Tottenham turn to Paratici for €40m January raid to shore up defence with elite centre-back.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to address their worsening defensive issues by once again leaning on sporting director Fabio Paratici’s Italian scouting connections. New reports claim Paratici is exploring options in Serie A, with a bold attempt for a top-level Brazilian centre-back under consideration. According to TEAMtalk, such a signing could both strengthen Spurs’ defence and push captain Cristian Romero to regain the high-level performances that once made him one of the Premier League’s best.
Romero, normally a key figure in Tottenham’s backline with his leadership and aggression, has hit a rough patch. He produced two unusually poor displays in major fixtures over the past week, as Spurs conceded nine goals against Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Although he wasn’t solely responsible, his performances were worrying—he looked unsettled in the North London derby and picked up a booking that rules him out against Fulham. His second half in Paris was even more troubling, with costly mistakes contributing to Spurs letting a historic win slip away.
Manager Thomas Frank is reportedly growing increasingly concerned by his team’s defensive vulnerability and has asked Paratici to prioritise strengthening the squad in January. Fresh reports from Italy now claim Paratici is eyeing Serie A again, specifically Juventus.
Tutto Juve reports that Gleison Bremer—long admired by Spurs—is once more among the club’s top winter targets. The 28-year-old Brazil international made his name at Torino before joining Juventus in 2022, and with nearly 100 appearances and eight goals, he offers both defensive stability and set-piece threat. Juventus aren’t actively trying to sell, but a bid of around €40m (£35m / $46m) may tempt them. For Spurs, such spending could be essential.
Why Spurs need competition for Romero
Some fans may wonder why Tottenham are pursuing another centre-back when the squad already has several in the position. However, beyond the starting pair, the drop-off in quality is significant.
Kevin Danso has been reliable but remains below the level of Micky van de Ven and Romero. Radu Dragusin is nearing a return from an ACL injury but had issues with positioning and consistency even before that. Youngsters Kota Takai and Luka Vuskovic offer long-term promise, but they are not ready to provide elite competition right now.
Many within the club feel Romero has become too comfortable as an automatic starter, leading to lapses in focus. Signing a defender of Bremer’s calibre could inject much-needed competition and push Romero to raise his standards again.
Romero penned a new contract in August after heavy interest from Spain, but Spurs now need to ensure he doesn’t slip into complacency. Defensive upgrades are not optional—they’re urgent.
Whether Bremer becomes the answer depends on Juventus’ willingness to negotiate, but Tottenham know they must strengthen their centre-back options soon to stay competitive.
Other Tottenham notes
Manchester City continue to believe Brazilian winger Savinho could become one of the Premier League’s top imports, though TEAMtalk suggests he may be linked with Spurs again in 2026.
Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani opened his Tottenham scoring account with a brilliant brace against PSG, and Spurs have already decided their stance on making his loan permanent.
In another transfer twist, Arsenal have joined Chelsea and Tottenham in pursuing Porto’s rising striker Samu Aghehowa, with the Gunners reportedly ready to step up their efforts—potentially complicating Spurs’ and Chelsea’s plans.
