Tottenham Hotspur could face competition from Hull City and Nice for Besiktas defender Emirhan Topcu, with both clubs reportedly interested in signing the Turkish international during the January transfer window.

Spurs were linked with the 26-year-old last month, although there has been no confirmation that the North London club intend to make an offer. A fresh report from Turkey now suggests that Besiktas could have a decision to make over the centre-back’s future in January.

Tottenham are expected to focus much of their attention on strengthening their attack, with five strikers reportedly featuring on their January shortlist. However, that does not necessarily mean the club will ignore opportunities to strengthen elsewhere in the squad.

Tottenham’s interest in Topcu was first reported by Turkish outlet Fanatik last month, with the Besiktas defender said to be on the club’s radar. There has been no indication since then that Spurs have progressed their interest into formal negotiations.

According to a new report from Milliyet, Topcu is now attracting interest from England and France ahead of the winter transfer window. Hull City and Nice are named as two clubs keen on bringing the defender in during January.

Topcu joined Besiktas in 2024 in a deal reportedly worth around £3m and is said to have two and a half years remaining on his contract. That puts the Turkish club in a strong negotiating position should either of the interested sides decide to make an approach.

Besiktas manager Vincenzo Italiano reportedly regards the 26-year-old as an important member of his squad and is reluctant to lose him midway through the season. Milliyet claims that only a higher-than-expected offer would convince the Istanbul club to reconsider their stance.

That could complicate matters for Tottenham if they decide to pursue Topcu in January, particularly with other clubs now being linked with the defender. However, the latest report does not establish that Spurs remain actively involved in the race for his signature.

Would Emirhan Topcu make sense for Tottenham in January?

Tottenham’s reported interest in Topcu is worth considering alongside the centre-back options Roberto De Zerbi already has at his disposal. Spurs strengthened the position during the summer and have several senior players competing for places in the starting XI.

Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke have been building their partnership in recent weeks, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Marco Senesi provide further competition. Both Tosin and Senesi have also shown that they can contribute when called upon, meaning De Zerbi is not currently short of established central defenders.

That raises the question of where another centre-back would fit into the squad. Unless Tottenham are concerned about injuries, planning for a departure or believe a particular target represents an opportunity they cannot afford to miss, adding a fifth senior option may be difficult to justify.

There is also the financial side to consider. Spurs have been tipped to take a more restrained approach to the January transfer window, with value for money expected to play an important role in their recruitment decisions following the summer’s spending.

If Besiktas are determined to hold out for a substantial fee, Tottenham would have to weigh up whether Topcu represents better value than strengthening another area of the squad. That becomes particularly relevant when attacking reinforcements appear to be higher on the club’s list of priorities.

For now, there is little to suggest that a move for Topcu is imminent. The interest from Hull City and Nice could bring his future into sharper focus over the coming weeks, but it remains to be seen whether Tottenham will make any attempt to enter the picture.