The North Londoners are looking to fortify their targets in the middle of the park as Daniel Levy looks to revamp his midfield when the upcoming summer transfer window comes around, and Tottenham Hotspur has been linked with a high-profile move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios.
It is the high-intensity playing style that Ange Postecoglou has deployed at White Hart Lane where the players have to play through the opponents press to bring in a transition-esque situation and leave opponents scrambling to get back, and this is where the Australian head coach has struggled to make numbers, or shall I say quality numbers, in the roster, especially given how the chiefs at Hotspur Way decided against signing a new midfielder since the departure of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Gio Lo Celso in the previous summer window.
Pablo Barrios is unique
And to implement that all-out-attacking playing style, the North Londoners need someone at the base of the midfield who is capable of playing multiple roles and possesses a diverse skill set—someone who is hard-working and does all the dirty work for the team. And Pablo Barrios comes from those set of approaches that have seen his first steps into football under Atletico Madrid’s pragmatic style under Diego Simeone that always gives one grit over glamour. And despite taking his childhood steps at Real Madrid’s academy, Barrios has flourished at Atletico, showing how he can control the midfield with tenacity and technical finesse.
Then, considering his role for Spain in their Olympic triumph, it showed how he has that big-game mentality, and he played (and showed composure) beyond his years. And if you look at how he places himself in the middle of the park, he is someone that can carry the ball (defying typical positional trends) and also has a respectable defensive output (notably challenges and interceptions)—a unique blend that Tottenham is striving for in the midfield.
Arsenal push for the Spaniard as Arteta strives for greatness
But Tottenham aren’t alone in targeting Barrios. North London neighbours Arsenal are also looking at the 21-year-old Spanish midfielder who is fresh off an Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. The Gunners are reportedly looking to make a €100 million move for his signature as they look to increase their dominance in the English top tier and promote themselves from runners-up to title winners (via. Fichajes).
Mikel Arteta is set to undergo a midfield overhaul; Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to depart London Colney at the end of the ongoing season with the duo’s contract at N5 coming to a conclusion in the off-season, and Arsenal is looking to add someone with ambition who is consistently present in the midfield, and the hybrid of defensive discipline and progressive flair that Barrios brings offers a solution that Arteta always strives for with tactical variability.
And then if you look at how he can play (and transition between) a number six or a number eight, it fits in that Arteta’s fluid system.
He can possibly play alongside Declan Rice, bringing that needed balance and dynamism at N5 with Rice’s physicality and ball-winning prowess complemented by Barrios’ press resistance and distribution.
Is he worth €100 million?
But the question remains, the price tag. Atleti would be reluctant to sell such a key player from their squad, but if a €100 million offer is presented, it would definitely test their resolve. And while that fee is very huge, the current inflated market means that premium fees have to be paid for commanding talents. To put it into perspective, Arsenal’s £105 million investment in Rice has already paid dividends for the Gunners.
But unlike Rice, Barrios doesn’t have that experience of the physicality and pace of the Premier League.
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While for Tottenham, it doesn’t make sense for Levy to burn money on one player when there is a squad to make and multiple positions to target.