On the latest episode of the TIFO Football Podcast, Joe Devine, Alex Stewart and Seb Stafford-Bloor have been discussing some ‘sensible transfers’ that Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Burnley should look to do in the summer transfer window.
One player suggested by Stewart as a potential option for Spurs in the summer transfer window on the recent podcast was River Plate defender Hector Martinez. The 22-year-old spent the most recent season on loan with fellow Argentinian side Defensa y Justicia, making 20 appearances in the Argentinian Superliga (per Transfermarkt).
Here’s what Stewart had to say about the defender, and why he could be a sensible option for Jose Mourinho’s side this summer:
“Hector Martinez, who’s at River Plate. I think Argentine defenders – sometimes they’ve got just that kind of gnarliness. They’re a bit unpleasant. There’s a ruggedness there, which I think Spurs benefit from that further back. Martinez has got all of that, my slight concern around him is that he’s only six feet tall, which isn’t ideal. If you’re a top, top-level centre-back, you probably want an inch or two more in height, but he looks to be a very, very complete defensive player. He’s very interesting.”
TIF Thoughts…
Stewart certainly seems to suggest that Spurs need to add a bit of ‘ruggedness’ at the back and feels as if Martinez could be a potential solution to their defensive issues, with the Lilywhites managing just eight clean sheets in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
Do you think Martinez would be a good addition for Spurs?
Yes
No
With Jan Vertonghen having left recently, you could certainly argue they are in need of defensive reinforcements, and although Martinez is valued at just £1.17 million by Transfermarkt – suggesting he would be relatively cheap and therefore low-risk – his lack of experience in Europe, as well as the fact that he has made just one senior appearance for River Plate, might well put Spurs off bringing him in this summer.