Tottenham Hotspur ended a three-match skid with a powerful level earned towards Manchester Metropolis away from dwelling on Sunday afternoon within the Premier League.
However the defensive points stay, and Ange Postecoglou will know that the January switch window should form round defensive reinforcements to make sure that the London aspect are well-equipped to return to the Champions League with a top-four end.
Tottenham switch information – Koki Machida
In line with Voetbul Primeur, Tottenham are contemplating a winter swoop for Union Saint-Gilloise defender Koki Machida, although the Belgian outfit will demand €15m (£13m) for his departure.
Tottenham began strongly this season however collapsed after Micky van de Ven’s damage towards Chelsea, and with the Dutchman out till the brand new yr, Machida’s acquisition makes quite a lot of sense.
Koki Machida’s model of play
Machida has confirmed himself with USG and, aged 26, will personally really feel that he’s able to make the step and impress within the Premier League.
The 26-year-old is actually of the apt profile, rating among the many prime 5% of central defenders throughout divisions just like the Belgian Professional League for shot-creating actions, the highest 2% for progressive passes, the highest 10% for progressive carries, the highest 12% for tackles and the highest 15% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.
His progressive passing, specifically, is most fascinating, with the five-cap Japan worldwide’s 7.26 per sport eclipsing Pedro Porro’s over the previous yr, with the artistic Spurs right-back averaging 4.20 per outing, having clinched 4 assists from 13 matches within the English top-flight this season.
The 6 foot 3 star has additionally demonstrated his defensive abilities in Belgium, averaging 6.6 ball recoveries, 1.6 tackles and interceptions and a couple of.5 clearances per sport within the league this yr.
Who Koki Machida may change at Tottenham
Whereas the left-footed star may very well be the right choice to fill in for Van de Ven on the again as he continues his restoration, it is unlikely that he would surpass the Dutchman in his formidable partnership with Cristian Romero on the again when each are match and obtainable.
That being stated, Postecoglou might be dreaming of a return to the Champions League and might want to craft a squad able to competing throughout a number of fronts, not reliant on the first-choice beginning 11.
Machida may present such a presence and achieve this to nice impact, providing ball-playing abilities to play into Spurs’ fluid development, one thing that Eric Dier is seemingly incapable of doing, consequently banished to the outskirts of Postecoglou’s squad.
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Spurs may spend “loopy cash” to signal a much bigger expertise than Van de Ven
Ange Postecoglou is for certain to be lively within the January switch market…
The 29-year-old has been at Tottenham for a few years, signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 for £4m and racking up 362 appearances, however he has fallen by the wayside this season and has solely performed twice, not used throughout the previous two Premier League fixtures regardless of the deluge of absences on the again.
The truth that Emerson Royal and Ben Davies – two pure full-backs – have been most popular speaks volumes, and with the England worldwide out of contract on the finish of the season, it is more and more doubtless that he has entered the ultimate levels of his profession in north London.
Postecoglou’s determination to banish him is not unjust, per se, with Dier rating among the many backside 46% of centre-halfs throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for go completion and the underside 9% for progressive passes per 90, incongruous inside the membership’s new model.
Machida could be a superb alternative, and given the comparatively small determine required for his companies partnered along with his ball-playing proclivity, Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy is perhaps satisfied to make his transfer in January.
