Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in Villarreal’s Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma and have scouted him alongside his teammate Pau Torres over the past week.
Tottenham have apparently joined the bandwagon of suitors in the running to sign Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, with 90 Min reporting that Spurs scouts were in attendance for the Yellow Submarine’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool to watch transfer targets Danjuma and Pau Torres in action ahead of the upcoming summer window.
Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has guided underdogs Villarreal to a remarkable journey in Europe this season, eliminating giants such as Juventus and Bayern Munich on their route to a semi-final clash with Liverpool. And the stars seemed to align as they staged an incredible comeback in the return leg to restore the aggregate parity.
However, it was not to be for Villarreal, as they collapsed drastically in the second period and were eliminated 5-2 on aggregate by the Reds. Indeed, their exploits on the European stage have not gone unnoticed, with the club expecting a battle to keep hold of several star players who are attracting strong attention from top clubs around Europe.
Premier League side Tottenham have sent scouts to both legs of the semi-final to keep track of their primary defensive target, Pau Torres. Yet it appears Torres is not the only Villarreal player on the Spurs’ radar, as the above report suggests that they are also keen to sign Dutch winger Danjuma, who unfortunately missed the second leg due to injury.
The Netherlands international has previous Premier League experience, having played for AFC Bournemouth and then departed last summer to join Villarreal for a reported £21 million fee, which was obviously a significant outlay for a club of their stature.
However, the Dutchman has since proven to be a great signing for the club and has performed above expectations in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He has managed 20-goal contributions (16 goals, 4 assists) from 34 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
Clubs from the Premier League have begun to take note of Danjuma’s development. There was reported interest from Liverpool, while West Ham and Newcastle United are also keen to bring the Dutch forward back to English shores. Now, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham have also joined the long list of admirers.
Conte may be drawn to Danjuma’s versatility, as the Dutch winger can play in multiple positions. He has played wide left as well as through the middle as a striker or No. 10 this season. Adding the Villarreal ace to the attacking roster would be a fantastic piece of business by Fabio Paratici, as he could provide good cover for Son Heung-min down the left and Harry Kane in the striking position.
The 25-year-old has still got four years left on his deal at Estadio de la Ceramica and has got a reported £63 million release clause, so Spurs would have to part with a significant sum to acquire his services. However, Tottenham loanee Giovani Lo Celso has made a positive impact at Villarreal since joining on loan in January and might be offered to sweeten the deal secure both Torres and Danjuma in a sensational double swoop.
