Tottenham Hotspur are maintaining their interest in Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup as an alternative to Manchester City’s Savinho, according to Football Insider. The club are seeking to strengthen their left-wing options following the departure of Son Heung-min last summer, a position that has proven difficult to fill despite several attempts during the current transfer window.
Previous efforts to utilise Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, and Xavi Simons on the left flank were unsuccessful, though Simons’s best position is centrally and he suffered an ACL injury. Both Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani were also trialled in the role without significant impact, leaving it as one of two remaining priorities for manager Roberto De Zerbi before the September 1st transfer deadline.
Schjelderup, 22, impressed during the recent World Cup, registering four assists and scoring against England with a notable strike. Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider confirmed Tottenham’s interest, stating the player “ticks a lot of boxes” for the club given his position for both Norway and Benfica. He described Schjelderup’s World Cup performance as “very good.”
While a £60 million deal for Savinho is reportedly nearing completion, the prolonged negotiations have raised some concerns. Schjelderup could represent a more affordable option at an estimated £43 million, despite Benfica manager Marco Silva’s desire to retain the player. Last season, Schjelderup scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 43 appearances, including goals in both the Champions League and Portuguese league.
In comparison, Savinho managed only one Premier League goal and four goals in all competitions last campaign. Schjelderup is reportedly open to a move to the Premier League, however, Tottenham’s continued pursuit of Savinho, coupled with his prior experience in the league, suggests the Brazilian remains the more likely arrival at the club this summer.
