Tottenham to sign new defender amid ‘susceptible’ Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin verdict
Paul Robinson is looking forward to seeing Radu Dragusin get some more game time for Tottenham but thinks they could sign a new centre-back as Mick van de Ven is “susceptible” to injury.
Dragusin, 22, struggled on his first Spurs start since signing from Genoa in a £26.7million deal in January (Sky Sports) as Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten 3-0 by Fulham prior to the international window.
That opportunity arrived because Dutch centre-back Van de Ven sustained a hamstring injury having missed a chunk of the campaign with a similar issue earlier in the season.
Former Spurs keeper Robinson – speaking to Tottenham News – is looking forward to Dragusin getting a spell in the team but thinks centre-back is an area they will look to address again in the summer window, especially amid concerns over Van de Ven’s ability to stay fit.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Dragusin in all honesty, he was brought into the club in the January transfer window, initially as cover, and there was talk of who would play,” Robinson said.
“Clearly, his favourite partnership is Van de Ven and Romero but with Van de Ven and how quick he is, those type of athletes they’re always going to suffer these kinds of injuries.
“Dragusin we’ve seen in bits, we’ve seen him play right-back, left-back, holding midfielder, slotted in at centre-half didn’t really get an opportunity to see him (before Fulham). I’m looking forward to seeing him (more).
“My only concern is when Romero gets suspended, then what do they do? That’s the three, theyre’ carrying that now with Eric Dier gone they’ll obviously look to put Ben Davies or Emerson Royal there if need be, but it’s three he’s got, with the Romero and Van de Ven partnership.
“That may be an area they look at next season, they might have to bring one more in or a centre-half who can play right-back or left-back as well as cover, because if Van de Ven is susceptible with his hamstring injuries, Romero we know misses a lot of the season whether it be suspension or injury, you may miss two of them at the same time as we’ve seen this season when they’ve had to play four full-backs across the back four.”
Will Tottenham sign a new defender this summer?
Dragusin will certainly hope to get more opportunities after that stumble on full debut, though he was far from the only one to underperform at Craven Cottage.
It is true, though, that centre-back has been a problem area this season. When Romero and Van de Ven were both out earlier this term, Emerson Royal and Ben Davies were drafted in to play centre-back.
Dragusin’s signing obviously added an extra body in there but, especially if Tottenham get back in the Champions League, they probably could do with a fourth centre-back.
You get the sense it is an area that Ange Postecoglou will look to improve when the summer transfer window opens in a few months.
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