Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have registered an interest in AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez, who could be sold for €30 million this summer.
According to Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are interested in securing the services of AS Roma’s Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez, who could be sold this summer.
Ibanez spent the formative years of his career in Brazil before moving to Europe in January 2019 when he joined Atalanta from Fluminense. A year later, the 23-year-old signed for AS Roma on an eighteen-month loan deal, with the transfer being made permanent in the summer window last year.
Ibanez has been a regular in the lineup for the Giallorossi and featured 51 times across all competitions, helping Jose Mourinho’s side win the UEFA Europa Conference League. Despite him signing a contract until the summer of 2025, Roma are open to a sale this summer if a bid in the region of €30 million arrives.
And Ibanez is now attracting interest from the Premier League, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United keeping tabs on his situation at Stadio Olimpico.
It is no secret that Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer, with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni emerging as the priority target. The Lilywhites are ready to offer €30 million plus Davinson Sanchez to sign the Italian in the summer to add a top-quality left-footed centre-back to their roster.
However, with Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon likely to be on their way out and Sanchez’s future also uncertain, another centre-back signing will be required at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to ensure quality depth in the squad. Ibanez, to that end, can be a handy acquisition given that he has already accrued plenty of experience at the top level and is just 23 years old.
Newcastle United, too, are interested in Ibanez as manager Eddie Howe looks to add more quality to his defensive roster. The Magpies, having survived the threat of relegation, are planning some major moves in the summer market and strengthening the defence remains a key issue, with fringe players like Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez expected to depart.
It has seen Newcastle United get linked with a host of defenders, including Sven Botman, who continues to be a top target for the Tynesiders. But with him being close to joining AC Milan, it bodes well for Newcastle to identify alternative options, and Roger Ibanez could be one such Plan B for the club, along with Merih Demiral.
The €30 million price tag is unlikely to be a problem for Tottenham or Newcastle. The only question that remains is whether the interest from the two Premier League clubs is concrete enough for them to launch a bid for the Brazilian.
