Should Tottenham chase Manchester United target Justin Kluivert this summer? – Opinion

Tottenham are preparing for a rebuild at Hotspur Way given how Daniel Levy will now have to shape up the roster as per the tactics that Thomas Frank structures his side around, and there have been questions raised about how the Lilywhites could reshape the attacking midfield given how essential it is under the Dane head coach but also because of how the current roster struggled creatively last season.

And one name that has been linked with a move to Hotspur Way off late is Justin Kluivert. We saw how the Dutchman has become a force at Bournemouth under Iraola in the last season, and this has led multiple Premier League sides to consider signing him, including Manchester United.

But when it comes to Kluivert, I don’t think that he is just another flashy name that is being linked (or signed) for the headlines. He is someone who is quite tactically sound in signing and has the capacity to enhance the current roster, given how he does end up aligning with the system that Thomas Frank would want to integrate at N17.

We saw how Kluivert thrived at Bournemouth while playing in an inside forward role or in a roaming ten role while he was showing how he has that ability for smart movements complemented by his explosive ball-carrying ability, and then we saw how he possesses this high-floor attacking ability, especially when you fit him in a system that aids him.

The Ajax academy graduate netted twelve (12) goals whilst laying off another six (6) for his teammates in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. And alongside his goal-contributing capacity, we also saw how he showed his two-footed ability on the ball, complemented by his dribbling ability in the tight spaces, complemented by his flexibility to operate in different zones across the pitch.

If Tottenham were to sign him to feature under Thomas Frank, he’d be an interesting option given how he would be expected to feature under the Dane head coach.

How can Justin Kluivert play under Thomas Frank?

If we are speaking in terms of how we saw the Dane’s Brentford operate in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 structure, where his side relied on pressing in a structured manner while playing compact midfield blocks and having that ability to rotate positions in the final third. And all of the aforementioned things while playing through vertical transitions through zone 14 (central attacking zones).

And if we are speaking in terms of Kluivert, then he does possess good off-the-ball movement that can help Tottenham a lot because of how he shapes his diagonal runs that pull defenders. He can also act in a “wide 10” capacity in left-half space (something Thomas Frank would like).

The 26-year-old is also a press-resistant presence and can be crucial when escaping tight mid-blocks. And more importantly, he has that ability to carry from deep and create space for the runners around him.

How does he fare when compared to Maddison?

When we are talking about the final third passing and ability, then Maddison is more of an elite option, given how Kluivert is more instinctive when it comes to it, but I’d not classify his ability here as on par with Maddison.

When it comes to carrying the ball, the former Foxes midfielder is more static when it comes to operating in tight spaces, while the former Roma ace is an excellent progressive runner (as we saw time and again from him last season at Vitality Stadium).

Then if I start to think in terms of pressing, then Maddison is passive in pressing (something many also critiqued him for), while Kluivert is a more aggressive presser, and he is third in terms of his pressing under Iraola.

If I am thinking of a stationary #10, then of course Maddison will be more suited tactically because Kluivert likes to move between positions, but we have seen how Frank has an appreciation for multi-phase midfielders that have the capacity to balance retention and transition whilst creating space, which is more of a profile that the Bournemouth midfielder suits.

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Author Opinion

Let me get this straight: he would not bring a creative player to the side, so all the fans who wanted a replacement in creative aspects who could operate like either a Martin Ødegaard or a Bruno Fernandes would still express the same frustration. But he does bring a system-driven precision, so if the Dane head coach wants to have an advanced midfielder that has the capacity with his pressing while having the ability to run in channels whilst rotating and adapting based on sequences, then Kluivert is more fit for purpose than even Maddison in some games.

But he is not a Maddison replacement; he is more of an alternative to me.