The Boy Hotspur’s Substack understands that Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a winter move for Udinese’s 25-year-old centre-back Oumar Solet. The club want fresh competition for the Micky van de Ven/Cristian Romero pairing, and speculation around a possible Radu Dragusin exit is pushing Spurs to add depth at the back.
Solet stands out in Serie A for his consistent displays, strong physical profile and ability to cope with high-tempo games.
Career peaks
Olympique Lyonnais (2018–2020): Joined Lyon in 2018; limited appearances but made Ligue 1 debut in 2019.
Red Bull Salzburg (2020–2024): Big move for ~€4.5m in July 2020. Became a key defender, making over 100 appearances (106 games, 4 goals, 5 assists across all competitions). Regular in UEFA Champions League, including group stage and helping reach knockouts in 2021/22.
Udinese (2025–present): Joined on a free transfer in January 2025 after mutual contract termination with Salzburg. Debut on January 4, 2026 (0-0 draw vs. Hellas Verona). Quickly impressed in Serie A with consistent performances.
Physicality & Aerial Ability: Dominant in the air due to his height and strength. Excels in defensive duels, clearances, and winning headers. Frequently records high numbers in tackles won, interceptions, and blocks (e.g., multiple games with 4+ tackles and 5+ clearances in Serie A).
Composure on the Ball: Stays calm under pressure, rarely panics, and often forces attackers wide or away from goal. Good at dribbling out from the back — uses pace and acceleration to carry the ball forward confidently.
Build-Up Play & Passing: Progressive passer who contributes to possession phases. Comfortable stepping into midfield or driving forward. Strong in distribution, helping teams transition from defence to attack.
Defensive Reading & Positioning: Good anticipation; positions well to intercept or force errors. Solid in one-on-one situations, using body strength effectively.
Versatility: Primarily right-sided CB but can play in a back three or four. Adapts to high-tempo games, as seen in his consistent starts for Udinese.
Interest in England goes beyond Tottenham
Chelsea and Crystal Palace have watched him live, while Manchester United and West Ham are tracking him as a longer-term target. In Italy, Inter, AC Milan and Roma have delivered positive reports, highlighting his reliability in transition and dominance in the air.
On the financial side, Udinese aims to maintain strong leverage in January, so an initial asking price in the mid-to-high range, with bonuses, is expected.
A loan with an option to buy is on the table, given the winter dynamics and competition, with Premier League clubs likely to propose instalments and performance-related add-ons to comply with Financial Sustainability rules. Wage structure and non-homegrown quotas will also weigh on decisions.
