Tottenham Hotspur misplaced in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night to consign Ange Postecoglou to a 3rd successive Premier League defeat for the second time this season.
Following the loss in opposition to Mauricio Pochettino’s eighth-place aspect, who’ve accomplished the double over Spurs, Postecoglou mused that “if you’re really going to build for success, you need to go through tough times”.
That is all effectively and good, mate, however there’s ample proof that sure members of the squad should not match for long-term objective on this aspect, which has proven glimpses of success this season however has been pulled again by accidents and an evaporation of the early-season optimism and conviction.
Strikes have to be made by chairman Daniel Levy, steely signings have to be welcomed down at N17.
Spurs eyeing Premier League midfielder
According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined London rivals Arsenal within the race for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, corroborating revelations from The Telegraph earlier within the week that the Belgium worldwide had been added to the Lilywhites’ shortlist.
It is understood that Everton will assent to Onana’s sale this summer time if their £45m valuation is met, stirring up a swarm of curiosity in his signature, with Newcastle United and La Liga champions Barcelona additionally registering an curiosity.
Onana is contracted to Goodison Park until 2027 however the Toffees are trying to find funds and the 22-year-old is without doubt one of the most worthwhile property on the books.
Why Spurs ought to signal Amadou Onana
Tottenham’s curiosity in Onana and hopes of securing his providers hinge on the potential sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as per the report. The Dane, who contracted till the tip of subsequent season, is more likely to be offered and has attracted a wealth of suitors abroad, with Serie A sides AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli all maintaining a tally of the £20m-rated holding midfielder.
Nonetheless, Onana, who has been described as a “one-man army” within the centre of the park by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, may additionally topple Yves Bissouma because the beginning star on the base of Postecoglou’s midfield.
Signing for Everton from French membership Lille for £33m in August 2022, Onana arrived with a weight of expectation after establishing himself as one of the crucial thrilling rising stars in Ligue 1, and whereas Everton have struggled in opposition to relegation this season and final, his monstrous presence has added the requisite mettle and mojo.
A troublesome participant, Onana ranks among the many high 14% of midfielders throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for tackles and the highest 5% for aerial duels gained per 90, as per FBref, showcasing that strong defensive base and tenacity in successful the ball again, be it on the bottom or within the air.
He is additionally earned 12 caps for Belgium, making his debut through the summer time of 2022, and has led journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango to pronounce him as a “midfield powerhouse“.
Tottenham have some strong constructing blocks in place however there may be far an excessive amount of nonetheless to enhance and Onana would go a great distance towards making the requisite improve within the engine room to each cost Postecoglou’s high-octane system and add the energy to make sure that the defence is lastly revived to it is previous fortitude.
Bissouma, aforementioned, is the first-choice holding midfielder at Tottenham however he has more and more come underneath fireplace for his poor performances, final crafting a sustained run of excellent kind earlier than jetting off to the African Cup of Nations with Mali in January – and even then, he was serving a suspension for making a reckless lunging problem in opposition to Nottingham Forest in December.
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PL 23/24: Amadou Onana vs Yves Bissouma |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Onana |
Bissouma |
|
Matches performed |
27 |
26 |
|
Matches began |
21 |
24 |
|
Targets |
2 |
0 |
|
Move completion |
85% |
92% |
|
Touches per recreation |
45.3 |
80.0 |
|
Key passes per recreation |
0.7 |
0.4 |
|
Tackles per recreation |
2.2 |
2.9 |
|
Ball recoveries per recreation |
5.5 |
4.4 |
|
Dribbles per recreation |
0.4 (61%) |
1.0 (73%) |
|
Duels gained per recreation |
5.9 (65%) |
5.7 (59%) |
|
Yellow playing cards |
5 |
8 |
|
Pink playing cards |
0 |
2 |
|
All stats by way of Sofascore |
||
Postecoglou has been reluctant to position Bissouma on the bench this season however that is extra as a result of lack of dependable choices at his disposal, with Hojbjerg missing in mobility and Oliver Skipp missing within the high quality to cement a high spot within the first-team – the latter duo criticised by Perry Groves final season as they “don’t do anything“.
When analysing and evaluating the respective units of metrics tabled above, there are a number of notable factors of significance. One: Onana, who is sort of 5 years youthful than Bissouma, already shows a whole ability set that can probably surpass the Malian’s. Two: The Blues star is crisper in challenges and extra energetic and energetic in closing down opponents and recovering possession Three: He’s a far cooler head, with Bissouma’s disciplinary document precluding his possibilities of discovering fluency.
May or not it’s that Tottenham’s No. 6 may need merely hit a superb, however unsustainable, purple patch through the early part of the marketing campaign, now uncovered for his frailties, foibles which have devolved into one thing extra urgent: an inside impediment inhibiting the Lilywhites squad from taking that subsequent step within the Premier League and securing a spot amongst Europe’s elite as soon as extra.
Bissouma has the inborn technical high quality, he is imbued with a way of swagger that, when shining, performs masterfully effectively. However he is inconsistent, irregular in his affect and command within the centre of the park.
Studies on the matter of Spurs’ curiosity in Onana imagine that promoting Hojbjerg could possibly be one of the best ways to liberate house for the Goodison Park phenom’s arrival.
But when Tottenham really search prominence and prosperity of a form past something that the devoted supporters have been handled to over the previous a number of a long time, then daring, purposeful ventures have to be made, statements of intent that sign towards the divisional heavyweights that right here is an outfit hovering to the highest.
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Lest we overlook that Postecoglou’s challenge has not but completed its first yr, there’s a lot extra to return however provided that the spectacular recruitment is sustained underneath Levy and constructed upon to slim the canyon between Tottenham and the highest.
