Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin chooses Spurs over Bayern and set for medical

Tottenham have won the race to sign Radu Dragusin with the Genoa centre-back due to arrive in London today for a medical, the PA news agency understands.

Spurs stepped up talks with the Serie A club last week, but faced last-minute competition from Bayern Munich for the defender.

Napoli had also registered an interest in the Romania international but Dragusin is set to become a Tottenham player in a deal that could rise to £25million, while full-back Djed Spence will head in the other direction.

Can Drăgușin do it again at the Renato Dall’Ara tomorrow in #BolognaGenoa? pic.twitter.com/kKRU9NErBF

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) January 4, 2024

Head coach Ange Postecoglou made clear last month his desire for the club to bring in reinforcements in central defence, which was before vice-captain Cristian Romero suffered a hamstring injury.

While Micky Van de Ven is fit again after his own hamstring issue, Dragusin’s imminent arrival will be a welcome boost and he could make his debut at Manchester United on Sunday.

Ex-Chelsea attacker Timo Werner became Spurs’ first January addition on Tuesday when he signed a six-month loan from RB Leipzig, which includes the option to make the deal permanent.

A centre-back was always top of Postecoglou’s priority list, though, and an agreement was finally reached with Genoa at the start of this week.

Bayern’s late interest threatened to scupper the deal, but Dragusin has chosen to move to the Premier League club, with a medical booked in for later on Wednesday.

The move will be the latest chapter in his rapid rise, with the 21-year-old having made 62 appearances for Genoa over the past two seasons after progressing through Juventus’ academy.

Spurs full-back Spence will head to Italy as part of the deal on a six-month loan after his recent spell at Leeds was cut short.

The anticipated signing of Dragusin and Bayern subsequently missing out on his signature also has implications for Eric Dier.

Tottenham are willing to listen to offers for the 29-year-old, who has entered the final six months of his contract and only started once all season under Postecoglou.

Bayern registered an interest in the England international last week and are expected to step up their pursuit of him now.