Spurs strengthen defence further through Khumalo deal
Published:Tottenham have already made moves to strengthen their defence in the January transfer window by completing a deal for South African defender Bongani Khumalo.
Khumalo impressed in a trial spell at White Hart Lane and Harry Redknapp has agreed to pay £1.5 million to Supersport United for the 23-year-old’s services.
With clean sheets currently non existent at Spurs, Khumalo’s capture will add some extra competition for places and help provide cover to the club’s defensive issues.
Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate are both long-term injury casualties, while Ledley King’s struggles to play a decent number of games in a short space of time continue.
Despite this Tottenham still sit fifth in the table, seven points behind Chelsea, and are 66/1 to win the Premier League this season.
Redknapp said: “He’s not expensive. We had him over on trial and we like him. He has potential, we’ve got a tie-up with SuperSport, so we’ve taken him.”
The deal is subject to a work permit being granted and Khumalo will do battle with the likes of Sebastien Bassong, William Gallas and Younes Kaboul for a spot in the heart of the Spurs defence.
Redknapp is a big fan of Kaboul but feels that he can regularly lose concentration, while Gallas is still looking to regain optimum fitness after his surprise free transfer switch from Arsenal.
Spurs’ defensive crisis has resulted in Vedran Corluka sometimes moving across from right back, but his lack of pace has been exposed at times and Tom Huddlestone has also occasionally stepped back from midfield to help out.
Tottenham have gone 11 games in all competitions without a clean sheet and will find it difficult to end this record in their next Premier League game when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Spurs are 4/1 to beat Manchester United and will be relying on Rafael van der Vaart to continue his goalscoring form if they are to leave with three points. See the full Manchester United vs Tottenham match betting odds market.
