The name of Nicolas Lombaerts has appeared on this site before and the versatile Belgian international was first linked with a move to White Hart Lane at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. Lombaerts was voted the best overseas player in the Russian Premier League during 2011-12 but there are suggestions that the 28 year old has fallen out of favour with his boss at Zenit St Petersburg – former Roma manager Luciano Spalletti.
A compatriot of Jan Vertonghen, Lombaerts is similar to our current defender in that he is comfortable playing at either centre half of left back so can cover both positions if necessary. However, the Belgian international is more regularly utilised in the centre of defence where the opportunities for regular game time are far slimmer.
The defender’s contract runs out in a year’s time so Zenit have reached that stage where they may have to make a decision on the player before having to release him next summer and all reports suggest that Lombaerts will be on his way.
But will it be destination White Hart Lane? Head Coach Andre Villas-Boas have intimated that Benoit Assou-Ekotto would be staying at the club but while all the weekend talk has been about Paulinho and David Villa, Nicolas Lombaerts is now odds on with some bookmakers to be playing in the white half of North London next season.
This signing would be a poor move in my opinion as we need a dedicated left back to replace BAE if he leaves. In my view, a player like L Shaw represents to ilk of player we should be going for. Shaw is young but has excelled in all the age groups, and has now shown he is capable of coping in the Premier league to a high standard. Although his price (if available) is rumoured to be around £15m, the revenue recouped by the sales of Rose and BAE would amount to approximately £12m, this would cover a large proportion of the transfer. This also fits with Levy’s ethos of buying young talent with potential for an increased sell on value. Either way it represents a good financial or footballing investment for Spurs.
Shaw will go to Chelsea
Surely we would need to keep Rose as cover?
We don’t need a centre back or a left back. Kaboul vertongen Dawson calker would be very hard to beat for a spot there. Bae will be back to his best after preseason and fully fit with rose as back up. We need a striker. David villa may be the one to turn us into contenders
I’m sorry Bill but although Dawson had a great season in his terms, he’s not a top four first choice left back nor is caulker, neither of them can play left back comfortably, Jan the man is needed left center to partner younes, to prob be one of the strongest pairing in the prem. Benny is too sometimesish, yes he can connect well with Bale, goin forward, but his defence needs a lot to be desired sometimes. I agree we could sell both Benny and Rose , buy Shaw and have Fryers as back up. I’d even take kolarov or Evra from Man City/utd, as I see this year as our transition year to challenge for title (no I’m not kidding ,last two dec’s we been close), as long as we get at least one 20 goal a season striker and get rid of Ade.
We have not had a decent striker pairing since Keano and berbatov, Ade was good in his first season but as always he is too tempremental. Defoe has never been a top top premier league striker (great sub). So yes lets clear out the rot and get at least two decent strikers who want to score!!
I would try to keep Defoe (as a super-sub) and get in two strikers one experienced and one less experienced. As we are likely to be playing with a lone striker we do not want to risk having none through injury like we did last season.
Dembele, Sandro and Paulinho in a 3 man midfield with a strike force of Bale, Benteke and David Villa. I love Lennon but he would also be a frightening player to bring on when the opposition are knackered. Maybe AVB could convince Coentrao to join if BAE is sold??