Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Villarreal fullback Alex Freeman ahead of a potential transfer, according to Football Insider.
The current crop of United States players has largely been touted as the best in the country since the 2002 squad that reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams are notable among the USMNT’s established members. At the same time, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Malik Tillman, PSV’s Ricardo Pepi, Strasbourg’s John Reyna, and Monaco’s Folarin Balogun represent exciting prospects tipped to have a bright future not just with the national team but with their clubs for the next decade.
The latest USMNT player currently making waves is Freeman, who has been a revelation in LaLiga since arriving at Villarreal in January from MLS side Orlando.
For a player with less than a year into his first-ever European journey, the fullback has taken no time to settle, particularly in the ongoing campaign where he has featured in 10 of the Yellow Submarine’s 11 LaLiga games and all three UEFA Champions League games.
It appears his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Football Insider reporting that Tottenham are closely monitoring Freeman ahead of a potential transfer.
Pedro Porro replacement?
The report adds that Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi is looking to revamp his backline amid uncertainties surrounding Pedro Porro’s future, and the club have now entered the race for Freeman as a possible option.
However, Tottenham are set to face a fierce battle with Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City, who have also entered the race for the 22-year-old, according to the report.
Providing more details on the situation, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke explained on the Transfer Insider podcast that Tottenham have shown interest in Freeman as De Zerbi
He said, ‘Tottenham are another team that are looking at Freeman. Manchester United, as they’re looking to rebuild their defence, are another side that are looking at Alex Freeman. He’s a great player. Great versatility. He can play anywhere across the back line.
‘And as I said, he’s playing at a good level over in Spain, Champions League football as well. So it’s no surprise that he has emerged on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs.’
Looking at Freeman’s statistics on FOTMOB this season, it is clear to see why Tottenham are vying for him. He has recorded a sky-high 91.6% successful passes, created nine chances, and averages an even more impressive 7.58 duels won per game in LaLiga.
Should Porro depart the club, the youngster, valued at £12m by Transfermarkt, would be a low-cost but equally talented option to replace the Spaniard.
