Tottenham should consider this South Amerian midfielder as the transfer alternative to Christian Norgaard – Opinion

As Thomas Frank takes charge of Tottenham Hotspur, we are expecting a structural change at Hotspur Way, given how the Danish head coach is expected to implement a more balanced and compact midfield structure at N17, which raises the need for having a holding midfielder who can anchor the system, particularly someone like Cristian Norgaard (who has also been subject to links with a move to North London), someone who is physically robust and has that positional discipline and is defensively alert.

But the thing is, Tottenham does not have any serious high-profile DMs at the moment, which forces Daniel Levy to explore the market and possibly bring in a new face to the roster this summer transfer window. This is where the Lilywhites pursuit of Colombian midfielder Richard Rios from Palmeiras makes sense, as it shows that the club is pivoting towards bringing in high-value-driven and tactically intelligent profiles who can have a far-reaching impact under Thomas Frank at N17.

And while Rios may not yet be a household name in Europe, he does have that stylistic DNA which is very much in line with what Frank typically asks of his deep-lying midfielders, given how he can go on and become a long-term presence at Tottenham.

How can Rios tactically fit at Tottenham: Is he the Norgaard blueprint?

Thomas Frank wants his defensive-minded midfielder to have that ability to excel at positioning between the lines and ensure that he can screen the backline and cut passing lanes. He can break the opponents sequences and has that capacity to reset the shape of the structure and doesn’t necessarily roam out of his zones without necessity. And when it comes to playing on the ball, he is crisp and has that vertical passing capacity on the buildups.

And he can have all of this in signing Richard Rios, given that he can often act as a pivot in a 4-3-3 whilst covering behind advanced interiors. He can also operate as a lone DM in a 3-4-3 while closing off half-space for the opponents. He is also a transition breaker when it comes to pressing traps.

What attributes does Richard Rios bring to N17?

If Tottenham were to sign Rios, Frank would gain a transition disruptor who is elite at winning the ball, especially with his smart positioning. He is also someone who is quite efficient when it comes to short-to-medium passes under pressure and is quite comfortable receiving the ball with his back to the goal. He is a defender reader given how he reads the rotations of the opponents and intercepts effectively. And he is good at his physical ability, given how he is strong in duels without overcommitting into any of those duels.

See, Rios is not flashy, but that’s the whole point of having him. We know that Frank wants a low-ego but system-fitting #6 who enables his #8s (like he used to have in his midfield at Brentford) to play more freely while the base midfielder ensures that he glues the shape.

How does Rios differ from Norgaard?

Tottenham have also been linked with a move for the 31-year-old Bees skipper, while Rios is more expensive and doesn’t have that Premier League-proven capacity of Norgaard. Then why should Levy instead consider someone who is a South American elite profile over a Danish player who is familiar with Thomas Frank’s abilities?

Norgaard has elite defensive IQ, while Rios is someone who is quite similar but a bit rawer. The former reads the spaces well to recover in transitional moments, while Rios has more physical burst. When it comes to passing, Norgaard is vertical and diagonal, while Rios is a bit more short and medium dominant.

You can see Rios as someone who has the potential to be seen as a Norgaard 2.0, given how the South American has more technical tools, although with less tactical refinement. And while Frank would need to coach him into the discipline structure that he wants to implement, Rios does have those raw materials to develop into an elite profile.

Strengths

He is efficient and effective with the ball even in tight spaces and has that positional discipline that Frank would love to have in the middle of the park. He does play within his given role, which could be a big part of why he fits into the Dane’s system at Tottenham.

Weakness

Rios has been playing some elite football, but he is yet to prove himself in Europe, which could be a huge risk that Daniel Levy would be taking if he were to secure his signatures. Moreover, he is a standout when it comes to bringing creativity to the side, and he may need more coaching to iron out some of the tactical risks that could be exposed in Thomas Frank’s system.

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Author Opinion: Richard Rios is Frank’s quiet key in the midfield

Richard Rios could be the ‘glue guy’ in the midfield that the Lilywhites have missed since the days of peak Mousa Dembélé. And the thing is that in Rios he can have someone who doesn’t just ask for the ball, but he keeps the system moving and blocks up the opposition whilst allowing the creative players to play, which is exactly how Cristian Nørgaard was utilised at Brentford. And if Frank’s looking to rebuild Spurs’ midfield spine with more tactical discipline, then Richard Rios should definitely be the first move in that rebuild.