Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly taken the upper hand in pursuit of Joachim Andersen, who is also a target for Manchester United.
According to Express, Tottenham Hotspur are laying the groundwork to offer Joachim Andersen a lucrative deal in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Fulham defender, currently on loan from Lyon is reportedly leading Jose Mourinho’s shortlist, while Manchester United are also interested in his services.
Spurs, though, appear to be in the driver’s seat as they are set to hold a meeting with Andersen’s representatives over the coming week. It could serve as a massive blow for Manchester United while Fulham themselves are also keen on retaining the defender, although their position in this transfer saga hinges on whether they can remain in the Premier League next season.
Currently employed by Lyon, Andersen does not appear to have any future in France, after failing to get the nod ahead of Marcelo and Jason Denayer during his first season at the club. And with financial shortcomings looming large, the Ligue 1 outfit could be forced to cash in on the Dane in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Tottenham’s interest in the centre-back is hardly surprising as they brace themselves for a potential overhaul in the defensive unit. The north Londoners are expected to offload Juan Foyth while both Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier are facing uncertain futures at the club.
It could ideally pave the way for Andersen to become the face of the Spurs defence alongside Joe Rodon, who has also enjoyed a lot of success in recent matches. However, Tottenham should be aware of the competition from Manchester United, who have also been tracking Andersen’s progress for quite some time now.
Ole Gunnar Solsjaer’s desire to bolster his defensive unit has been only fueled by the uncertain future of Eric Bailly at Old Trafford while Victor Lindelof has struggled with a lack of consistency over the course of his stint with Manchester United.
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Anderson, in that regard, could be an ideal acquisition for the Red Devils, particularly due to an excellent mix of physicality, technical prowess and leadership that could prove to be a boon for Harry Maguire, at the heart of the backline. In addition, the 24-year-old has already settled in nicely in the Premier League, making him a less risky target when compared to other targets including Nikola Milenkovic.
Tottenham, though, are in the ascendancy in this transfer saga, so it will be interesting to see whether Manchester United can make a late push for the pursuit of the Danish international, who is more than ready to take the next step in his career.
