Jamie Carragher calls on Tottenham Hotspur to evolve their midfield to take their game to the next level
Liverpool legend turned pundit, Jamie Carragher, named Joao Palhinha Spurs’ best signing under new manager Thomas Frank. The Danish manager took charge of the club in June and has made several changes to the squad.
During the summer transfer window, Tottenham signed Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, amongst others, and also acquired Palhinha on loan from German giants Bayern Munich. The English side has the option to make the transfer permanent with a fee of £27 million at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Meanwhile, the club sold Son Heung-min, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Bryan Gil. Several other players left the club on free transfers.
Carragher believes Palhinha fits perfectly into Tottenham’s new system and is exactly the type of player Frank needed. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder serves as an anchor in Spurs’ midfield, and possesses exceptional intelligence and ball-winning capability. Apart from his defensive skillset, he also poses a major threat going forward. The Portuguese player has already scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in 15 appearances for the club, impressive numbers for a holding midfielder. His experience in the centre of the field brings stability to Tottenham’s midfield.
Palhinha has teamed up well with his midfield partner Rodrigo Bentancur. However, Carragher pointed out that the Palhinha-Bentancur midfield duo is being perceived as a highly defensive approach by fans. Carragher stated (h/t The Telegraph):
“The best signing under Frank so far is João Palhinha, a highly effective ball-winner more so than a playmaker.”
“In the early stages of his Spurs career, Palhinha is exactly what Frank and his new club need, and it could bring instant success. Going forward, there will have to be an evolution, as the pairing of Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur is perceived by supporters to be over-cautious in home games.”
Bentancur signed for the club in 2022 and has cemented himself as a regular starter in Tottenham’s midfield. His defensive ability, combined with his eye for creativity going forward, is a major asset for Spurs. Thomas Frank holds Bentancur in a very high regard. The Uruguayan midfielder also signed a new long-term contract with the club in October.
New look for Spurs
Spurs have endured a strong start to the new campaign. The team has seen significant improvement since Frank took over from Ange Postecoglou. The Lilywhites are currently third in the Premier League, recording 17 points from their opening nine games. They suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in midweek, which knocked them out of the Carabao Cup. The 1-0 home loss to Chelsea will have done little to stem the stink of defeat at N17.
