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Tottenham Hotspur have put the latest droop behind them and have picked up successive victories within the Premier League, with Ange Postecoglou’s facet only one level behind fourth-placed champions Manchester Metropolis after 17 matches.
The Australian supervisor will largely be comfortable together with his facet’s progress since his summer time appointment, having taken cost of a beleaguered outfit that had completed eighth and had misplaced membership file scorer Harry Kane in August, simply earlier than the beginning of the season.
Having blitzed into type throughout the opening months and picked up the primary three Premier League Supervisor of the Month awards, Postecoglou urged his supporters to “proceed to dream”, as chatter round a declare for the title was one thing of a crescendo.
Maybe that was untimely, however then once more maybe if accidents to influential summer time signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven had been prevented the latest points would by no means have ravaged the revival; such setbacks have illuminated the significance of strengthening in 2024.
Tottenham switch targets – Jean-Clair Todibo
Based on a latest report from soccer.london, Tottenham have opened discussions with OGC Good over the switch of central defender Jean-Clair Todibo, with Postecoglou determined to bolster his backline.
Van de Ven and Cristian Romero type a formidable defensive axis, however with Van de Ven sidelined and the latter’s self-discipline leaving a lot to be desired, depth is paramount.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United have all registered an curiosity within the 23-year-old throughout latest months, although Les Aiglons have positioned a £39m switch charge on his head and it stays to be seen whether or not Spurs or different suitors will ough up such a sum.
Jean-Clair Todibo’s type of play
Todibo signed for Good on a everlasting deal from Barcelona in June 2021 after impressing on mortgage throughout the second half of the 2020/21 marketing campaign.
An imposing presence within the central defence has led expertise scout Jacek Kulig to explain him as “solid as a rock“, and having now amassed 117 appearances for his Ligue 1 facet, the 6 foot 3 titan has established himself as one of many division’s most enjoyable defenders.
The £19k-per-week ace has been integral to Francesco Farioli’s facet’s efforts within the French top-flight, at present second within the desk after 16 matches and boasting the very best defensive file with simply 9 targets conceded; they’re 5 factors behind imperious table-toppers Paris Saint-Germain.
Todibo has began 14 of such league fixtures and has masterfully married his need to affect assaults with a sturdy and potent defensive effort, finishing 91% of his passes and profitable 59% of his duels whereas additionally making a staggering 7.9 ball recoveries per recreation, profitable 71% of his tried dribbles.
Such abilities are precisely what Postecoglou will likely be trying to find to enhance his backline, with the Australian favouring fluency in possession and swift effectiveness in deep build-ups, with the defenders contributing to the offensive advances.
For instance, Van de Ven has been dubbed a “Cruyffian defender — risk-taking, extremely fast — with big potential” by former Ajax expertise advisor Ruben Jongkind, whereas Romero has established himself as a damaging and aggressive participant, adept at breaking apart play and distributing ahead.
As per FBref, Todibo ranks among the many prime 6% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for profitable take-ons and tackles and the highest 17% for go completion and progressive passes, underscoring his ball-playing excellence and robustness on the coronary heart of the Good defence.
As is evident, Todibo gives abilities to fit proper into the system on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, and whereas he’s of an identical type to Romero, his likeness to Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez may hand Postecoglou the ultimate piece to finish his defensive puzzle.
How Jean-Clair Todibo compares to Lisandro Martinez
Man United signed Martinez, aged 25, from Ajax for £57m in July 2022, with the dynamic Argentina worldwide’s left-footedness and wonderful passing means attracting additional consideration from Arsenal, who didn’t match the Crimson Devils’ supply.
Whereas Martinez has spent the bulk of the present marketing campaign out injured, final that includes in September, he had been essential as Erik ten Hag restored the Crimson Devils’ Champions League standing and ended a trophy drought with a triumph within the Carabao Cup.
Enjoying 27 occasions within the Premier League final season, the £120k-per-week star accomplished 87% of his passes, gained 65% of his floor duels and extremely accomplished 100% of his dribbles, averaging one foray ahead each two matches.
Shoring up the defence and instilling a brand new sense of passing prowess, Martinez was instrumental within the resurgence, and whereas he did not begin the 2023/24 season very effectively, it is believable that United would have prevented their latest decline had he assumed an unwavering position within the rearguard.
Jean-Clair Todibo: Related Gamers |
||
---|---|---|
# |
Participant |
Membership |
1 |
Lisandro Martinez |
Manchester United |
2 |
Dante |
OGC Good |
3 |
Igor |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
4 |
Cristian Romero |
Tottenham Hotspur |
5 |
Danilo Pereira |
Paris Saint-Germain |
*Sourced by way of FBref |
The World Cup-winning defender ranks among the many prime 3% of positional friends throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for profitable take-ons, the highest 5% for tackles and the highest 4% for blocks per 90, underscoring the tenacity and ferociousness that has led teammate Luke Shaw to dub him an “absolute monster” for his type.
Hailed for his “complete” means by Kulig, Todibo is a participant of an identical type and provided that this mirrors the sport of Romero, it is hardly daring to say that the Les Aiglons phenom may supply the proper recreation to enhance and fortify Postecoglou’s Tottenham undertaking.
As beforehand talked about, Romero and Van de Ven are among the many best partnerships in Europe, however dig a bit deeper and the likes of Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Emerson Royal are the senior replacements in central defence.
This merely is not adequate and can hinder Spurs additional of their pursuit of a spot on the forefront of the Premier League desk if it’s not mounted.
Tottenham’s hitherto place within the depths of midtable mediocrity has been refashioned into one thing thrilling; with Postecoglou on the helm, there’s a rising perception that an illustrious interval may lie forward.
However deepening the depth is crucial and the acquisitions should be impactful and appropriate for the system. Todibo matches the invoice and should be signed.
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