Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Villarreal right-back Alexander Freeman, but Manchester City are also in the picture for the 22-year-old United States international.
According to Football Insider, Spurs have Freeman on their radar, although they could face a fight with City and other clubs for his signature. Transfermarkt values him at just £12.5m, which is a modest figure for a player who started this season at a La Liga club and had a summer to remember at the World Cup.
The timing is interesting. Tottenham have picked up nine points from their last nine, the latest a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, yet there are still doubts about how deep Roberto De Zerbi’s squad really is.
Why are Tottenham looking at a right-back?
On paper, it looks an odd area to strengthen. Pedro Porro is a top-quality right-back, and it would be a surprise if Spurs went looking for a new starter there.
The problem is availability. Porro did not start any of the three wins in that unbeaten run because of a hamstring issue. De Zerbi has hinted that the Spaniard is ready to return to the XI, but the club have to be careful not to aggravate the injury.
In the meantime, Archie Gray has been forced to fill in at right-back. A specialist like Freeman would give Porro proper cover and let Gray move back into a more natural midfield role.
What would Freeman bring to Spurs?
Freeman made five appearances for the USA at the 2026 World Cup under former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, scoring once and setting up another.
At club level, he has played 14 times for Villarreal this season, with six of those as starts. He has shown he is a good passer of the ball, and he regularly wins his duels too, which is exactly the kind of all-round profile a back-up full-back needs.
Can Spurs beat Man City to Freeman?
Normally, a straight fight with City would only go one way. City usually compete for every trophy going, and that pull is hard for anyone to match.
This time the picture is less simple. City have been found guilty of breaching Premier League spending rules and could face severe sanctions, with demotion not ruled out. Until those sanctions are revealed, targets may think twice about committing to the Etihad, and that uncertainty could hand Spurs an edge.
Tottenham have their own question marks. They fought relegation in each of the last two seasons, and three wins in a row is not enough to say they are clear of that battle this term.
Verdict: a sensible signing, not a statement one
This would not be a glamour move, and it doesn’t need to be. Spurs need a reliable second right-back so that one hamstring doesn’t reshape the whole team. A ready-made option on the right would take the pressure off Porro while he gets back to full fitness.
At around £12.5m, with World Cup experience already on his CV, Freeman looks like the kind of smart, low-risk addition De Zerbi’s Tottenham should be chasing. If City’s troubles open the door, Spurs should walk straight through it.
