Can Richarlison coexist with Premier League star if Levy pulls off sensational Tottenham transfer? – Opinion

With Tottenham Hotspur looking to step into the new era under new head coach Thomas Frank, the North Londoners have been looking to compound their roster in the ongoing summer transfer window, and the Lilywhites have been subject to links with a move for attacking reinforcements, with West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus leading the transfer charts. And simultaneously, the future of the North Londoners £60m signing, Richarlison, looks dim with every passing day, as the Brazilian has not lived up to his standards, with injuries and inconsistency being the only consistent thing during his three years at N17.

With the situations of both of these aforementioned players overlapping, the North Londoners faithful must be thinking whether Kudus and Richarlison coexist in the same tactical setup or does signing one mean the end for the other at Tottenham under Thomas Frank?

Let’s take some time to tactically compare Kudus and Richy…

Thomas Frank has been playing a hybrid 4-3-3 or a 5-3-2 at Brentford, and the Dane head coach is expected to continue with these frameworks at N17. But with playing these systems, the Lilywhites will have to have players who have the pressing demand and are intelligent about their positioning and zones. And they’d have to be comfortable being a vertical threat given how Thomas Frank likes to attack by making the opponents too comfortable before catching them by surprise in transitions.

With Mohammed Kudus, he is someone who can play on the right wing, as an attacking midfielder or in a second striker role. He has that ability to progress the ball and carry it under high-pressure situations while having that explosive acceleration when he is running with the ball. His off-the-ball pressing is also something that is quite impressive, and he is someone that brings a lot of fluidity in attacking sequences.

If I am thinking about it tactically, then Kudus ends up slotting into multiple structures under Thomas Frank, given he can play on the wide right in a 4-3-3 or even as a supporter in a striking role (more of a second forward) in a 3-5-2. And herein we would be able to make the most use of his attributes, given how he can carry the ball from the deep as well as link up the sequences in the final third or in that second-to-third phase. He can attack the box more consistently as well, so he can be more of a transformational figure than just another attacker in the roster at N17.

And then comes Richarlison; the Brazilian is an aerial threat, and you can play him as a striker as well as on the left wing. He is also someone who likes to arrive late into the box (which Thomas Frank will highly appreciate, especially if he puts up the former Watford star in an SS role). Moreover, his movements are mostly destined to create chaos. I do think that Richy is more traditional with his skill set, given how he thrives when he is operating closer to the goal and how he is often involved in chaotic moments. However, that being said, what ends up always frustrating me with him is his injury problems, which make him less dependable.

Can Kudus & Richarlison play together?

If we are speaking about them playing together, I think that they can both fit in together only in specific shapes and sequences. So if I am thinking about a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2, you can slot in Kudus as second striker and Richarlison as target man. While this should work structurally, where Kudus is dropping into half-spaces and Richarlison is pinning back defenders as he attacks the penalty box, the Lilywhites have Dominik Solanke, who bodes well with the system, then Richarlison.

We can think about a state of play where you slot in Kudus playing as right-sided #10 or wide right on the opposite side while Richarlison is a nine, but again, it’s having Solanke there that makes it a bit doubtful. This for me only works where the North Londoners are lining up against lower blocks where Kudus can get the defenders to follow him wide or inward, and he creates space for Richarlison to make runs.

But I do think that having both of them in the team is not quite ideal in terms of getting the best out of the system. Now it is different, where it is more of a rotation than coexistence. Although Kudus is arguably more consistent and clearly more tactically compatible, I don’t think it is unlikely that he would settle on a positional role over Richarlison for a long time, but if that were to happen, then the Brazilian would likely be the rotational sub or off the bench.

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Author Opinion: Bringing in Kudus is an evolution…

Kudus is not a straight replacement for Richarlison, but he is a versatile profile that has the capacity to change the identity of the frontline, especially with the possibility of Mbeumo coming in, as he and Kudus can make the North Londoners more press resistant and fluid in attack.

The Ajax academy graduate gives Thomas Frank the ability to change structures on the fly, which is particularly vital in Champions League games.

If we are thinking coexistence, as I mentioned above, Richarlison and Kudus can coexist on the team sheet but not in the starting XI in the long term. And in a direct comparison Kudus simply offers more versatility, durability, and tactical value to the team, and if the Lilywhites end up evolving into a true multi-competition team, then Levy needs to bring in players like Kudus who can play multiple roles at a high level.

While for Richarlison, unless his form changes and his fitness concerns are resolved, he may end up becoming the first victim of Thomas Frank’s project at Tottenham.