Ricardo Pereira could have saved Tottenham so much pain.
The Portugal international was on our list of possible Kyle Walker replacements in 2017, but we failed to strike a deal with Porto.
The Independent understands that Daniel Levy balked at a £22m release clause that Yet another classic tale from the Master Angler’s “The One That Got Away” file for Tottenham fans. According to Sport via The Daily Mail Daniel Levy managed to fail to sign another star that could have made our first-team squad a better outfit that it is. Ricardo has fully justified with his form as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs for Leicester City, whom he joined a year later.
In the meantime, we have had to endure the nightmare that was Kieran Trippier’s final season and Serge Aurier’s revolving door syndrome.
But might we get a second shot at Pereira that we don’t deserve? It’s a second shot that rumoured to cost some £30million.
Belgian outlet Sport/Foot reports that Leicester have been scouting their native Timothy Castagne, who plays in Italy for Atalanta, as a contingency plan in case they lose Pereira when the transfer window reopens.
Leicester brought in James Justin from Luton Town as the 26-year-old’s understudy last summer so aren’t short of cover in this position. If they are to buy another right-back, if would be a case of one in and one out.
The Leicester Mercury adds that the Foxes are expecting high levels of interest in Pereira. Spurs are no closer to replacing Walker than we were in 2017 and should be among the suitors if he becomes available this summer.
However, my fear is that Pereria has now become out of our reach.
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I suspect this is another rumour without legs. As you said, we could have easily bought him from Porto three years ago but our fax machine probably broke. He is just another player that we could have recruited who was good value and the right age at the time, but he can be added to the list of very good players that our world famous negotiator failed to sign. There is a recurring theme to this which beggars belief. Why would any DoF or scout want to work for Spurs when, having identified a target to improve the team, you know that your advice will be ignored? Never mind, we have world class facilities and the highest paid chairman in the PL to soften the blow to the supporters who have had one piece of silverware in twenty years under the custody of our beloved and much loved leader.
No serious football team can afford to have a right back that can’t and won’t defend and worse has the effrontery to expect other players to do his job for him, I don’t care if he scores an occasional goal or puts in the odd decent cross, get rid.