In January, Tottenham Hotspur will be seeking to recruit a new central defender, as manager Ange Postecoglou acknowledges their thin backline. The return of Argentina’s Christian Romero from suspension has helped to alleviate their issues, but centre backs Micky van der Ven, Ashley Phillips, and Eric Dier are all injured.
Wales full back Ben Davies has been filling in, but Postecoglou believes that this area needs reinforcement.
“I thought Ben Davies was outstanding (in Sunday’s win against Newcastle United). He’s getting a run of games,” Postecoglou told reporters ahead of Friday’s Premier League visit to lowly Nottingham Forest.
“We’ve got to be mindful he’s not a centre-back and he’s growing into that role. Ultimately we need to sign another centre-back though because at the moment we’re on tenterhooks in case something else happens.”
Tottenham ended a five-game winless streak with a 4-1 defeat of visiting Newcastle, and they are well-positioned in fifth place as they prepare to face 16th-placed Forest.
Several players are still unavailable due to injury, including forwards James Maddison and Manor Solomon, as well as midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. There was another setback this week with Giovani Lo Celso’s absence from the trip to the Midlands on Friday.
“Unfortunately, he got a bit of a niggle at training, I don’t know what it is, but he missed training today so he’s not available tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious,” Postecoglou said.
A victory would bring Tottenham level on 33 points with fourth-placed champions Manchester City. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
