If DeBeers made footballers, then their speciality would be left-footed centre-halves. The diamond trade, after all, works on a rather simple system; restricted supply, coupled with high demand, leads to excessive prices.
This summer, almost every big-hitter on the continent wants a left-sided centre-half. And, with so few available, no wonder Josko Gvardiol and co are being valued at fees that may dwarf the price of even the world’s largest cubic zirconia.
RB Leipzig, The Athletic say, demanded £85 million for Gvardiol before talks with Chelsea broke down. Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio will reportedly cost around £40 million. Alessandro Bastoni; £54 million (The Times). Pau Torres, Max Kilman and Sven Botman would command sizeable fees too, while Benoit Badiashile and Lisandro Martinez both sealed Premier League switches for £35 million and £57 million respectively.
Tottenham Hotspur, per Sport, are currently unlikely to turn Clement Lenglet’s loan deal into a permanent transfer. But can an adequate replacement – let alone an upgrade – be sourced for a fee Daniel Levy would consider reasonable?
The availability of Inigo Martinez may give Spurs some food for thought. The Spain international, at 31, would not necessarily be a long-term solution. What he lacks in youth, however, he more than makes up for in experience, talent, and affordability.
Could Tottenham go for Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez?
One of the most underrated central defenders in Europe over the last ten years or so, Athletic Bilbao paid a club-record £28 million to sign Martinez from Basque rivals back in 2018; one year after Barcelona tried and eventually failed to lure the 19-time international to the Camp Nou.
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Barca, El Desmarque say, could return for a long-term target with Lenglet not part of the club’s plans. Martinez’s contract expires this summer and, much to the frustration of one Athletic legend, an extension looks unlikely.
“We know that he is a very good player,” sighs three-time head coach Javier Clemente (Onda Vasca). “He has a character that suits Athletic perfectly; his dedication, his fight. If I were president, I would have already resolved this (situation) or almost resolved it.”
“If he stays, great. I would tell him that he is a great kid and that he should stay. But we are taking a long time and other teams are already in the way. The longer we take, the more teams (will show an interest).”
Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid, El Desmarque say, are also emerging as potential destinations. But while there is a shortage of left-sided centre-halves who fall within Tottenham’s Venn diagram of ‘affordability’ and ‘suitability’, Martinez is one of the very few who does.
Gvardiol, Bastoni and Kilman may cost a DeBeers-sized sum. But that does not mean Tottenham cannot bag themselves a diamond on a budget.
In other news, Tottenham transfer news: Manchester United not considering Harry Kane move
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