Perr Schuurs’ agent, George Gardi, has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were one of the clubs who showed interest in his client ahead of his switch to Torino this summer.
Tottenham were linked with a whole host of central defenders during the summer transfer window, including the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Josko Gvardiol, Kim Min-Jae, Gleison Bremer, Marc Guehi, and Pau Torres (Football.London).
In the end, the only addition that the North London club made in central defence was the signing of Clement Lenglet on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Gardi has now suggested that Antonio Conte’s men also explored a deal for Schuurs, prior to his switch from Ajax to Torino in deal reportedly worth €13m (£11.3m) including add-ons (NL Times).
The Dutch centre-back had established himself as a mainstay in Erik Ten Hag’s backline over the last couple of years, and the 22-year-old’s agent has revealed that his performances had attracted the attention of the likes of Spurs, Liverpool and PSG.
Gardi remarked that a switch to Turin was seen as the ideal move for the defender’s development at this stage of his career.
Schuurs’ agent told Tuttosport: “The first time the director expressed Torino’s willingness to take Perr it seems to me we were faced with something unthinkable to materialize. During that time, clubs of the calibre of Tottenham, Liverpool and PSG had moved.
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“Schuurs arrived in Turin already having international visibility, so much so that many had started knocking on Ajax’s door. Exactly also teams enrolled in the Champions League.
“Overmars, the Dutch market man until January, had refused much higher offers than the one formulated by Cairo (Torino president). When Torino showed up, we thought it was the best landing place for Perr’s career.
“The operation, as I have told you, was long, but fair and in some passages even pleasant. In addition to Liverpool, Tottenham and Psg, three Italian clubs also wanted Schuurs.
“However we took a path and we went on to follow it without delay, even with a strong conviction: thanks to Toro I am sure that Schuurs can become a pillar of the Dutch national team.”
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We know that Paratici likes taking punts on up-and-coming young talent, as we saw with the Bryan Gil and Pape Sarr deals. So, perhaps, the Spurs managing director enquired about Schuurs. However, it did not appear as if the North London club made a concrete effort to sign the centre-back over the summer.
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