Maxi Araujo has impressed at the World Cup and his latest comments have sparked fresh speculation, with Tottenham among the clubs keeping close tabs on the Sporting full-back.
In recent weeks, Tottenham Hotspur’s full-backs have been linked with moves away from N17.
Pedro Porro was reported to have attracted interest from both Real Madrid and Manchester City, but Spurs acted quickly and handed Porro a new contract.
Destiny Udogie has been linked with Juventus, while Djed Spence has drawn interest from Everton.
Tottenham, however, are keen to keep hold of their options, though they continue to be linked with a new left-back.
Tottenham target Maxi Araujo changes tone after World Cup displays
Maxi Araujo has been on Tottenham’s radar for some time, with the club said to have scouted him on several occasions.
Spurs, though, are not the only club to have watched Araujo closely, with Manchester United and Chelsea also keeping tabs on the versatile full-back.
The Uruguayan is now on World Cup duty and has impressed with two goals and an assist for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in his two appearances so far.
Following his standout display in the game against Cape Verde, Araujo opened up about his future amid interest from sides in the Premier League.
Speaking to Antena 1, as relayed by Sport Witness, the full-back left the door open to the possibility of a move away from Sporting when quizzed about his future.
He said, “I am very happy at Sporting, but you never know what will happen.” This marked a shift from comments earlier this month when he said, “My idea is to stay at Sporting. We are going to play in the Champions League again and that excites me a lot.”
Araujo’s World Cup numbers underline growing interest
Araujo’s performances in the World Cup so far will surely have caught the eye of his suitors, with Sporting likely to be wary given his £69 million release clause.
Against Cape Verde, he delivered a standout display, registering 33 touches, creating three chances, scoring once and providing an assist.
His passing accuracy stood at 75 per cent, while he also created one big chance and registered a shot on target, underlining his influence in the final third.
His versatility was also on display as he was used as a left-midfielder as opposed to a left-back in this matchup.
| Statistic | Number |
|---|---|
| Touches | 33 |
| Chances created | 3 |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Touches in opposition box | 10 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 12/16 (75%) |
| Shots on target | 1 |