Tottenham transfer could be hijacked as serious injury forces ‘big push’ from Newcastle

Tottenham are keen to splash the cash in the summer transfer window, with reinforcements being targeted at both ends of the pitch.

Tottenham could be set to see their summer transfer plans scuppered by Newcastle. Spurs are set to be in the market for defensive reinforcements at the end of the season, though they reportedly could miss out on Lloyd Kelly to their Premier League rivals.

Tottenham have improved markedly under Ange Postecoglou, playing an attacking-minded brand of football which has got the very best out of the likes of Heung-min Son and Pedro Porro. Summer signings Micky van de Ven and James Maddison have slotted into the squad seamlessly, and further acquisitions have also impressed.

January signings Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin have hit the ground running in north London, and Tottenham are growing in confidence in the transfer market as a result. Postecoglou is expected to shake up his ranks further at the end of the season, with player sales set to fund his overhaul.

But Spurs are keen to make one signing without impacting their transfer budget, with Bournemouth’s Kelly identified as a top target. The versatile defender is set to become a free agent this summer and has been on the radar of Spurs since January.

However, according to The Mirror, Newcastle look set to throw a spanner into the works as they are set to make a ‘big push’ for the 25-year-old. The Magpies are urgently scouring the market for defensive reinforcements after losing Sven Botman to a serious knee injury which will rule him out for up to nine months.

Newcastle are wary of how their spending could impact their Profit and Sustainability position this summer, and therefore acquiring the services of Kelly for no transfer fee is viewed as a top piece of business by those at St James’ Park which plugs an important gap in their team.

West Ham, AC Milan and Juventus are also among a plethora of clubs to have held talks with the Cherries defender’s representatives though, with Spurs also remaining in contact with Kelly’s camp to sound out their interest.

It remains to be seen where Kelly opts to play his football next season and whether European football is a persuasive factor in negotiations, which Tottenham will hope to be able to offer, or if the prospect of more regular opportunities at Newcastle is more enticing instead.