A player who has fallen off the radar is on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar.

British outlet The Boot reported on Monday (Aug. 8), “Tottenham are targeting Manchester City defender Emeryck Laporte, 29. Aston Villa have also entered the race. Fierce competition is expected.”

Tottenham will look to rebound in 2023-24 with the appointment of manager Enze Postecoglou (57). The appointment comes about 10 weeks after the departure of Antonio Conte, 53. Christian Stellini and Ryan Mason served as acting managers for the second half of the 2022-23 season. The club finished the 2022-23 season in eighth place in the English Premier League (PL) and missed out on qualifying for European competition next season.

With the appointment of a permanent manager, the club is set to embark on a major overhaul of the squad. According to British media outlet The Telegraph, Spurs have placed underperforming central defenders Davinson Sanchez, 26, and Eric Dier, 29, on the release list. With a void at the back, signing a center back is imperative.

A defender who was once a high-profile target for City has emerged as a possible signing. Laporte arrived in a City shirt in 2018 for a club-record fee of £57 million. A stalwart defender with good feet, Laporte became a key part of City’s defense. In 2020, Pep Guardiola said that Laporte was “the best left-center back there is.”

However, Laporte has been losing his place at City. The club now has a stellar lineup of center backs, including Javier Dias (26), John Stones (29), and Manuel Akanji (27). Laporte has made just 12 Premier League appearances this season. The UK’s 90min predicted that Laporte will leave City.안전놀이터

Despite falling out of contention for a starting spot at City, Laporte is still a valuable resource for Premier League teams. According to the outlet, Laporte wants a move in order to get a regular starting spot. Tottenham and Villa, who are also in the market for a central defender, are monitoring Laporte’s situation. The estimated transfer fee is £40 million.