Rounding Up Tottenham Hotspur's Recent Transfer Activity
The 2016 UEFA European Championship and Copa America Centenario are in full swing, and so it is easy to miss the latest developments in the transfer market.
With that in mind, we've compiled all the major developments in Tottenham Hotspur's search for reinforcements ahead of a huge season.
Spurs have a Premier League title to fight for and will be desperate to perform well in the Champions League, which means their relatively modest squad simply won't do.
Mauricio Pochettino needs additions to his squad across defence, midfield and attack.
Let's see where Tottenham stand after an interesting week of transfer developments.
Victor Wanyama Seems Virtually a Done Deal
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Southampton's midfield enforcer Victor Wanyama has been regularly linked with Tottenham since Pochettino made the move to north London from the south coast.
Pochettino sanctioned a club-record fee for Wanyama when he was Saints boss and is an unashamed admirer of the Kenya international.
According to the MailOnline, Spurs are close to sealing an £11 million deal to sign the 24-year-old, but Wanyama himself appears to have let the cat out of the bag.
While giving a motivational talk at a Kenyan prison, Wanyama told Soka25east.com he was looking forward to Tottenham's Champions League campaign and hopes that Southampton fans understand his decision.
Eric Dier suddenly has competition in defensive midfield and that can only be good for Spurs' ambitions.
The Michy Batshuayi Deal Is as Clear as Mud
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Tottenham have been chasing Olympique de Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi for some time. Certainly, since the beginning of this close season, the Belgian has been high on the club's target list, and they scouted him in person in May, according to Mercato 365 (h/t HITC.com).
His reported wage demands, £100,000-per-week according to the Mirror, would likely prove an insurmountable obstacle.
Spurs simply won't offer such an immense sum—in addition to a significant transfer fee—on a player who has yet to leave his mark outside France's Ligue 1 and the Belgian Jupiler League.
According to Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia), Juventus have revived their interest in the Belgium international, while Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph claimed West Ham also have a longstanding interest.
It remains to be seen which way this deal will go.
The Search for a Back-Up Defender Isn't Going Well
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Tottenham's defence was the best in England last season and, in Kevin Wimmer, they have one of the best reserve defenders in Europe.
With increased squad demands and the likelihood of injury, Spurs need another back-up.
According to Bild (h/t Sport Witness), Werder Bremen's giant Dane Jannik Vestergaard had been a target, but he has since joined Borussia Monchengladbach.
Sky Sports reported Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti had been another target, but, according to Sport, he is set for a medical ahead of a move to Barcelona.
Bolton's Rob Holding was yet another player pursued by the club, but he appears poised to join Arsenal, according to the Sun (h/t the Daily Star).
Given that not every player pursued by the club is reported by the media, it is fair to say that Tottenham are struggling to find a player to back up the immense Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs Are Finding It Tough to Crack the French Market
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Ligue 1 has a relatively low reputation as a competitive league, but it is largely considered the richest seam of young talent in Europe.
With a deeper talent pool than Portugal's Liga but fewer genuine super clubs than Serie A, the Bundesliga or Spain's Liga, it is an ideal place to find the next big player.
Leicester City have just won the league partly thanks to the brilliance of Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, both of whom signed for a relative pittance from France. Chelsea won it a year earlier with former Lille OSC star Eden Hazard taking centre stage.
Even Spurs have enjoyed some success acquiring players from Ligue 1. Former Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris has been an unquestioned success while ex-Montpellier midfielder Benjamin Stambouli was underwhelming but ultimately sold at a profit to PSG.
Tottenham are yet to really figure out French football. This summer's pursuit of Michy Batshuayi—a year after he was largely sidelined by manager Franck Passi—may finally be a step in the right direction.
Stade Rennais' wonderkid striker Ousmane Dembele was pursued too, according to France Football (h/t TalkSport), but he opted to join Borussia Dortmund.
According to L'Equipe, via HITC, Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier was briefly considered but ultimately turned down.
