Spurs Chase Move for £40m "Beasts" to Strengthen Squad
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly making a strong push to sign two high-profile defenders in the January transfer window, with a combined price tag of £40m. The London club is eyeing the services of Ajax duo Lisandro Martinez and Jurrien Timber, two highly-regarded center-backs who have caught the attention of top European clubs.
Martinez, 24, has established himself as one of the most dominant center-backs in the Eredivisie, making 144 appearances for Ajax since joining from Deportivo Alaves in 2019. His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain also credited with interest.
Meanwhile, Timber, 21, has rapidly become a fan favorite at the Johan Cruyff Arena, featuring 102 times for the Dutch giants. The young defender’s athleticism, tackling, and ball-playing ability have earned him rave reviews, with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea among the teams tracking his progress.
The addition of Martinez and Timber would bolster Spurs’ backline, providing depth and competition for the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez, and Joe Rodon. Antonio Conte, Tottenham’s Italian coach, has identified defensive solidity as a key area for improvement, and the capture of these two "beasts" could be the catalyst for a title push.
"Martinez and Timber are two top-class defenders who would strengthen our squad immensely," a Tottenham insider told Football Whispers. "We’ve been monitoring their progress for some time, and the January window is the perfect opportunity to make a statement signing. £40m is a small price to pay for the caliber of player we’re targeting."
The Premier League club has reportedly submitted an initial offer of £25m for Martinez, while a bid of £15m has been made for Timber. Ajax, however, are reluctant to sell and are demanding a combined fee of £40m for the pair.
Despite the competition, Spurs remain confident of securing a deal, with a further offer set to be made in the coming days. Should the deal go through, Martinez and Timber would join the likes of Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, and Dejan Kulusevski as part of Conte’s revamping of the Spurs squad.
With the transfer window just around the corner, all eyes will be on the North London club to see if they can complete the signing of these highly-regarded defenders and push them further up the Premier League table.
