Tottenham, Newcastle fight for Adarabioyo
Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in the lead to sign Super Eagles-eligible centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo.
The 26-year-old is also reportedly attracting interest from Newcastle United, according to reports in the English media.
As his contract with Fulham is set to expire in the summer, numerous clubs are lining up to secure his signature for free, drawn by his experience and quality.
Adarabioyo has previously been linked with Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool, both of whom are looking to strengthen their defensive departments in the upcoming transfer window.
Beyond the Premier League, Italian powerhouse AC Milan are contemplating a move for the Manchester City Academy graduate, but they undoubtedly face a challenging task in outbidding their English counterparts.
Fulham are eager to renew the contract of the player earning £40,000 per week, aiming to prevent his departure for free this summer.
They plan to engage in ongoing negotiations with the center-back, aiming to retain one of their pivotal players.
Adarabioyo moved to Fulham on a three-year contract in October 2020 following his departure from Manchester City, where he had spent 17 years.
The club has the possibility to extend the contract by another 12 months. Although the exact transfer fee remains undisclosed, reports from local media suggested that Manchester City could potentially receive £2 million for the transfer, in addition to a 20% sell-on fee for any future transactions.
Addressing the situation, football analyst Ben Jacobs has noted that the 26-year-old appears to be content in London, and there haven’t been any definitive signals suggesting he would opt for Newcastle in the event of an offer from the Magpies.
“We don’t know yet where Adarabioyo’s head lies. I’ve always been told that he’s quite happy in London, and Fulham will push to get him to extend. So that one’s not a given, and there’s not yet any indication whether he would pick Newcastle should an offer arrive.
Adarabioyo has made 20 league appearances for Fulham so far, and has demonstrated consistency by starting in 18 of those matches.
Impressively, he’s not only been solid at the back but has also made notable contributions in attack, finding the back of the net twice over the course of the season.
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Delving into his defensive performance, the former Manchester City defender has displayed his ability to disrupt opposition plays with an average of 1.1 tackles per game and 1.3 interceptions per game.
Also, his proficiency in clearing danger has been evident, recording an average of 4.0 clearances per game.
With an overall rating of 6.80, Adarabioyo’s presence in the team has undoubtedly been influential as Fulham navigate through the challenges of the current campaign.
Born in Manchester with Nigerian heritage, Adarabioyo finds himself in a unique position of international eligibility, capable of representing both England and Nigeria on the global stage.
Despite his English roots, the 26-year-old has yet to make an appearance for England’s Three Lions.
However, his journey in international football began with England’s youth setup, where he featured for the U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-19 teams, yet his allegiance remains unclaimed at the senior level.
Reports emerged of an approach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to convince him to play for the Super Eagles, a proposition he reportedly declined initially.
However, in 2020, Adarabioyo hinted at a potential change of heart, expressing his aspirations of representing either England or Nigeria at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Regrettably, Nigeria failed to make an appearance in Qatar, while England did, but Adarabioyo wasn’t considered for their squad.