Tottenham are keen on Marseille right-back Hiroki Sakai, according to Sky Sports.
He is said to fit the brief of what Maurcio Pochettino is looking for in a right-back this summer – but he’s 29.
The club is actively looking for players under 23 and will look for alternatives before making a move for Sakai.
A good move for Tottenham?
Sakai comes with a lot of experience. The Japan international has 56 caps for his country and made the move across from his home country to make over 100 appearances for Hannover in 2012. He moved to Marseille four years later and has made 122 appearances for them. At 29-years-old though he doesn’t fit with the moves Tottenham are making. They’d be buying a player with limited resale value and that doesn’t scream Levy and Poch to us.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10
Likely to happen?
The Sky report claims that Tottenham are keen but that they will chase other targets before getting “serious” about Sakai. However, Tottenham are looking to upgrade the right-back position with Pochettino said to be open to offers for both Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier. It shows how far Trippier has dropped since the World Cup that Tottenham would prefer a Japan international who’s a year older than him. If Levy still hasn’t signed a right-back towards the end of the summer this is a name that could crop up again.
This is Fubtol rating: 4/10