James Maddison and Tottenham’s summer transfer plans to help transform Postecoglou’s midfield
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be active participants in the summer transfer window as they look to give their new head coach what he needs
Tottenham Hotspur are set to embark on a busy summer transfer window to shape their squad to fit Ange Postecoglou’s needs and that means some changes in attack.
Spurs hired the 57-year-old Australian this month and he arrives with a very specific style of play, utilising fast and furious possession football underpinned by pressing high up the pitch to win the ball back quickly. His favoured 4-3-3 system at clubs will require Tottenham to make a string of changes to a squad that was built for different managers with different philosophies and most recently a back three with wing-backs with Antonio Conte.
Premium League Channel takes a look at what is needed at Spurs and what the plans are within the club to overhaul the squad for Postecoglou. We’ll focus on the midfield and attack today, while the second part tomorrow will delve into the defensive end of the pitch and the search for a successor to Hugo Lloris and new centre-backs, as well as exits.
When it comes to Tottenham’s midfield and attack, the two priorities this summer are understood to be a new attacking midfielder for the centre of the pitch as well as a winger to operate further up the flank.
The Postecoglou midfield three often operates with one number six pivot player who collects the ball from the defence and sprays it around the pitch and then two number eights who will operate in box-to-box roles and look to race up to support the centre forward at any opportunity.
Spurs have plenty of players who can fulfil the pivot role but fewer who can operate in the two more offensive positions. Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma can operate in either of the three midfield positions in a Postecoglou system while Oliver Skipp can sit in the deeper anchor role.
Postecoglou is expected to make a decision on the future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who despite his increased attacking output last season is not as natural a fit for either midfield role. Bayern Munich are understood to have some interest in bringing the Denmark international back to the Bundesliga if Spurs and Hojbjerg do decide to part ways.
Young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has been developing steadily at the club and the new head coach will have a good look at the 20-year-old Senegal international during pre-season to see just how effective he can be in the number eight role.
Another youngster, 18-year-old midfielder Alfie Devine, could end up with a spot on Tottenham’s tour to Australia and Asia next month before a decision is made on whether he should now head out on loan to gain regular starts. The lack of European football at Spurs next season means minutes will be sparse for some squad players to impress.
Postecoglou approved the £25.6m signing of Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus this week and the 23-year-old Swede is another who could be converted into the number eight role if required.
The new Tottenham head coach also switches up his formation to a 4-2-3-1 system at times and Premium League Channel
understands Spurs are looking to sign someone who can come in and offer a versatile option for both systems. That is why they are involved in the picture with Newcastle to acquire James Maddison from Leicester City.
The 26-year-old can play in a range of roles in a midfield three, the centre of a three behind a striker in a 4-2-3-1 or on the right of a front three.
In the 2021/22 season Maddison was directly involved in 30 goals for the Foxes with 18 goals and 12 assists, while in his last injury-fragmented campaign, within a struggling relegated side, he still managed 10 goals and nine assists in 32 matches.
Postecoglou is understood to like Maddison and both men also happen to be represented by the same agency, CAA Base, who have a growing presence at Spurs with key players in the first team such as Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Pedro Porro and also many of the academy’s most talented youngsters, including Alfie Devine, Dane Scarlett and Jamie Donley.
Among other targets, and although a more inexperienced one, Premium League Channel understands Tottenham have asked to be kept apprised of the situation with Bristol City starlet Alex Scott, who turns 20 this summer. The Championship club are believed to want a fee in the region of £20m for the young central midfielder, who has two years left on his contract. Spurs are not the only Premier League club looking at Scott, who can also play on the right of midfield, with other sides in the English top flight and in Europe eyeing up the England U20 starlet.