Tottenham eye Romanian international as post-Bale shopping spree begins

Tottenham may be about to lose Gareth Bale, but the world record-breaking departure of the Welshman will leave the north Londoners better placed than ever to realise their long-standing Champions League aspirations.

Spurs are available to back at 11/8 to finish in this season’s top four and after investing heavily in their squad in preparation for life without their star player, a £90m windfall is sure to herald further arrivals.

Cover at centre back is one of the key areas in which they need to strengthen and, with Bale’s move to Real Madrid thought to be on the verge of completion, Andre Villas-Boas has begun to dip into his newly replenished war chest by bidding almost £8m for Romanian centre half Vlad Chiriches.

After allowing Steven Caulker to join Cardiff and William Gallas’ contract to expire, Spurs only have injury-prone Younes Kaboul to support Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen and, with the club competing on four fronts this term, that is certainly not going to be enough.

Steaua defender Chiriches, 23, is the man their Portuguese coach identified to bolster his ranks and after seeing top target Willian snatched from under his nose by Chelsea, he’ll be hoping to wrap up a deal as rapidly as possible in order to prevent other parties becoming interested.

Quick and adept in possession, the Romanian international fits perfectly with the Spurs playing model and would compliment either Dawson or Kaboul perfectly in the absence of Vertonghen.

It’s thought to be the second time this summer Spurs have tried to snare the former Benfica man and with both Milan sides also thought to harbour an interest, the onus is on to tie things up quickly.

However, after seemingly missing out on Willian, the club must also make procuring a creative outlet/source of midfield goals their top priority for the remainder of the transfer window and it’s likely to result in them upping an interest in Roma star Erik Lamela.

Should they land a player who can contribute half of the goals they’ll lose through Bale’s exit and add to their defence appropriately, there’s a definite case to argue that Spurs will go one better than last season and finish in the top four this time around.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date