Tottenham should test the water with ‘lowball offer’ for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo in January – Robinson
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Paul Robinson thinks Tottenham should try a “lowball offer” for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo in the January transfer window.
Spurs have struggled at centre-back over the past two months with Micky van de Ven injured and Cristian Romero having served a suspension before now picking up a hamstring issue.
It has meant Emerson Royal and Ben Davies – full-backs by trade – have featured in central defence, with Eric Dier clearly not a part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans either.
The Evening Standard reported (5 December) that Spurs remain interested in Adarabioyo, who they say has yet to enter talks over a new deal at Craven Cottage that expires in June.
Consequently, former Spurs goalkeeper Robinson told Tottenham News that Spurs should try and land a cut-price deal in an area they need to strengthen.
“Any move in January is difficult, with these contracts running out there’s an opportunity there for Tottenham to put in a lowball offer and maybe nick a player who they could potentially get on a free in the summer,” he said.
“It’s an area they do need to strengthen, Romero every week we laugh about it, it’s not a case of if it’s a case of when he’s suspended and how long he’s suspended for.
“Van de Ven’s injury has been a huge problem because of the quality he’s provided this season, with Eric Dier coming in the manager doesn’t trust him you can see that he doesn’t.
“They’ve had Davies playing there, Emerson Royal playing there. We had a back four at the Etihad where it was full-backs all the way across the back four, so it is an area that Tottenham do need to look at.
“And I think he will address that in January and that’s a player that if the manager likes him and the manager wants that type of player in his side then someone with only a few months on his contract, knows the Premier League, he’s adapted to the Premier League, good ball player as well, you would expect it would fit the manager.
“We’re not privy to what the manager wants, but conversations will have gone on at the football club already, targets will have been identified, but that type of player, that type of signing, especially in the centre-half position is what Spurs need.”
Adarabioyo has played seven times in the Premier League for Fulham this season after undergoing groin surgery earlier in the campaign.
He’s completed 90 minutes in each of the West London club’s last five league games, scoring in the 5-0 win over West Ham on 10 December.
In other Tottenham news, a Spurs expert has mooted trouble in January after a “phenomenal body blow”.