New Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo is considering raiding his former club to sign defender Willy Boly this summer.
Spurs are looking to bolster their defence ahead of the new season and Nuno has reportedly set his sights on Boly after missing out on his primary target, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.
The 30-year-old Ivory Coast international has established himself as a key figure in the Wolves defence ever since his arrival in 2018. Boly, who still has two years left on his current contract, has made 136 appearances for Wolves in all competitions.
Spurs, meanwhile, are preparing for life without Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier, who could all be shipped out this summer.
The London club are looking to freshen up their squad ahead of a desired top-four push next season. They have been linked with Bologna’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and Lyon’s Joachim Andersen but Willy Boly would be a cheaper alternative as the Ivorian is set to cost under 15 million pounds.
Can Willy Boly spark Spurs’ top-four push?
Tottenham Hotspur are in dire need of reinforcements at the back. Last season, they conceded more goals than any other ‘Big Six’ side (45), which was one of the main reasons for their dismal seventh-place finish. Even a defensive-minded manager like Jose Mourinho was unable to formulate a game plan with the available options in which they could have set up the team with the base of a solid backline.
Boly’s arrival could certainly ease some of their defensive woes. At 1.95m, he is a towering figure at the heart of the defence and can deal with any sort of aerial threat. He won 2.7 aerial duels per game last season. He is also a strong tackler and a smart reader of the game. He averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and four clearances per game.
Willy Boly is comfortable on the ball and has a decent passing range. He is capable of starting attacks from the back and is not often caught in possession. Moreover, his physical prowess means he will be a threat from set-piece situations.
However, his injury record is concerning; he missed a chunk of last season due to a variety of problems. At 30 years of age, Boly is not a long-term option, but he does still have plenty to offer in the Premier League and a move to Spurs makes sense as long as he is not viewed as ‘the’ signing which will solve their defensive woes and lead the line in their renewed push for the top 4.
