Conte now eyeing Spurs swoop for "aggressive" £42.5m-rated brute, he's Bastoni 2.0 - opinion

Tottenham Hotspur have now turned their attention to a new central defensive target…

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Spurs manager Antonio Conte is keen to sign AS Roma colossus Roger Ibanez this summer transfer window, though he is facing competition from Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

General manager Tiago Pinto does not view the 23-year-old centre-back as ‘non-transferrable’ but he could cost in the region of €30m (£26m).

It’s also thought that the Serie A outfit, led by former Lilywhites head coach Jose Mourinho, already has potential replacements in mind, with Feyenoord’s Marcos Senesi and Arthur Theate of Bologna mentioned as targets.

Interest in another name should come as no surprise after the north Londoners were dealt a gutting blow in their pursuit of top target Alessandro Bastoni, who now appears to be staying at Conte’s former club Inter Milan.

“Bastoni is definitely staying at Inter,” his agent Tullio Tinti revealed earlier this week (via The Athletic). “He’s an Inter player. He’s happy to play for Inter.”

Whilst hope of signing him isn’t diminishing despite the news, especially given Inter’s financial status right now, it would make sense to plan elsewhere; and there won’t be a better candidate than Ibanez, who, on the face of it, looks like Bastoni 2.0.

The £42.5m-rated brute has been described as “a talent” by his former manager Paulo Fonseca, who also claimed: “It’s not easy to find fast, aggressive central defenders, but Roger has another side to his game. He has a lot of quality and courage on the ball.”

He has also described himself as being a bit of a speed demon and quite the complete centre-back. “I am quick and strong in the air too. I like to play the ball to feet. All these