Tottenham Hotspur can’t catch a break this season.
After winning the Europa League with Ange Postecoglou last year, the Australian was dismissed, his unstable and erratic system contrastingly hurling Spurs to a 17th-place Premier League finish.
Context is important, but that is inexcusable. However, it very much feels like Thomas Frank’s version of the side, this year, are trundling along the same track but without the sparkle and excitement that was inherent to Ange’s ways.
Frank hasn’t been helped, though, especially this month. Mohammed Kudus fell to a hamstring injury after the Sunderland draw, and now Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone surgery after sustaining a similar problem against Bournemouth. He will miss more than three months.
Tottenham need to spend, with midfield a priority position, for sure.
Spurs planning several January signings
Johan Lange has moved swiftly, with a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher in the closing stages. Aston Villa were hijacked after a move of their own.
In some ways, this one has been a long time coming. In 2023, Spurs pushed for Chelsea’s homegrown talent before deadline day, but failed to seal the deal.
Finally, they have got their man, though the industrious England international probably doesn’t solve the creative crisis that is hindering Frank’s Tottenham.
But Lucas Paqueta could. According to journalist Eduardo Burgos, Tottenham are still “in the race” for the West Ham United midfielder, who has been the subject of intense interest from Brazilian club Flamengo this month.
Paqueta, 28, wants to return to his homeland, so disillusioned with life at the London Stadium. However, the successful suitor must stump up around £52m for his signature, perhaps tipping the financial odds in Spurs’ favour.
Burgos further reports that Spurs have actually submitted a bid for the player, although all roads seemingly lead to the player heading back to Brazil, rather than moving across London.
How Lucas Paqueta would fit in with Conor Gallagher
Paqueta is a seasoned Premier League star, and though West Ham are at a low ebb, spiralling into the Championship, it seems, he played a part in David Moyes’ illustrious project, threading the pass through to Jarrod Bowen to seal the Conference League title.
Paqueta has hardly been at his best this term, but he’s still an excellent player, and his statistics underscore his strong baseline. As per Sofascore, he has averaged 6.8 duels and 2.2 tackles per game, creating six big chances too.
In this, he would aid Frank’s steely set-up, sharing the defensive workload with Gallagher and Joao Palhinha at six. But Paqueta would also serve as the playmaker-in-chief, hailed as a “magician” by reporter Robbie Mustoe for his on-the-ball tricks and flicks.
A controversial move? Perhaps, but Tottenham already crossed a contentious boundary when they signed Hammer Kudus for £55m last summer, and now the Ghanaian is one of the north Londoners’ most threatening players.
Paqueta would cover over a hole, giving rise to fluent passing play. After all, no Premier League side have completed fewer through balls than the Lilywhites this term, a face-reddening statistic.
Premier League 25/26 – Fewest Through Balls
#
Club
Stat
16.
Nott’m Forest
22
17.
Fulham
21
18.
Leeds
17
19.
Wolves
16
20.
Tottenham
11
Data via FBref
This is not exactly a stylistic preference on Frank’s part. His Brentford team finished ninth in the top flight for that metric last year, having completed 69 through balls.
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As per FBref, Paqueta ranks among the top 10% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for progressive passes, the top 13% for through balls and the top 11% for through balls per 90.
Gallagher’s monstrous energy and work rate would partner with Paqueta’s skillset just so. It is a good thing that ENIC Group have moved onto the cusp of completion regarding Gallagher’s move, but to sign only that player would be to fail to create a dynamic and effective engine room.
It’s fair to say Tottenham’s midfield have struggled to progress play forward from central midfield this season. It’s also fair to say Gallagher won’t drastically change that.
Partnered with Paqueta, though, and with Palhinha sweeping up from behind, Frank could establish a fluent and dynamic midfield trio, capable of finally turning the tide.
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