Tottenham can’t hesitate on bargain price for two-footed full-back

Kyle Walker’s departure from Tottenham might be softened somewhat by acquiring Hoffenheim full-back Jeremy Toljan — especially if he comes cheap.

With Mauricio Pochettino having essentially fired the starting pistol upon re-affirming Tottenhanm’s transfer ambitions, players like Toljan should be high on the shopping list.

Though it’s fair to say that the 22-year-old might still need some molding, his semi-regular appearances for Hoffenheim — as well as the European Championship-winning Germany under-21 side — suggest he’s got the raw materials to make it at Spurs.

Like many other teams in Germany, Hoffenheim rely on a kinetic pressing system not dissimilar to Spurs’. Pochettino’s made clear over his tenure at the club that players reared on pressing tactics — such as Heung-min Son and rumored target Matthias Ginter — are favored over players with more conventional tactical training.

Hoffenheim’s frequent use of a three-at-the-back system leaned more on converted wingers rather than converted full-backs, which kept Toljan limited to only 14 starts last season.

Those starts saw Toljan occupy no less than five different positions across the Hoffenheim team however, including both right-back and wing-back as well as midfield duties.

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If there is one quality that Pochettino might covet more in his players than raw talent, it’s versatility. Toljan could come into Spurs as a utility player — though it is more likely he will primarily be used as either backup to or a rotation option with Kieran Trippier.

With Spurs set to focus on fleshing out the squad rather than rebuilding parts of it from scratch, rumors about Toljan’s possible arrival should be taken rather seriously. Now the question is whether Tottenham will act with any kind of hurry.

Sky Sports reports that Hoffenheim are willing to part with Toljan for a relative pittance — just £13 million. One might assume that such a bargain price for a young, talented player who features in a position in which Spurs need depth might provoke a sense of urgency. 

You would be wrong. Already the rumor of Spurs’ interest in Toljan is weeks old, like so many other links that get drawn out over the length of the summer. Even with Sky’s news, a deal does not appear imminent.

Earlier in the summer a similar saga unfolded. It was rumored that the aforementioned Ginter — a Borussia Dortmund centre-back — was also available for a cut rate price. Though Spurs appeared close to a deal, the wheels moved as slowly as ever. Ginter moved instead to Borussia Monchengladbach for a little over £15 million at the beginning of July.

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A never-more-competitive transfer market means that the usual brinksmanship utilized by Daniel Levy will be punished more often than not. If Pochettino is going to build the depth he requires for another title push, targets like Toljan need to be moved on with something resembling haste.