Tottenham Pursue Chelsea Defender Tosin Adarabioyo
Tottenham are pushing ahead with plans to sign Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo as the final days of the transfer window threaten to reshape their back line.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs have opened work on a deal for Tosin, aware that any late arrivals are likely to hinge on who leaves the club. The focus is firmly on Kevin Danso.
Danso wants out – and he’s not alone
Tottenham have already spent heavily this summer, but the squad is far from settled. Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that three players have formally asked to go.
“He said too many times [Richarlison] he wants to leave. Danso came to me two days ago, and he said he wants to leave, and Pape Sarr, the same, but he suffer[ed] a small injury, but he is almost ready to train.”
Danso’s request places Spurs under immediate pressure in the centre-back department. With Premier League side Sunderland showing late interest in the defender, a departure now looks increasingly likely.
If Danso goes, Tottenham need a replacement. Fast.
Tosin on the radar
That urgency has led them to Tosin Adarabioyo. Romano reports that Chelsea are working on a deal to sign the defender, with Tottenham viewing him as a “concrete possibility” to step into their defensive unit.
The structure of any move is still unclear. Spurs are exploring both a loan and a permanent transfer, and the clock is ticking. One complication hangs over everything: Chelsea’s stance on selling to a direct rival.
It is not obvious that Chelsea would be happy to strengthen Tottenham, yet Spurs would hardly be advancing talks without some form of encouragement from Stamford Bridge. Time, though, is not on anyone’s side. Both the Danso exit and Tosin arrival would have to be wrapped up in a very tight window.
Does Tosin really fit?
On paper, the move raises questions. Tosin has struggled to nail down a regular starting role at Chelsea, and at this stage of his career he needs a club prepared to play him consistently.
Breaking into Tottenham’s back line is no simple task. De Zerbi already has Micky van de Ven, Marcos Senesi and Jan-Paul van Hecke as his three main centre-back options. Any new arrival would initially be fighting for minutes rather than walking straight into the XI.
Tosin would add depth and cover, but that might not be enough. A more versatile defender, someone comfortable across the back line, could arguably make more sense for a squad already well stocked with specialist centre-backs.
What is clear is that Spurs’ final move of the window, after bringing in Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, is expected to be in defence. Whether that last piece of business is Tosin Adarabioyo or a different profile of defender may end up defining how robust Tottenham look when the season’s battles really begin.
