The way that Tottenham Hotspur play under Ange Postecoglou, the midfield becomes an important aspect given how they like to connect the first phase of the game with the final one in the blink of an eye, and this requires players who are skilful and technically apt with a wide range of operating and passing, something that the Australian head coach doesn’t have in his current roster at White Hart Lane, and Daniel Levy has been scouting across Europe and beyond for someone who can fit those demands, and one of the targets that ended up on the Lilywhites list is Barcelona’s 27-year-old Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Why De Jong?
The Dutch midfielder has been widely regarded as one of those one-in-a-generation talents, and rightly so, given how he has a unique playing style that shows brilliance around the time he has the ball, and that complemented by his technicality makes him a highlight every time you watch him operate. And he has that dynamism in the midfield complemented by the ability to not only dictate play (and speed of play) but also press forward and be a blockage in opposition attacks.
Moreover, if you see his experience (and gameplay) at Barcelona, he can become a leading presence in the midfield, especially after the departures of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso in the last summer transfer window. But the pursuit of the Dutchman wouldn’t be easy as Spurs’ arch rivals Arsenal have now joined the race.
Arsenal ready to shoulder Spurs for Barca midfielder
The Gunners have a peak project that is ready to win a big silverware sometime soon, and Mikel Arteta’s driven Arsenal are said to be ready to invest a mighty €75 million to secure his signature when the summer transfer window comes around. In a recent report, the Spanish outlet Fichajes insists that Arsenal has identified the Dutchman as a key target.
When you look at the whys behind the Gunners’ pursuit of de Jong, it makes a lot of sense, particularly because of the possible departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho, with the former of the two linked with a move the other way to Barcelona, which could further add layers to this transfer. And then you lay the fact that they are prepared to pay €75 million for De Jong, which shows how Arteta and Kroenke are serious about competing (and winning) top honours in both domestic and European competitions.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- Resurgent Tottenham winter target eyeing summer switch to Barcelona
- Guardiola driving force as Manchester City seek to beat Tottenham to English sensation
- Liverpool star could quit Anfield in the summer; Tottenham remain keen
For Tottenham, it is to be seen how Levy works this out; does he give a free run to Arsenal for the 27-year-old and move to other midfield targets, or does the Lilywhites chairman give the Gunners a run for their money?