Tottenham pip Bayern Munich to Drăgusin signing – sources،
Tottenham have beaten off late competition from Bayern Munich to sign Genovese defender Radu Drăgusin, sources have told ESPN.
Spurs have agreed a deal worth around €25 million ($27.3 million) plus a further €5 million which will also see defender Djed Spence join the Italian club on a six-month loan .
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Sources told ESPN that after Tottenham edged out Napoli in the race to sign the 21-year-old, Bayern suddenly entered the fray on Tuesday as Spence stalled to join Genoa.
Bayern offered to pay the full cost of the transfer up front, but Drăgusin indicated his preference to join Spurs. What's more, Spence has now agreed to a move – one source suggested Genoa are not paying a loan fee – and Dragusin is traveling to London on Wednesday to undergo a medical ahead of his transfer.
Sources told ESPN that Spurs had a plane waiting Wednesday morning for Spence who is expected to travel to Italy soon.
Drăgusin joined Genoa from Juventus, initially on loan, in the summer of 2022 and helped the club secure promotion to Serie B before playing every minute in Serie A this season.
Spurs hope to complete a deal in time for Drăgusin to be eligible to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in Sunday's Premier League match.
Ange Postecoglou was keen to sign at least one centre-back in the January window given Cristian Romero is not expected to play again until February after suffering a hamstring injury.
Netherlands international Micky Van de Ven returned to the matchday squad for Spurs' FA Cup win over Burnley on Friday after injuring his hamstring in the defeat to Chelsea on November 6.
Postecoglou opted to rely on full-backs Emerson Royal and Ben Davies in a central role in the absence of Romero and Van de Ven, with Eric Dier still out of favor. Bayern are interested in Dier as a possible alternative to Dragusin.
Spence is hoping to revive his career after a loan spell at Leeds ended. Postecoglou did not want Spence in his squad and sources told ESPN he was sent to train with the Under-21s while a new club was found.
The 23-year-old joined Tottenham in July 2022 in a deal worth up to £19million, but has made just six appearances as a substitute for the club, spending the second half of last season on loan to Rennes.
