Tottenham Hotspur One day late and the dollar is in short supply Premier League Last season, however, there were clear signs of growth underneath Angie Postecoglou.
The Australian coach had fashioned a dramatic kit from dull, colorless football, reigniting the spark within the hearts of Lilywhites fans and instilling hope of something more, success of a tangible nature.
It has been verified. Up and down. This year, 10th-placed Tottenham have outperformed every team in the Premier League this season, but lack synergy and resistance at times, and are still capable of unjustified submission.
This needs to change, and while Mickey van de Ven and Christian Romero They form a defensive duo as fearsome as any across the continent, and both have found themselves unavailable on numerous occasions since the start of last season.
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Ange Postecoglou – Tottenham's most used player |
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|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
player |
Matches |
|
1. |
Diane Kulusevski |
64 |
|
2. |
Good rain door |
60 |
|
3. |
Brennan Johnson |
59 |
|
4. |
Pedro Porro |
58 |
|
5. |
William Vicar |
55 |
|
9. |
Christian Romero |
48 |
|
12. |
Mickey van de Ven |
40 |
|
Statistics via Transfer market |
||
Tottenham certainly need a new centre-back.
Tottenham are eyeing a centre-back in 2025
According to caught sneakingTottenham are preparing to make a move for Inter Milan star Jan Pesek, although the defender is also on West Ham United's radar.
Tottenham may have a more attractive offer, but the Hammers have become more aggressive in their chances due to manager Tim Stadeten, with the German connection potentially giving them the edge in negotiations.
However, Tottenham have sent their scouts to watch the talented midfielder in action, and given that he might as well be Available for a smart fee of £25mThere is a real feeling that this can be finished in the new year.
Why do Tottenham need to sign Jan Pesek?
Tottenham have been active during the 2023/24 January transfer window and there's no reason why Daniel Levy He won't force a smart signing or two if he stands a good chance of raising the bar for the north Londoners' campaign.
As already discussed, Romero and Van de Ven have often been sidelined due to the position they have in the Spurs squad, and it is clear that another member of the defensive back line could make a big difference.
Radu Dragocin He joined from Genoa for £27m One year on, and Ben Davies is still a reliable and experienced presence.
The current cases have been experienced for 18 years Archie Gray He has played in a defensive role alongside his Romanian counterpart, and while he has performed admirably, Postecoglou's strong hand increases the need for a talented player like Pesek.
Pesek, who did not make his debut for Germany, was a late bloomer, playing for AGF in Denmark until he signed for Inter. In a deal worth around £5 million in 2023.
He won the Italian League title last season, starting only nine matches in the Italian League, but he scored two goals, completed 93% of his passes and won 61% of his ground encounters. According to Sovascor. No wonder he is described as a “monster.” A keen-eyed analyst.
There is no doubt that Gray's early qualities make Bisseck the perfect profile for Postecoglou. The massive defender stands at 6-foot-4 and will play in his natural position. Gray is a deceptively tall 6-footer but thrives in the middle of the park and is best positioned at midfield when possible.
According to FBrefPesek ranks in the top 4% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year in terms of goals scored, top 16% in terms of pass completions, and top 1% in terms of progressive carries per 90, making an interesting comment on… Its location. A diverse skill set and how Postecoglou can harness it.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or carried into the penalty area.
Tottenham beat Brentford to bring Gray to north London in the summer, with the teenager leaving boyhood club Leeds United For a fee that may reach 40 million pounds sterling.
He is versatile and dynamic, with eye-catching technical ability and a steady mentality that allows him to stand head and shoulders above other hopefuls in his age group.
Many young players are swapped across a range of positions as they look to streamline their youthful passions, but Gray's positional flexibility is something to behold.
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Archie Gray – Career statistics by position |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
position |
Applications |
Objectives |
Helps |
|
Right back |
36 |
0 |
2 |
|
Central midfield |
22 |
0 |
1 |
|
Attacking midfield |
14 |
3 |
3 |
|
Defensive midfield |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Center back |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Left back |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Attack center |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Left wing |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Statistics via Transfer market |
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However, he is not a centre-back and should not be saddled with regular football in an area that does not best serve his skills, even if he plays remarkably well and always shows. He has an “elite mentality.”As journalist Henry Winter said.
Just goes to show that Basic would be the perfect addition. The German defender is powerful and also provides the balanced, multi-layered football that a resilient Anzhi side requires.
Gray started at centre-back against Manchester United on Thursday night, and although Fraser Forster's inexplicable errors provided drama for what should have been an easy second half, you couldn't help but feel for standout defenders Romero and Van de Ven. In this combination, Spurs could have held their nerve with more intensity and confidence.
Therefore, it seems crucial that Spurs make their move in January. Allowing West Ham to boost their hopes under Julen Lopetegui with one of Levy's top winter targets is unthinkable. Furthermore, it would hamper Tottenham's chances of making progress in the capital and overtaking the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
It's already starting to look like it's going to be a real struggle to finish in the top four in the Premier League, and given Tottenham's run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, they'll be looking to go deeper into the FA Cup and Europa League. And the lack of depth in exposing good work would be unforgivable. BASIC needs to sign.
