Roma would be willing to sell him this summer to help fund their own transfer plans, as Mourinho looks to challenge for the Scudetto next term. The fee quoted for the 24-year-old centre-back is €30m.
Tottenham are reportedly leading Chelsea and West Ham in the race for Ibanez’s signature. However, they do not want to pay €30m, instead, the north Londoners are aiming to sign him for around €20m.
Roger Ibanez would be a good buy for Spurs
Tottenham’s new boss Ange Postecoglou is keen on strengthening his team’s defence ahead of next season. The Australian manager is not satisfied with the number of options Spurs have and wants to bring in more quality. He is planning to make multiple changes to his backline, with the club ready to listen to offers for Davinson Sanchez.
Clement Lenglet has returned to Barcelona following the expiry of his loan spell, leaving Spurs with only Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Sanchez as senior centre-back options. And with Dier underperforming in the last few years and Romero susceptible to injuries, Postecoglou is right in wanting to reinforce the heart of Tottenham’s rearguard.
And, the profile of Roger Ibanez seems to be an ideal fit for Tottenham. Ibanez has been a key defender for Roma in the last two seasons, racking up 99 appearances combined. Standing at 6ft 1ins tall, the Brazilian is incredibly physical and aerially strong while being composed on the ball. He is agile for someone of that stature and could form a strong partnership with Romero in Spurs’ central defence.
The ex-Atalanta man is a good reader of the game and a tenacious tackler as well. Going by his profile, Ibanez seems to tick all the boxes Postecoglou wants in his new-look defence. If Spurs can negotiate a fee of around €20m-€25m for Ibanez, it would represent one of the best transfer deals in their history.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
