Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly pursuing a late move for Nottingham Forest full back Neco Williams before the summer transfer window closes.
Spurs have endured a miserable start to the Premier League season, suffering back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United in their opening two fixtures.
Roberto De Zerbi is now looking to strengthen his squad before the window shuts, with the left back position identified as a priority area requiring urgent reinforcement.
The defensive struggles have been compounded by concerns over Andy Robertson’s performances at the back, adding further pressure on the club to act quickly in the market.
The decision to allow Djed Spence to leave for Inter Milan has already appeared to backfire, leaving Spurs short of options in a critical defensive position.
The departure of Souza to Porto has further depleted the squad, making the need for a reliable left back even more pressing as the season gets underway.
Football London has reported that Tottenham are now targeting Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams, who has delivered several strong campaigns for the club in recent seasons.
The 25-year-old Welsh defender is valued at £24 million on Transfermarkt, representing what Spurs would view as a reasonable outlay to solve their defensive problems.
However, Forest manager Oliver Glasner is reportedly unwilling to sanction the sale of such a key player so late in the transfer window, given the difficulty of finding a replacement in time.
Nottingham Forest regard Williams as central to their setup and would have very little time to bring in a suitable replacement should a formal bid arrive from Spurs.
The likelihood of a deal being completed before this window closes appears slim, though January could represent a more realistic opportunity for Tottenham to revisit their interest in the defender.
De Zerbi and Spurs will need to find alternative solutions in the short term if Williams proves unavailable, as the Premier League schedule shows no signs of easing up.