Tottenham transfer news: The defender who sealed Dawson’s exit
Tottenham's defence is about to be reinforced, so talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight has more on Federico Fazio, the man set to become Mauricio Pochettino's fifth summer signing.
Name: Federico Fazio
Date of birth: 17/03/87
Born: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Club: Sevilla
Position: Defender
International appearances: Two Argentina caps
What's the latest?
Tottenham have sold Michael Dawson to Hull and freed up a space in the Spurs back line. That has left the club free to move for Sevilla defender Federico Fazio, with Spurs said to be willing to pay the player's buyout clause and it is hoped the £8m deal will be announced quickly. He is likely to partner Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence.
Did you know?
1) Fazio's career started in his home nation of Argentina with Ferro Carril Oeste, who he made his senior debut for in August 2005 after progressing through the youth ranks. After playing 48 games for the side, Sevilla signed him in the summer of 2007 for €800,000, incorporating the defender into their Sevilla Atletico reserve team.
2) The young centre-back was part of a Sevilla Atletico side that won promotion to the Spanish second division in 2007, doing so for the first time in 46 years. His strong performances that season led to his first team debut in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Deportivo, with Sevilla winning 3-0 in May 2007 before lifting the trophy in June.
3) Fazio was promoted to the Sevilla first team in the summer of 2007. He won his first trophy with them shortly after. The defender started the second leg of their Spanish Supercup triumph over Real Madrid, as they won 6-3 on aggregate in a memorable tie. He also played 25 league appearances for the club that season, and three in the Champions League.
4) The following season Fazio played more of a bit part role with the side, filling in at defensive midfield on several occasions, while in the 2009/10 campaign injury hampered his development. He did, however, manage to pick up a medal for Sevilla's 2010 Copa del Rey win, though he missed the final against Atletico Madrid. The Argentine was one of the first names on manager Unai Emery's team sheet last season, playing 40 times in all competitions and was a member of the 2014 Europa League-winning side.
5) At international level the defender has also achieved success, starting with a 2007 U20 World Cup win in Canada, where he was a regular. A year later, he won an Olympic Gold Medal with the Argentina team that included Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi. He has not played for the first team since 2011, though.
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