TOTTENHAM HAVE MADE their first signing of the summer transfer window and smashed their club record to bring in defender Davinson Sanchez from Ajax on a six-year deal.
The 21-year-old will cost Spurs £42m once a medical has been completed and a work permit has been approved for the Colombian centre-back.
Much has been made of the North London side’s lack of activity in the transfer market so far, considering they sold a first-team regular in Kyle Walker to Manchester City.
But, Tottenham do have a new stadium to pay for and, last year, boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted the cost of the venue would inhibit the acquiring of new faces.
Sanchez is highly-regarded, though, and has enjoyed a meteoric rise.
He made his name at Medellin-based Atlético Nacional as a teenager and was a key ingredient in the side claiming the Copa Libertadores title for only the second time in their history in 2016.
His performances subsequently attracted interest from Europe and he signed for Ajax for about £4.5m – the attraction of first-team football proving the motivator.
He started all but two Eredivisie games in 2016/17 – an incredible feat for a youngster who had no previous experience of playing in Europe – while he proved crucial in the team’s run to the Europa League final too.
He scored six times in the league and was already up-and-running this term with a goal against Nice in the Champions League qualifiers.
Writing in his column in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf earlier this year, Ruud Gullit said that Sanchez was ‘a class apart, powerful and fast-paced’.
“Jaap Stam was the last Ajax defender to show such qualities”, he added.
Stam only played one season for the iconic Amsterdam club before retiring and that was when he was a well-travelled, world-renowned and decorated 34-year-old.
It says much about Sanchez’s reputation that he’s receiving such praise having only played one full term of European football.
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No sour grapes but Kerry won all their league games and should be playing 1b next year. How else are tier 2 county’s to progress. Sure they would have shipped a big loss or too but it might be better than easing in to a pointless league final. Offaly should be in div 2 as a kick in the a… For failing to perform all year.
Hurling league is a joke. It’s 10 times harder to get relegated than get promoted. GAA protect the traditional counties and screw those trying to make an impact
I agree completely but it’s not offaly who should be relegated it’s aintrim, they finished bottom of div 1a with 0 points. Offaly had 3 points but lost to Antrim in stupid relegation game. Kerry were hard done by for sure.
So Offaly, who have already lost a relegation play off to Antrim and should therefore have been relegated get a second chance to stay up and Kerry who won all their games (including the div 2a FINAL) have to stay in 2a? What’s the point in having a ‘final’ if there’s no reward for winning?
How is hurling in the ‘weaker counties’ supposed to improve if they’re not given a chance? Absolute farce.
Its a joke really even Brain Whealan admitted that if fair was fair this game shouldn’t have happened and Offaly should have been relegated and Kerry promoted, However its not Offaly’s fault that this is the way the league was set-up. Hopefully Offaly can kick on from here. I’m from Offaly BTW
Offaly drew with Limerick and beat Antrim in the group so had 3 points and Antrim finished bottom with 0 points so should have been relegated.
But Antrim put out a near second team for the last day of the league against Offaly as there was nothing to play for and out their strongest team to beat them in the play off. They wouldn’t have rested players for the final league game otherwise.
There was a barrow load wrong with the way league was set up this year, first of all Antrim brought the game into disrepute by resting 14 player for the last league game against Offaly in Tullamore (Which Offaly won at a canter).
Then why was the playoff played in Ballycastle uo in the very north of Antrim even though Offaly had 3 points and Antrim finished with 0 points.
Surly the game should have been in a neutral venue.
Also if you win Division 2A as Kerry did then surly to God that team deserves to get promoted. I mean Who D Funk put this system together, my kids junior infants class would have done a better job
Offaly finished the league with 3 points Antrim with none, antrim should be gone, I fail to see the point of playoffs at all. Completely unnecessary.
Offaly deserved to remain in Div 1B – it was Antrim who failed to register a single point all year and should be in Division 2 with Kerry taking their place in 1B next year.
Offaly lost the relegation play off against Antrim so therefore they don’t deserve anything, you really are clueless just like the people who decided this second play off should have happened.
FDL is correct. Offaly new their fate was to be decided in that playoff.
There should have been no playoff finish bottom of the group you should be relegated. What’s the purpose of these playoffs?
I wonder do we get a cup!? #fishing
Opportunity missed to expand hurling counties in Ireland. But don’t worry Sky are going to bring brilliant exposure to it in the UK.