Mateo Musacchio: Villarreal defender is a Tottenham target

Tottenham are in talks with Villarreal over the transfer of £17million-rated defender Mateo Musacchio, according to Sky sources.

The 23-year-old Argentina international centre-back, who can also fill-in at right-back, made 32 appearances in La Liga last season.

Musacchio has won two caps for Argentina, having begun his career with River Plate in Buenos Aires before moving to Spain five years ago.

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New Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has already brought in Ben Davies, Michel Vorm and Eric Dier this summer, while Jan Vertonghen is being linked with a move away from White Hart Lane.

Speaking earlier this summer, Villarreal coach Marcelino said: "It's a situation with three parties: the player, the buyer and the club in the middle.

"As I have said many times, if the club sell an important player it's because the right conditions to do so have been met. It won't be easy to replace him but the solution, for better or worse, will be found soon."