If De Beers made footballers, their specialty was left-footed centre-backs. After all, the trade in diamonds operates on a fairly simple system; limited supply, combined with high demand, leads to exorbitant prices.
Almost every big hitter on the continent wants a left center this summer. And, with so few quantities available, it’s no wonder Josko Gvardiol and his partners’ estimate may even dwarf the price of the world’s largest cubic zirconia.
RB Leipzig, Athletic For example, he asked £85m for Gwadio before talks with Chelsea collapsed. Sporting Lisbon’s Gonzalo Inacio will cost around £40million, according to reports. Alessandro Bastoni; £54m (era). Pau Torres, Max Kilman and Sven Botman are also set to charge handsome transfer fees, while Benoit Badiashile and Lisandro Martinez have locked in Premier League fees for £35m and £57m respectively.
Tottenham Hotspur, each sports, it is currently unlikely that Clement Lenglet’s loan deal will be made permanent.But can there be enough alternatives — let alone upgrade – Charge what Daniel Levy thinks is reasonable?
The availability of Inigo Martinez might give the Spurs something to think about. The 31-year-old Spain international isn’t necessarily a long-term solution. What he lacked at a young age, however, he more than made up for in experience, talent and affordability.
Could Tottenham Hotspur sign Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez?
One of the most underrated centre-backs in Europe over the past decade or so, Athletic Bilbao signed Martinez from Basque rivals for a club-record £28m in 2018; Barcelona a year later tried And ultimately failed to attract the 19-time international to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona, Eldersmark That said, a return could be a long-term target and Lenglet is not in the club’s plans. Martinez’s contract is set to expire this summer, and much to the dismay of an athletic legend, an extension seems unlikely.
“We know he’s a really good player,” lamented three-time coach Javier Clemente (Ondawaska). “His character is perfect for the sport; his dedication, his fight. If I were president, I would have solved this (situation) or almost solved it long ago.”
“It would be great if he stayed. I’d tell him he’s a great kid and he should stay. But it’s going to take us a long time, other teams are on the way. The more time we spend The longer it takes, the more teams (will show interest).”
Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid, Eldersmark said, is also emerging as a potential destination. But while there is a dearth of left-centres who fit Tottenham’s Venn diagram of ‘affordability’ and ‘fitness’, Martinez is one of the few.
Gvardiol, Bastoni and Kilman are probably comparable in cost to De Beers. But that doesn’t mean Tottenham can’t bag diamonds for themselves on a budget.
In other news, Tottenham transfer news: Man Utd not considering Harry Kane move
