Tottenham have been looking to bring in a new striker for a while now, and it looks like they will revisit the prospects of a striking reinforcement again in the winter/summer window. And in doing so, the Lilywhites have been linked with a move to bring in 21-year-old Midtjylland striker Franculino.
The left-footed #9 will fit right into the transfer policy that Spurs adopted in the last years at N17, where they went on to sign high-potential young prospects and develop them through the corridors at Hotspur Way.
His numbers demonstrate an elite quality. The 1.82 m striker has netted 54 goals in 102 first-team appearances for the Danish giants. And if we stick to numbers this season, he has got 24 goal involvements already. Notably, 19 of those have come from his 16 league games, offering a glimpse into his overall contribution.
Given his numbers, Midtjylland are said to have put in a valuation of around £35m for his signature.
Scouting Franculino: Midtjylland striker who has the capacity to make it big
Strengths
Franculino has shown that he has elite ability with his movements around the penalty box and with his finishing. He is basically a chance magnet, given that he has consistently been notching double-figure goals in Denmark. But with his finishing, he ends up positioning himself in a way where he can get those consistent chances.
But the thing is, he has this knack of timing his runs in a way where he catches defenders on their blind side. And then he has options to either burst across the front post or peel himself off to the back.
So for Tottenham, he brings a presence. Something that the Lilywhites have been lacking, especially on the end of crosses/cut-backs. With Solanke being injured, that kind of penalty-box economy has been missing upfront. And then he gives that pace and power upfront. Given that Franculino is quite aggressive when it comes to his runs and can quickly cover his lines, he would add that chaos-like presence but with poise.
Ideally, he likes to drift and get himself into half spaces, especially on the left. More importantly, his ethics off the ball are notable. He brings that high pressing work rate given how he uses his speed and strength to firstly close the defenders and then to make his presence felt.
We know how Thomas Frank wants his forwards to lead the press. We saw that with how Randal Kolo Muani was operating against PSG earlier this week, where he tried to suffocate PSG from the front. And also Franculino fits that role ideally. And much like Muani, the 21-year-old is equally good at drifting into the channel.
Given that he has come through Benfica’s academy, one can see he is quite technical and good at linking up within sequences. And then he is only 21. He has a massive upside ahead of him.
Weaknesses
He still needs to improve his control on the ball at pace (especially when he is against centre backs who like to make their presence felt).
So when the 21-year-old has been marked tight by his marker, then you could see that his lack of elite first touch and ability to ride contact can be inconsistent. And the thing is, while he can get away with these in the Danish league, it would be difficult to do so in the English top tier.
And then there is an obvious risk of him coming into the Premier League and struggling to initially make his presence felt. So Tottenham would ideally be counting on his traits, especially given that those goalscoring numbers are bound to drop initially.
How would Franculino fit in at Tottenham under Thomas Frank?
If we think about Franculino in the current 4-2-2-2 system that Thomas Frank has deployed in the past weeks, where he deploys two forwards, then you can slot him in multiple roles. If you partner him with someone like Dominic Solanke, then he allows the England international to drop deep and link while Franculino focuses on running in behind and attacking crosses.
Both of them can press from the front together while they screen through passes down the middle (it is something that Frank clearly wants as a trigger for the Lilywhites’ press). The good thing about this system here is that Franculino will not have to be an all-round reference point in attacks straight away. He can do things in pairs with Solanke as he learns the subtleties of playing in the Premier League.
But if Frank does go back to his one-striker system (a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1), then he will be a more mobile alternative to Solanke. He will not be a classic target man like Solanke is, but he would be more of a channel runner and space opener for the likes of Simons and Kudus between the lines.
He could also mirror a bit of what Muani does in channels. Starting wide, then attacking the half-space, with the full back (most likely Udogie) overlapping outside. That would suit his left foot if he goes into diagonal dribbles on the inside. Initially he would be expected to bring quality depth before he earns a more consistent role upfront.
This is more of a move for the long term again, a sense of planning we have been seeing at Hotspur Way for a while now. Would you be happy if the Lilywhites do sign him in the upcoming winter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.