Walker replacement?

You wait around all summer for one transfer to happen…

The dozing sloth that is Tottenham’s recruitment division is finally showing signs of life. After two months of hibernation, while other more agile mammals have been busy fortifying the homestead, it looks as if the rusted cogs are at last beginning to turn in North London.

Jeremy Toljan is the name that’s appeared from the scrublands this week. A 22-year-old German right-back who’s currently stationed at Bundesliga’s most famous village side, Hoffenheim.

By all accounts, Toljan has packed a considerable amount into his short career so far. You might remember him as an important part of the German Olympic squad, that picked up a silver medal in Rio last August. He also enjoyed a prominent role in Hoffenheim’s recent, historic Champions League qualification.

That was before going on to win a European Under-21 title this summer— beating a formidable Spain side in the final that included Saúl Ñíguez and Marco Asensio.

Bargain prices to suit Daniel Levy

If there’s one thing that makes this a realistic deal for Spurs, it’s the defender’s remarkably affordable fee. Never one to shy away from a bargain, Toljan’s believed £3m asking price is certain to fit Daniel Levy’s economic blueprint.

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What could be more Levyian, than selling your first-team right back for £50m and buying his younger replacement for 1/16 of the cost. It’s almost poetic in its execution.

For Hoffenheim, there’s the risk of their star man walking away for free; Toljan’s contract runs out in 2018 and director of football, Alex Rosen, seems intent on at least harvesting some financial return before then. Despite interest from Benfica, Rosen appears to be resigned to losing Toljan to last season’s Premier League runners-up:

“If Tottenham come in and offer to treble Toljan’s salary, you cannot say: ‘London is an unattractive city or Tottenham are a bad club.’ This is all very positive, and then young people think about it.”

Sounds promising.

Candreva interest

Elsewhere in Potential Transferland, some reports are emerging that Mauricio Pochettino is keen on landing Inter midfielder, Antonio Candreva.

In a recent interview, Candreva’s agent spoke of his client’s approval of new San Siro boss Luciano Spalletti. Even after this show of loyalty, however, it’s thought the Italian would be open to a move to the Premier League. If the money was right. Apropos to nothing, Chelsea are thought to be an interested party, too.

If the Toljan deal has Levy’s fingerprints all over it, Candreva to Spurs is a rather less practical scenario to imagine. The former-Lazio man turns 31 next February and I Nerazzurri are supposedly holding out for £25m.

I’ve not got the inside track on this story, but I’d wager there’s more chance of Spurs signing Davos Seaworth than spending that kind of money on a relative veteran. As we saw with Roberto Soldado, there’s not much sell-on value if things don’t work out.

We shall see.