Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly hopeful of signing Leeds United defender Robin Koch on a cut-price deal this summer.
The eight-cap Germany international could be part of a mass exodus from Elland Road ahead of the 2023-24 season following the Whites' relegation from the Premier League.
Koch started 36 of Leeds' 38 top-flight games this season and wore the captain's armband in September's 5-2 loss to Brentford, but he could not prevent Sam Allardyce's side from demotion to the Championship.
Leeds' fate was sealed with a 4-1 defeat to Spurs on the final day, during which the former Freiburg man played the full 90 minutes in a midfield role, having been moved further forward from his regular centre-back position under Allardyce.
The Whites needed to win and hope that Everton and Leicester City slipped up in order to pull off a great escape, but the Toffees stayed up by the skin of their teeth as Leeds finished 19th with 31 points to their name.
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Koch's contract at Elland Road is due to expire at the end of next season, and according to Football Insider, Tottenham are eyeing a cut-price move for the German during the summer window.
Given Leeds' relegation from the top flight and the centre-back's contract situation, Tottenham apparently believe that they could prise Koch away from Elland Road for as little as £15m.
The Whites are unlikely to stand in the 26-year-old's way of a summer exit, as he is keen to continue playing in the Premier League and could depart for nothing in 2024 as things stand.
Koch joined Leeds in 2020 upon their promotion to the Premier League, arriving in an £11.3m deal from Freiburg to play under Marcelo Bielsa.
The 6ft 3in centre-back has since made 77 appearances for the Whites across all tournaments, although he is yet to register a goal or assist for the Yorkshire outfit.
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Tottenham converted Cristian Romero's loan deal from Atalanta BC into a permanent move last summer, but almost all of their other centre-backs are not guaranteed to remain in North London for the long-term.
Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez's contracts expire in 2024, and the latter - who was booed by his own fans in their 3-2 loss to Bournemouth last month - seemingly does not have a long-term future at the club.
Meanwhile, Dier was initially expected to sign a new deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but an exit next summer is not beyond the realm of possibility in the wake of his disappointing performances this season.
Clement Lenglet's loan deal from Barcelona is also due to end next month, although Spurs are said to be discussing a possible permanent deal for the Frenchman.
Rennes also have an option to buy Joe Rodon at the end of his own loan spell, and Japhet Tanganga - who supposedly attracted interest from Italy last year - was only a bit-part player in the 2022-23 campaign.
Ben Knapton
