TTLB OPINION: Why should Tottenham go all in for Bryan Mbuemo

With the summer transfer window around the corner, Daniel Levy has already started putting plans into place to ensure that the North Londoners bring in some ceiling-raising players into the roster at Hotspur Way, and among the marquee players linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, Bryan Mbeumo stands out.

The Brentford forward has been rumoured with a Spurs transfer for a while, and he is one of the expected players who would leave Brentford in the upcoming transfer window. The Bees are expected to let go of him and his striking partner, Wissa, and the North Londoners are expected to be in the race for both of them, but the Cameroonian is someone who can single-handedly change the fortunes of Tottenham.

Debt at Tottenham…

The Lilywhites will have to fork out somewhere along the range of £60m if they were to sign Mbeumo in the upcoming summer transfer window. But if we are talking prices, then there have been concerns around the North Londoners speaking power in the off-season given that the club currently has a £279m debt, which means that Daniel Levy will have to sanction some transfers away before trying to buy players. But we could see the finances at Hotspur Way handed a massive boost if Tottenham are to go all the way in the Europa League, where they face Premier League rivals Manchester United in the finals in about a fortnight’s time. If the North Londoners are to beat United in the finals, then Daniel Levy will end up recognising a £15.7m income in prize money for qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Many would think that £60m is a hefty sum, but when we consider the quality that Mbeumo brings, he could end up being a bargain at that price point.

Given that the North Londoners have struggled in the offensive department this season, there is a need for a new forward, but let’s look at the two problems that Ange’s side has faced this season. If we are looking at the attacking aspects of the game, we saw how the side lacked clinical firepower in the final third. Heung-Min Son has been misfiring all season, and then Solanke is yet to find his stride in the Lilywhites’ colours. So when the chances ended up coming through, they were more often than not faltered.

Another thing that we saw the North Londoners struggle with all season was the creative aspects of the game. Mainly when the opponents sit back in a mid-low hybrid block, Spurs struggled to create opportunities.

Now how can Mbeumo solve these aforementioned problems?

The Cameroonian is one of the most clinical presences in front of goal in the English top tier, with many likening him to Mohamed Salah. He has shown capabilities to change the game in a series of moves and has taken the goal-scoring baton for his employers this season. His 18 goals completed from a 10.82 xG speak a lot about his shot completion rate.

Then if we look at his creativity, now he will not solve your problems in a pure creative role, but he is someone who likes to drop off and lay passes into the open channels. In a block situation, he will mostly use his linkup play to make a difference.

What other traits does he bring to the side?

But beyond the obvious metrics of finishing and link-up play, what sets Mbeumo apart is how naturally he fits into the tactical identity that Ange Postecoglou demands from his wide forwards. The Cameroonian thrives in a transition-based system that asks its wingers to press with intensity and make diagonal runs off the ball while carrying a dual responsibility in both phases of play. His work rate out of possession is something really good, given how Mbeumo is often Brentford’s first pressing trigger, forcing turnovers in the opposition’s first phase and immediately converting defence into attack. This alone has the ability to elevate the Lilywhites’ ability to pin teams back, especially in the games where control is established but final-third penetration has been lacking. He is also highly intelligent with his off-ball movement, frequently pushing himself into half-spaces (a zone Tottenham have struggled to exploit consistently this season).

In Postecoglou’s system that prioritises 2-3-5 build-ups and layered positional rotations, Mbeumo offers the tactical maturity to operate wide, come inside as a secondary striker, or even play centrally (when needed), giving Spurs exactly the kind of multi-functional attacking outlet that the North Londoners have been missing since Harry Kane’s departure.

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Author Opinion

Tottenham should definitely put their hat into his signing given that there would also be other big clubs interested in his signatures. But if Levy is to sign him, he would be that marquee player that the club is looking for in the aftermath of Harry Kane’s departure and a possible Son departure.