Opinion: Tottenham should sign one of Ange Postecoglou's former players
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to look at forwards in the summer transfer window and one former player of Ange Postecoglou could be a strong addition to the Spurs squad.
Tottenham have favoured signing players capable of operating as both a striker and a left winger in recent times. Heung-min-Son and Richarlison both possess this capability and Ange Postecoglou has continued this transfer trend.
Since he arrived at Hotspur Way, Spurs have completed the loan signings of Timo Werner and Mathys Tel, both of whom have played up front and on the left flank. However, Werner is unlikely to remain at Spurs next season, while there are some doubts over Tel’s Tottenham future.
Richarlison has also been linked with a move away from Spurs, while Son’s extended contract expires next summer. It is therefore important that Tottenham sign adequate replacements and one potential option is a player Postecoglou has worked with in the past.
Tottenham should look to sign Daizen Maeda
Daizen Maeda was first linked with a move to Spurs shortly after Postecoglou made the switch from Celtic to Tottenham. This month, Tottenham are said to once again be monitoring Maeda. The Japan international has had an outstanding season and was recently named the PFA Scotland Player of the Year.
This is in stark contrast to the player Maeda was when Postecoglou signed him for Celtic. His breathtaking work rate was second to none. However, his lack of end product was a major problem, which often saw Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi start ahead of him.
This is no longer an issue, as Maeda has registered 33 goals and 12 assists in all competitions this season, including four goals in the Champions League. His decision-making has vastly improved, while his finishing is much better than in previous seasons.
What can Spurs supporters expect from Daizen Maeda?
Maeda is a versatile player who not only fulfils his attacking duties, but makes darting runs back to assist in defence. His electric pace and non-stop running are useful as he makes runs behind the opposition’s backline and always looks to press and put them under pressure.
Former Spurs defender Cameron Carter-Vickers revealed how Bayern Munich’s players heaped praise on Maeda after the Bundesliga champions played Celtic in this season’s Champions League (BBC). Eric Dier told the American international that his Bayern teammates commented on Maeda’s running and how much energy he put into the game.
In the current Tottenham first-team squad, only Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall come close to Maeda when it comes to athleticism and stamina.
How would Maeda fit into Tottenham’s squad?
There is a possibility that Postecoglou will depart Spurs at the end of the season. Even if he does, Maeda would be a good signing. After all, he has looked a far better player under the management of Brendan Rodgers than when he played under the current Tottenham boss.
Maeda has impressed as a striker this season, but it is unlikely he would be chosen to start ahead of Dominic Solanke. However, his chances of playing regularly as a left winger look promising, considering Tottenham’s potential summer departures. Also, many to have played in that position during the current campaign have underperformed.
The only negative with Maeda is that he turns 28 in October. However, he does not look like the kind of player who will slow down anytime soon. One only has to look at former Celtic free kick specialist Shunsuke Nakamura, who retired aged 44, and Kazuyoshi Miura, who astonishingly still plays at the age of 58. Slowing down is seemingly almost non-existent in Japan.
Maeda would be an affordable signing and an excellent squad player, who could even break into the first-team if he were able to transfer his current form into the Premier League. At around £25m, Spurs should definitely have the speed machine on their radar ahead of the summer transfer window.
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