Tottenham Hotspur have so far placed an emphasis on targeting players with Premier League experience.
Liverpool stalwart Andy Robertson has been confirmed as our first signing of the summer, and he'll soon be followed through the door by another free agent, Marcos Senesi. That's the left side of our defence sorted.
Further up the pitch, the club has reignited its interest in Manchester City's Savinho. Fabrizio Romano's ambiguous teases suggest that deal may be close, with some outlets reporting that a deal could be worth up to £60m. We're willing to pay Premier League premiums, it would seem.
Despite the impending arrival of Senesi, Spurs' work at centre-back isn't done. Captain Cristian Romero is expected to depart, and his compatriot alone won't be expected to fill the void. Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke has been sought out as a direct replacement, but the Seagulls have so far rejected two proposals. Van Hecke has a year left on his contract and supposedly wants the move, yet Spurs may have to pay upwards of £50m for his services.
This is what happens when you target the Premier League market. Experience of the English top flight is valuable, but it's not the be-all and end-all. We should remain creative in the market, and alert to potential bargains on the continent.
Signing Joel Ordoñez might be smarter move than Van Hecke
I first became aware of Joel Ordoñez when I covered Manchester City vs. Club Brugge at the back end of the 2024/25 Champions League league phase. City needed to win to progress, but fell behind to a Raphael Onyedika goal on the stroke of half-time.
Nicky Hayen's Brugge were excellent that night, despite the hosts rallying to win 3-1. They had runners on the counter, a lovely left-footed midfielder (Ardon Jashari) and a standout defensive operator. Ordoñez was brilliant right up until his cruel own goal handed City the lead just after the hour mark.
Still, it was evident that the Ecuadorian would soon blossom into some quite brilliant in short order. He was almost there. @SpursJourno believes Spurs are having a look at him this summer.
There's reportedly interest from Liverpool and Barcelona, but Roberto De Zerbi is seemingly a master of selling his project. What Ordoñez's potential arrival would mean for Luka Vušković, I do not know, but the 21-year-old centre-back is a talent worth waxing lyrical over, that's for sure.
He'd come at a snippet of the price Brighton are demanding for Van Hecke, with the raw tools in place for Ordoñez to thrive in the physically demanding Premier League.
I guarantee that his stock soars after this World Cup, starring for an Ecuador team that simply doesn't concede.
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