Joel Veltman has emerged as a potential summer target for Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as he aims to improve his side’s already solid defence, reports the London Evening Standard.
Spurs conceded fewer goals (26) than any other Premier League side last season, yet with Kevin Wimmer expected to depart the club this summer, Pochettino doesn’t want to be caught short at the back ahead of another important campaign for the club.
Veltman has been on Spurs’ wishlist for the best part of 12 months now and the north London side could firm up their interest in the Netherlands international once the transfer window opens.
The 25-year-old, who is comfortable at both centre-back and right-back, has 12 months left to run on his current deal at the Amsterdam ArenA and Spurs believe they can land the defender for as little as £8m.
Should he make the switch to Spurs, he’ll follow in the footsteps of Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld, who all spent their formative year with Ajax.
Ajax are reluctant to lose their key defender, who made more tackles (133) than any other player in the Eredivisie last season, but may have little choice but to cash in on Veltman rather than lose him on a free next summer.
Furthermore, a WhoScored rating of 7.70 was enough to earn a place in the Eredivisie team of the season.
