Reports: Spurs nearing deal for Wolves’ Doherty

It looks as though Matt Doherty might be the guy. Two reports emerged today, one from Miguel Delaney in the Independent and one from Jack Pitt-Brooke in The Athletic (£), suggesting that Spurs are close to hammering out a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers right back Matt Doherty.

Both reports suggest that Wolves want £20m for the Irish right back, who would ostensibly be the “experienced, stop-gap” right back that David Ornstein suggested that Jose Mourinho might want in that position, either as a replacement or competition for Serge Aurier. Both reports also say that Spurs’ initial offer was £12m plus add-ons.

Wolves have already apparently lined up young Arsenal wing back Ainsley Maitland-Niles as Doherty’s replacement, and based on the tenor of both of these reports it sounds as though it’s just going to come down to haggling.

It also suggests that perhaps a move for Doherty may not be dependent on Aurier’s sale after all (something I literally suggested in a separate article not 20 minutes ago lol). That means that there’s a real possibility that we could end up with both Aurier and Doherty heading into next season.

Doherty is a utility fullback, primarily operating on the right side, but also with the ability to play on the left. That, plus his Premier League experience and the fact that he’s now considered for league purposes to be home-grown, make him an attractive target for Jose Mourinho, even if at age 28 he wouldn’t be a long-term solution.

It’s not anything close to a done deal, but it sure looks like this is the direction that Spurs are heading.