Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been linked with a move for Rodrigo Becao, who is reluctant to sign a contract extension with Udinese.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing 26-year-old Udinese defender Rodrigo Becao. That is according to a report from Tutto Udinese, who claim the Brazilian is a player ‘liked’ by clubs in the Premier League, with Spurs and Everton mentioned as the ‘most interested’ teams in acquiring his services at the moment.
Becao started his career at EC Bahia in his homeland, Brazil. He left for Europe in 2018 and joined CSKA Moscow on a season-long loan. The 26-year-old then enjoyed a successful stint with the Russian club before Udinese snatched him in the summer of 2019 on a permanent deal.
The Brazilian defender has been a regular fixture for Udinese since then and played 35 games last season. Overall, Becao has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Little Zebras, scoring three goals and providing three assists along the way.
Udinese are enjoying a very impressive start to the season so far domestically. Sitting pretty in the Champions League positions in the Serie A table at the moment, it is safe to say the Friulians are punching well above their weight this term.
While the likes of Gerard Deulofeu, Beto, Roberto Pereyra, and the Tottenham-bound Destiny Udogie have all stolen the headlines, it is central defensive powerhouse Becao who continues to garner interest from Premier League clubs.
The Brazilian defender has entered the final 18 months of his contract at Dacia Arena and is reluctant to sign a contract extension with the Serie A high-flyers after garnering interest from Premier League duo Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. The 26-year-old is aware of the outside interest in him and does not want to derail a potential high-profile move by extending his Udinese stay.
The Italian club could hence be under pressure to sell him at the end of this season, and it is being speculated that Becao will be put on the market at the end of the season if he continues to decline a contract extension with them, as they do not want to lose the prized asset on a free transfer in 2024.
Tottenham’s need for a versatile defender to play in the back three has been well-documented this past summer. Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Evan Ndicka, and AS Roma’s Roger Ibanez were all linked to a move to North London.
Becao was also on their radar, and it appears the Lilywhites are still in the fray to secure the Udinese stalwart’s signature. Conte would certainly do well by signing the Brazilian as a quality depth option next season, with Clement Lenglet set to return to Barcelona at the end of his loan stint.
Becao could replace the Frenchman in the Tottenham squad. While Inter’s Bastoni remains the top target in the long run, should Becao continue his rise to prominence, then he could turn out to be a cheaper alternative, with Udinese demanding just around €20 million if he is sold next summer.
