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The date is June 15th and at long last, the summer transfer window is open for business. For Tottenham Hotspur, it’s been a rip roaring start already.
Before the window had even swung open its doors, the Lilywhites had agreed deals to bring Liverpool legend Andy Robertson to the club alongside Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.
With both players arriving on free transfers following the expiry of their contracts, now marks the time to put and spend a bit. Thankfully, plans are already in full swing.
Three Premier League players could be on the way
With deals for Senesi and Robertson wrapped up, Spurs are not stopping there in their pursuit of new faces.
Indeed, the next two cabs off the rank are widely expected to Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke and Manchester City’s Savinho.
A deal for Van Hecke is expected to get over the line soon. The centre-back has agreed personal terms and now the two clubs are in negotiations regarding a fee. No agreement has been forthcoming yet.
The same can be said of Savinho who wants the move but is still awaiting the green light from the Citizens’ hierarchy to make the switch.
Coincidentally, they are not the only Premier League players who are the subjects of big-money interest from Tottenham.
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Indeed, according to one prominent club insider, Alex Scott at Bournemouth is one name under the spotlight.
It’s revealed that the Bournemouth star would be ‘particularly keen’ to make the move if Spurs decide to launch a play. The insider notes there is ‘definite interest’ from Tottenham
With interest from plenty of Premier League sides and an £80m price tag, this would not be an easy deal to do.
Why Alex Scott could be Tottenham’s best midfielder since Dembele
Wherever you look, Spurs need new recruits this summer. It’s not just about strengthening a backline that conceded the fourth highest number of goals in the division. It’s not just about improving a floundering forward line either.
Indeed, a midfield lacking core attributes also needs investment. Yves Bissouma has now left at the conclusion of his contract and while talks are ongoing to bring Joao Palhinha back to Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi needs more.
In the shape of Scott, he’d be picking up one of the best midfielders in the country.
A Spurs fan, there is a belief that the Lilywhites would lead the race over the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United to secure his signature if they entered the race.
What would be bring to this De Zerbi side? Well, defensive work rate akin to Conor Gallagher in his prime and an ability to carry and progress the play that saw Mousa Dembele become a hit down at N17.
One of the biggest criticisms about the Spurs midfield last term was their inability to advance play through the centre.
For the Cherries last term, one of Scott’s key attributes was his carrying. He managed 6.86 progressive carries per 90 minutes. To put that into context, that’s far more than any Spurs midfielder managed.
When it came to dribbles per game, the 22-year-old ranked as highly as the top 14% of positionally similar players in the Premier League.
|
Scott vs Spurs midfielders (prog carries p90) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Progressive carries per 90 |
|
1. Alex Scott |
6.86 |
|
2. Pape Matar Sarr |
5.56 |
|
3. Lucas Bergvall |
5.03 |
|
4. Archie Gray |
4.44 |
|
5. Conor Gallagher |
4.16 |
|
6. Rodrigo Bentancur |
3.81 |
|
7. Joao Palhinha |
2.91 |
Sure, he may not be as elite as Dembele was in that regard – he ranked among the finest 1% back in 2016/17 – but they do possess more similarities.
Not only are Dembele and Scott comfortable to progress play through carrying but they are also brilliant duel winners.
In that aforementioned season, the Belgian made as many as 7.54 ball recoveries per 90 and won a whopping 8.06 duels. In Scott’s case, he made 6.14 recoveries and won 5.82 duels every 90.
Interestingly, they were both able to evade the press with ease. Bournemouth’s star midfielder was fouled 1.89 times per 90, a statistic that ranked him among the best 12% of Premier League midfielders. As for Dembele, he was fouled 0.92 times.
Looking at the numbers, they may not align directly but the core attributes are there; Dembele and Scott’s first thought is always about how they can get the ball forward but their energy in the middle of the park is simply first class. It could be argued that Spurs haven’t really had much of that since the Belgian departed.
If Spurs can get their hands on the Cherries midfielder, a player on the verge of winning his first England caps, it would be a sensational coup.
