Tottenham newcomer clear to make debut as early as Sunday

Tottenham’s newest signing Davinson Sánchez will be available for selection when Burnley visit Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

After completing a £42 million move from Ajax this week, Tottenham announced on Friday that Sánchez’s work permit was permitted just in time for the third round of Premier League play.

The Colombian centre-back’s move to Spurs is the most expensive in the club’s history — dwarfing the £30 million spent for Mousa Sissoko on the final day of last summer’s transfer window.

That said, Sánchez is still just 21-years-old and without any Premier League experience. It’s very unlikely that he is even called off the bench, much less start, in the match.

Still, it’s an exciting new chapter in Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term reconstruction of the club. In Sánchez he has acquired another young player with senior experience, albeit in the less intense environs of the Eredivisie. The Argentinian will be able to mold him over time, hopefully well enough to eventually cover for and/or replace Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

Both of Spurs’ star centre-backs are getting older — Alderweireld will turn 29 this season, Vertonghen 31 — and the club cannot go without talent in such a key area of the pitch.

Barring injury however, it’s unlikely either player will be ceding territory to Sánchez this season. The Colombian might expect to play in cup games now that young American centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has been sent out on loan, but it’s too soon to expect regular Premier League appearances.

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Anything can happen of course. Few would have expected that the likes of Harry Winks would have received regular minutes last season, but lo and beyond the 21-year-old Englishman played nearly 1,300 minutes in all competitions.

Should Eric Dier’s services ever be needed in midfield — say if Victor Wanyama gets injured or needs additional support — it’s possible too that Sánchez could slide right into Pochettino’s take on the back three.

If he does, it’s likely that would mean Alderweireld pushing to the right instead of his usual covering position at center. The Belgian has plenty of experience at full-back, unlike Sánchez, and would know better how to play on the edge of the defense.

Next: Are Tottenham ready to utilize loan system?

All of this remains speculation however. Starting on Sunday we will start to earn a better understanding of Spurs’ record signing, and what we learn might surprise us.