Breaking Down Tottenham's Rumoured Interest in Cologne Defender Kevin Wimmer

Tottenham Hotspur's defensive problems have been significant so far this season. Having conceded 45 goals in the Premier League, Spurs have a statistically better defence than only Newcastle United and the three sides currently occupying the relegation places. 

Mauricio Pochettino, himself a former centre-back at international level for Argentina, was clearly aware of the issues plaguing Spurs in defence when he arrived from Southampton.

The new manager proceeded to overhaul his back line during the offseason with the signings of Ben Davies, Federico Fazio, DeAndre Yedlin and back-up goalkeeper Michel Vorm. 

Unfortunately, those signings have not been able to provide improved results, with the club only needing to concede six more goals to exceed last season's 51. 

The sale of Michael Dawson and subsequent departure of Kyle Naughton were just the beginning, though, with more departures expected in the coming summer. 

Tottenham clearly need defensive reinforcements ahead of next season, and according to the Eurosport, the club has now lined up Cologne's Kevin Wimmer. 

Wimmer was briefly linked to Tottenham on transfer deadline day, but the move failed to materialise. It appears as though that talk was on the right track, with more concrete rumours now having emerged.

Most Premier League fans don't see much German football, but Cologne have one of the best defences in Germany. Wimmer has played all but one of their matches as they've eked out the sixth-best defence in the Bundesliga. 

The man himself has confirmed talks are under way between his club and Tottenham, as reported by Kicker (via ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld, h/t International Business Times' Tony Mogan).

Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports reports that the deal is not completed and any suggestions of a verbal agreement are "premature."

The Guardian's David Hytner suggests that the deal will cost Spurs £4.3 million, while Neil McLeman of the Mirror reports £5.8 million; either way, the club appears to have found a bargain. 

"

Wimmer. Presumably Mitchell acting quickly & assertively. Deal done for young player - small fee & minimal fuss. Hard to argue with that.

— Chris Miller (@WindyCOYS) March 21, 2015"

A left-sided defender, Wimmer is capable of playing at left-back but, much like his potential new team-mate Eric Dier, is best deployed centrally.

Wimmer is tall (6'2") and athletic but lacks the imposing physical dimensions of Dier. Where the Portuguse-trained Dier is able to dominate an opponent with his considerable strength, Wimmer relies more on skill. 

The Austrian international comes with a low profile, but those who are dedicated Bundesliga viewers argue that he is an excellent acquisition. 

Eurosport's German correspondent Johannes Mittermeier describes him as "a modern, quite attacking defender" and concluded his assessment simply saying that Spurs "will not regret this decision."

Wimmer's characteristics seem to be those of a rival to Jan Vertonghen's seemingly undisputed place in the team. Among Spurs' current squad, Eric Dier and Federico Fazio are in competition for the right-sided central-defensive position, but Vertonghen has been virtually undroppable. 

The Belgian was excellent in his debut season but dropped off significantly in his second year at Spurs. This season has been mixed, but he was among the worst offenders in Spurs' shambolic defensive showing against Leicester City. He will benefit significantly from the competition that Wimmer would provide.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Younes Kaboul, himself also primarily right-sided, has lost the athleticism and aggression that once made him an excellent defender and a leader on the pitch, while Vlad Chiriches is simply too error-prone to be considered reliable. 

The signing of Wimmer, and the sales of Kaboul and Chiriches that would presumably follow, leaves Spurs with a more balanced defensive unit. 

The move also follows Spurs' preferred way of doing business. Having identified a promising young player in Europe, the club has moved swiftly to secure his signature ahead of their rivals. 

Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

The signing of Wimmer will not suddenly transform Tottenham's defence. The worrying regularity with which supposedly weak opposition attacks penetrate Spurs' line requires more than a new centre-back. However, the addition of an athletic, intelligent defender lifts the overall quality of Pochettino's squad. 

The rise in quality will help to enhance confidence and cohesion. If the players believe that they can trust their team-mates in difficult situations, they are more likely to respect the defensive system. 

So many of Spurs' individual errors come from simple breakdowns of communication. Spurs fans will hope that Wimmer can help reduce those mistakes. 

If Wimmer can continue his development at Spurs next season, they will be able to field an excellent, young defence ahead of one of the world's best goalkeepers. If they can't produce an improved return with the calibre of players they'll be able to call upon, it will be utterly mystifying.