Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva prepares to shoot the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Manchester United at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 6, 2019. (Getty Images)
According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho is keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva.
The veteran Brazilian is set to leave the French side as a free agent when his current contract expires later this month, with Tottenham’s rivals Everton and Arsenal also hot on his trail. (h/t The Sun)
Despite, the competition for his signature, Mourinho is still eager to land him at Tottenham as he identified Silva as a suitable replacement for Spurs veteran Jan Vertonghen, who is most likely to exit the club this summer. (h/t The Sun)
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Silva is a legend at PSG, having won seven league titles with the club since moving from Serie A side AC Milan back in 2012. The veteran centre-back had made 30 appearances for the French champions this term before coronavirus stopped play.
A key player for PSG over the years, Silva has also been a regular in the Brazil national team and has made 88 appearances for the Selecao.
Still a consistent player for both club and country, it is not a big surprise, Spurs boss Mourinho has now expressed an interest in him. (h/t The Sun)
Tottenham have struggled throughout the season so far, especially in their defence, that has seen them slip to a lowly eighth in the league standings. They have conceded as many as 40 goals from their 29 league matches, joining Burnley to become the side with the worst defensive record among the top-10 sides this season.
Spurs have not had any major signings in their defence since roping in Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth back in 2017. They have mostly relied on the centre-back partnership of Toby Alderweireld and Vertonghen in the past few years.
However, with creaks in Tottenham’s defence evident following the side’s dismal show in the league, it is clear that the side is in need of some reinforcements. Also, with Vertonghen’s future at the club remaining a question mark, it seems safe to bring in an established defender like Silva.
A proven customer, Silva would be an excellent stop-gap solution for the struggling Spurs. Hence, Mourinho’s decision to attempt a raid on the veteran Brazilian would be a wise move and Tottenham should back their manager in the pursuit.
A weak defence has been one of the major reasons for Tottenham’s slip in rankings this season and who better than Silva to sort out those issues. His vast experience will be handy to them at a crucial juncture like this and would help them climb back to the top at least next season. Also, he is available for free, meaning Tottenham can save a lot of money.
