Spurs onto a Wimmer with capture of Cologne and Austria defender
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Tottenham, 5/1 chances with Coral to finish in next season’s Premier League top four, have announced the signing of Austria international defender Kevin Wimmer on a five-year deal from Bundesliga outfit Cologne.
Capped once by his country, 22-year-old Wimmer is a highly-rated centre back that Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the White Hart Lane hierarchy are understood to have been tracking for some time.
“Kevin’s gone on to become a regular in the Cologne defence, as they earned promotion to the German top-flight,” a statement on Tottenham’s official website said. “He was a standout performer in their first season back in the Bundesliga.”
SIGNED: We are delighted to announce that we have completed the signing of @kevin28wimmer from 1. FC Köln. #COYS pic.twitter.com/6eqaXlXM2j
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 29, 2015
Turning out 32 times for Cologne this term, Wimmer will link up with his new Tottenham teammates next month. Central defence is once again an area emphasised in the north London club’s recruitment.
Pochettino moved for compatriot Federico Fazio last summer, signing the Argentina international from Europa League holders Sevilla, with England Under-21 defender Eric Dier also arriving then from Sporting Lisbon.
During the previous close season, Spurs signed Romanian Vlad Chiriches and in 2012 bought Jan Vertonghen from Ajax. This makes it the summer running where a centre half has been brought to the club.
Wimmer’s imminent arrival at White Hart Lane will raise question marks over the future of Tottenham club captain Younes Kaboul, who has a poor fitness record and is not in favour under Pochettino.
Following in the footsteps of compatriots Marko Aranutovic (Stoke City) and Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa), Wimmer is just the fourth Austrian defender in history to join a Premier League team. Martin Hiden, Emanuel Pogtatez and Paul Scharner are the other three for any eggheads out there.
Wimmer is also set to help Tottenham in yet another Europa League campaign next term, which they may take more seriously with the prize for winning it now a spot in the follow season’s Champions League.
