Caulker out, Chiriches in for Tottenham Hotspur?

31 July 2013 10:18

In between the plentiful and mostly made up Gareth Bale stories circulating the media in the last week, there is increasing speculation that Tottenham are set to replace one up and coming centre back with another. Reports that Cardiff City have made an £8m bid for Tottenham’s Steven Caulker coincide with the news coming out of Romania that 23 year old centre back Vlad Chiriches is set to make the move from East to West.

The English centre back has shown much promise at Spurs but is believed to be growing frustrated at a lack of first team opportunities, with defenders Jan Vertonghen, Younes Kaboul and Michael Dawson all ahead of Caulker in the pecking order at Spurs. The 21 year-old, capped once by England, only made 18 appearances for Tottenham last season despite his clear talent and potential. A move to Cardiff City would guarantee him first team football and so could develop his domestic and international career.

The 23 year-old ‘Romanian Thiago Silva’ currently plies his trade at Romanian club Steaua Bucharest, but his agent yesterday indicated that Chiriches would be completing a £7m move to White Hart Lane in the near future, after Spurs reportedly beat Roma to his signature. The Romanian League winner has been capped 18 times by his national side and made 26 appearances for his club last term, with his performances raising comparisons to current Tottenham player Vertonghen due to his role as a ball playing centre back.

This may seem like a strange potential transfer, replacing a 21 year old with a 23 year old when their abilities are quite level; but Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas will feel that the quick and comfortable on the ball Chiriches might be a better bet in his 4-3-3 next year than Caulker. If the agent of Chiriches was correct, we should hear confirmation in the next few days about the transfer of Chiriches to Spurs, and fans may get the chance to see him in action for the first time at home to Espanyol on 10th August.

 

Source: DSG