Why Tottenham should make a move for Benfica defender Ruben Dias

Last month, the Express had claimed that Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is interested in signing Benfica centre-back Ruben Dias this summer.

Ruben Dias is one of the most admired young defenders in the game. He has made over 150 career appearances at the age of 22 and lifted the Primeira Liga title with Benfica in May 2019. The centre-back was arguably the best player on the pitch as Portugal beat Holland in the inaugural Nations League final last year.

The Portuguese international has had a strong 2019/20 campaign with Benfica, racking up 39 appearances across all competitions.

Due to his recent impressive displays, manager Bruno Lage also handed him the captain’s armband on a few occasions. With Dias continuing to impress with the Portuguese giants, Tottenham must definitely attempt to sign him during the summer transfer window.

Tottenham have lacked stability in defence this season. There have been a lot of changes in defence, with Jose Mourinho opting three at the back at times since replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the helm. The constant chopping and changing in defence has seen Spurs leak 40 goals in 29 games.

At 32, Jan Vertonghen brings experience, having been at the club for eight years but given the centre -back has yet to be offered fresh terms for an extension, he is heading for the exit at the end of the season. While Toby Alderweireld committed his future by signing a new contract earlier this campaign, he has also entered his 30s.

With Vertonghen and Alderweireld not performing at their best, Davinson Sanchez has failed badly to step up to the plate. The Colombian has been prone to committing errors in defence, as he is yet to fully convince the Portuguese tactician.

Mourinho already has 19-year-old Ryan Sessegnon and 20-year-old Japhet Tanganga as a part of his first-team squad but he needs to add more freshness to his backline ahead of the new campaign. Thus, Mourinho must make it an absolute priority to strengthen his defence over the summer and he should land Dias.

Dias has been a regular for Benfica over the last couple of seasons. He has also earned 17 caps for Portugal, which is no mean feat for a 22-year-old. The Portuguese is still very young but the fact that he has already established himself as a regular starter in the Liga Nos is a testament to his rapid progress and vast potential.

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To put things into perspective, Tottenham desperately need to fix their defensive problems if they are to challenge for trophies under Mourinho next term. Dias looks like a top young defender in the right age bracket to add quality and depth to the club’s options at the back.

Verdict

Having said that, Dias to Tottenham seems to have all the makings of an excellent piece of business for the North London club and one that could pay off handsomely for them in the years to come.