Opinion: Five defensive midfielders Spurs should look at this summer

Tottenham’s recent poor form has highlighted a number of problems within the squad. Some might say that set-piece tactics are an issue, others may say our wing-play is the biggest problem.

However, one problem which has quickly become a common belief within the Spurs fanbase is the lack of an elite defensive midfielder who can sit in front of the defence and tidy up any danger.

Here are five defensive midfielders I believe could help Tottenham during transition, and cut down on the number of goals being conceded.

Option 1: Amadou Onana

Onana is most likely everyone’s top choice for the 6 role and it’s understandable. In the last two seasons, Onana has established himself as one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents and a key player for Everton.

The 22-year-old is an aerial demon, towering at 6’5’’ the Belgian ranks in the top 6% of midfielders for aerial’s won (FBref) offering a huge presence on the pitch. He also registers 2.89 tackles per game which also ranks him in the top 11% of players in his position (FBref).

It remains slightly unclear as to how Onana would perform in a possession-based side due to the fact he’s played two seasons under Everton manager Sean Dyche, who opts for a more defensive set-up that relies on a low block and playing long passes to the forwards.

Reports indicate that clubs would have to pay a fee in the region of £50-60m to prize him away from the Toffees (Football Insider). Whilst this isn’t cheap, it’s also not a huge sum of money. The club have paid similar fees in the past and this time round it could be worth the risk.

Option 2: Mats Wieffer

Another option that Tottenham could look into is Feyenoord’s Mats Wieffer. The Dutchman has excelled in his first 2 seasons in the Eredivisie, after being bought for just £490,000 (Transfermarkt) back in the summer of 2022.

Like Onana, Wieffer is strong in the air and would help resolve Spurs’ aerial weaknesses when defending set pieces. He averages 3.12 aerials won per game, ranking him in the top 1% of players in his position within the league (FBref).

On top of this, he is extremely comfortable on the ball and has impressive stats across the board. Averaging 80 touches a game (FBref) he’s not afraid to get on the ball and dictate the play, something which made Bissouma so strong at the start of the season.

At just 24 years old, Wieffer could still develop even further into a potential key player, and with a market value of just over £23m (Transfermarkt) Wieffer would be a low-risk signing. For a price like that and the season he’s had, he may attract other top clubs this summer.

Option 3: Manuel Ugarte

In the last few days, L’Equipe have reported that Ugarte could be on his way out of Paris Saint-Germain this summer (Football Italia). Despite the Parisians signing the 23-year-old for £50m last summer (Transfermarkt) they are reportedly willing to offload him for less than what they signed him for.

Ugarte has featured 36 times this season for PSG (Transfermarkt) and has earned himself a reputation as one of the best young players in his position in recent seasons. With a pass completion rate of 95% and averaging 4 tackles a game (FBref) it’s easy to see why.

The Uruguayan also racks up 8 ball recoveries a game, a hugely impressive statistic that would suit Tottenham when transitioning from defence back to attack.

Although Ugarte has only been offered to Milan and Juventus as of now (Football Italia) there’s always the possibility Spurs could tempt PSG with a good offer.

Option 4: Khephren Thuram

As Spurs fans will know, Chairman Daniel Levy loves a bargain, and Nice ace Khephren Thuram would be a massive one. According to reports, the French side may be forced to sell the midfielder for as little as £12m (Caught Offside) due to his contract expiring in 2025.

Standing at 6’4’’ the son of the legendary Lilian Thuram is an elite carrier of the ball, ranking in the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 2% for carries into the final third (FBref). He also carries the ball for nearly 300 metres every single game, which equates to the same as Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

Capable of playing as an 8 as well as a 6, Thuram would offer Tottenham versatility when against teams who play a low block but also look dangerous on the counter.

He would fit into Tottenham’s philosophy of signing young players with potential, but with the ability to be able to slot into Postecoglou’s side straight away.

Option 5: Andre

One of the more obscure names on the list and one that may not hit the ground running straight away is Fluminense’s Andre. The 22-year-old played an essential role in his side’s Copa Libertadores run to winning the competition and has since seen interest from Fulham (ESPN).

The Brazilian is known for being a superb passer of the ball, something that would go down a treat in Postecoglou’s possession-based system. He attempts over 80 passes a game and has a 94% pass completion rate, ranking him in the top 1% of players in his position (FBref).

Like some of the other names listed above, he’s comfortable on the half-turn and an excellent carrier of the ball. He averages 186 metres when progressively carrying the ball a game, a statistic that ranks him in the top 1% (FBref). His defensive numbers are good also, averaging just under 2 tackles a game.

It’s hard to gauge how well Andre will do when making the step up to the Premier League, but with the correct coaching, he could turn out to be what Murillo is for Nottingham Forest, a fan favourite.

With a reported transfer fee being set at around £30m (ESPN) it’s not a ridiculous sum of money either.

SpursWeb Opinion

Of all 5 players listed within this article, for me, Mats Wieffer seems like the smartest option. He’s had experience playing in Europe whilst still being a young age, and the transfer fee potentially remaining low.

His aerial abilities would be a huge asset to Tottenham also, with it being a clear weakness from set-pieces.

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