Postecoglou saddled with Tottenham flop after prospective buyers back out to negotiate different deal
Tottenham Hotspur look like they will have to find a new solution for Sergio Reguilon after Atletico Madrid abandoned negotiations to focus on a different left-back.
Reguilon spent the season on loan at Atletico Madrid after struggling to make his mark across two years with Tottenham. No option to buy was ever included in the deal when negotiations were finalised back in August.
Nevertheless, Atletico would have been easily able to ask for a permanent transfer if they went on to be impressed by Reguilon.
Due to a combination of injury issues and other choices, though, a seriously unimpressed Diego Simeone only sent Reguilon onto the field for Atleti on 12 occasions during his loan spell.
Only two of his 11 La Liga appearances came as a starter, while his sole outing in the Copa del Rey was from the bench. Despite previous experience with Real Madrid and Sevilla, being back in Spain wasn’t as fruitful as it could have been for the 26-year-old.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Atleti will not be making an attempt to keep Reguilon after his loan spell. That can be inferred from the fact that they are now in talks for a new left-back.
According to AS, Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has met with Celta Vigo president Carlos Mourino to discuss a deal for Javi Galan.
Simeone has supposedly given the green light to the transfer, which should be able to go through for less than the €18m release clause in Galan’s contract.
Galan outclassed Reguilon in La Liga this season, starting 36 out of his 37 La Liga appearances and playing three times in the Copa del Rey. Across all competitions, Galan got four assists and one goal.
In contrast, Reguilon failed to contribute to any goal when he did get a rare opportunity to play for Atleti.
Reguilon faces uncertain future at Tottenham
What Tottenham do with him next remains to be seen. Ange Postecoglou is about to begin his reign as their new head coach.
Remaining Tottenham left-back Ben Davies faces an uncertain future this summer and might be sold. Ivan Perisic, who usually lined up as a left-wing-back in his debut Spurs season, might also be keen on a departure after Antonio Conte’s exit.
Therefore, there could yet be an opening for another left-back in the Spurs squad. They still have Reguilon under contract until 2025.
But perhaps they would prefer to sell him, so they will have to listen out for other offers now that Atleti have diverted their focus elsewhere.
