Coentrao capture to help Spurs’ Champions League charge

Tottenham could receive a boost to their prospects of playing Champions League football next term following reports that the north London club are preparing a bid for Real Madrid’s Fabio Coentrao.

Spurs are currently priced at 13/8 with Ladbrokes to finish in the top four and given their current league position, as well as the potential January arrival of the highly-rated Portugal star, this could be one bet to sit up and take notice of.

The Lilywhites currently sit in the much-coveted fourth position, level on points with second and third placed sides Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, having come away with a solid 0-0 draw with top-tier rivals Everton.

But while Andre Villas-Boas’ team may have lost just two of their opening ten top-flight fixtures, concerns still remain as to whether the newly-assembled squad possesses enough attacking creativity to challenge the Premier League hierarchy for a Champions League place.

Defensively Tottenham have impressed, with seven clean sheets already accumulated in the league this term, but it is when going forward that problems emerge with Spurs scoring more than one goal on just two occasions this season.

Enter Coentrao, a player who has developed a reputation with Real as an attacking full-back-cum-winger and possesses the versatility to not only boost AVB’s defensive options but provide the kind of cutting edge lacking from a squad still acclimatising to the demands of the division.

In terms of the back line, the addition of the 25-year-old would allow Jan Vertonghen to slot back into his preferred position in the centre of defence, while his marauding runs down the left wing could eventually have Spurs fans asking “Gareth who?”.

On a final note, Coentrao’s arrival at White Hart Lane could be a kick in the teeth to Manchester United who are 2/5 to make the top four despite failing to complete a last-minute loan deal for the former Benfica man and may yet come to regret that particular transfer failure.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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