Jean-Clair Todibo and Premier Legaue rivals – five centre-backs Tottenham could sign in January

Tottenham will prioritise a new centre-back in January to bolster their defensive options.

With that, WhoScored.com have picked out five linked with a move to Spurs and assessed why they have cropped up on the north London side’s radar.

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Postecoglou wants reinforcements in January[/caption]

Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice)

The number one centre-back target as far as Tottenham fans are concerned, and it is easy to see why.

Jean-Clair Todibo is exactly the forward-thinking defender Spurs should be targeting next month as they seek to bolster at the back.

The Frenchman ranks third for passes per game (88.7) and second for forward passes (432) in Ligue 1 this season to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of ‘passing’ as he shines for a Nice side that has conceded fewer goals (9) than any other team in the division.

In addition, only club teammate Dante (230) has won possession in the defensive third more times than the 23-year-old (228) since the start of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign.

With the requisite athleticism to make up the yards in a high-pressing Spurs backline, it’s no wonder the north London side have prioritised Todibo next month.

He won’t come cheap but he’ll help take Spurs’ defence to the next level, that goes without saying.

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Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth)

Should Tottenham be priced out of a move for Todibo, then there are Premier League experienced targets they can pursue. Lloyd Kelly is one of those more affordable defensive options for the north London side.

Kelly’s current deal at Bournemouth is up at the end of the season and the Cherries will look to cash in on the 25-year-old next month rather than lose him on a free in the summer.

Crucially, Kelly prefers to play on the left side of defence, and able to play left-back too, the Bournemouth man would be a good fit. It may even come to pass that Kelly has already played his final game for Andoni Iraola’s side.

Indeed, the former Bristol City man is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury and there are question marks over whether he’d even break back into the Bournemouth first choice XI given the form of Marcos Senesi and Illia Zabarnyi of late.

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Kelly was wanted by Tottenham in the summer[/caption]

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham)

Another whose contract is up at the end of the season, Spurs were interested in Tosin Adarabioyo over the summer but failed to come to an agreement with Fulham for the 26-year-old.

Monaco have also been credited with an interest in Adarabioyo, who has put in a series of solid displays in the Cottagers backline in the absence of Tim Ream and Issa Diop.

That Adarabioyo has started just five league games this season shouldn’t be a stick with which to beat him. The towering centre-back has been solid when called upon by Marco Silva, who is adamant that Adarabioyo won’t depart Craven Cottage in January.

Yet, with his contract close to expiring, Fulham may look to cash in on the defender next month rather than lose him on a free at the end of the season.

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Adarabioyo has also had links to Tottenham having excelled with Fulham[/caption]

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

Crystal Palace may struggle in the final third but boast a sound defensive core that means they remain competitive up until the death.

A key reason behind their solid resolve has been the performances of Marc Guehi. His displays in a Palace shirt have not gone unnoticed either with Tottenham and Manchester United both linked with a January move for the England international.

That being said, while Kelly and Adarabioyo are budget options for Spurs; Guehi would cost a pretty penny to prise away from Selhurst Park.

The Eagles would command a huge fee for the 23-year-old, who ranks 13th for accurate long balls by outfielders (68) in the Premier League this season. With Euro 2024 on the horizon, too, Guehi himself may be reluctant to move mid-season for fear of losing his England spot.

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Guehi is an England star so might want to move to a top club as he looks to keep his place[/caption]

Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)

Everton really picked out a diamond from the EFL when they signed Jarrad Branthwaite from League Two outfit Carlisle back in 2020.

Branthwaite subsequently went on loan spells to Blackburn and PSV before returning in the summer, and has since nailed down a regular starting spot under Sean Dyche at Goodison Park.

Key to Branthwaite’s rise to prominence this season has been his impressive reading of the game under Dyche. Only Ethan Pinnock (32) and club teammate James Tarkowski (31) have made more interceptions than the 21-year-old (26) of centre-backs in England’s top tier this term.

Like Guehi, though, Everton are understandably reluctant to lose Branthwaite in the New Year, so a January move is unlikely but the Premier League’s big hitters are likely to monitor the youngster in the coming months.

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Branthwaite put in a fine performance against Tottenham despite a 2-1 defeat for Everton[/caption]