Soccer Football - Champions League - Group D - Real Madrid v Inter Milan - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 7, 2021 Real Madrid's Luka Jovic in action with Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar REUTERS/Juan Medina
Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson has urged the club to sign an extra centre-back this summer and has suggested Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar as a possible addition.
The Lowdown: Lenglet close to Spurs move
According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are now ‘hopeful’ of completing the loan signing of Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet ‘very soon’.
However, it has been suggested elsewhere that Antonio Conte could remain on the lookout for a more permanent centre-back solution this summer.
As per The Guardian, Fabio Paratici is interested in making a move for Slovakia international Skriniar, with the Lilywhites having previously failed in their attempts to sign the defender in 2021.
The Latest: Robinson’s claim
Robinson, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that Conte will add another signing at centre-back this summer.
When questioned whether Skriniar was needed by Tottenham, the ex-England goalkeeper told Football Insider: “Dier was magnificent last year but Conte will want competition for places. I think we will see another signing in that area.
“Skriniar would be a top signing. Dier was fantastic but when you look at where Spurs want to go, it is a squad game. Skriniar would give the manager real options at the back.
“If you bring in Lenglet and Skriniar to compete with [Cristian] Romero, Dier and Ben Davies you have a very strong back three regardless of who you play.”
The Verdict: He’d be a great signing
Valued at £58.5m by Transfermarkt, the centre-back has entered the final 12 months of his contract in Italy. Therefore, the Serie A club may be worried about losing the 27-year-old on a free transfer next year, potentially pushing them into selling him for a reduced fee this summer.
If so, Spurs should go all out for the Slovakian.
When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Skriniar ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty expected goals, pass completion rate and progressive passes received (via FBRef).
With such quality potentially available on a free transfer, this could end up being a great signing for Conte, if he takes Robinson’s advice and goes in for the player.
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