Tottenham News Scout: Tottenham could make a signing for the future in Ansu Fati
Tottenham News is delighted to welcome Matthew Chadder as our exclusive columnist for our ‘Spurs Scout’ features. Each week, he’ll be providing his expertise on researching players to give insight on the biggest talking points at Spurs…
It has been a questionable start to the season for Tottenham wingers Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski, who have both struggled to hit form thus far.
Overall, the Ange Postecoglou era has got underway without a hitch in North London. Despite two tough fixtures being thrown the Australian’s way, his new-look Spurs side have taken four points from their opening two Premier League matches.
Tottenham are unrecognisable from the team that limped home at the end of the previous campaign under Ryan Mason. The opening draw with Brentford showed signs of promise, in spite of some glaring issues that remained, and the 2-0 home victory over Manchester United demonstrated true potential. Postecoglou is getting through to his squad.
However, two of the club’s stars appear to have not quite yet adapted to their new head coach’s style of play. The former Celtic boss believes in a high-octane, attack-minded philosophy. He likes to see his side dominate possession and play a high line, always looking for opportunities to squeeze their opponent further up the pitch.
His midfielders have responded well to this, with James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr putting in some wonderful performances. Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie both look like brilliant additions in defence, with Cristian Romero having so far performed to his usual high standards.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite yet clicked for their front three, which is made up of Son, Kulusevski and Richarlison, following the departure of Harry Kane. While a new striker seems to be plenty of supporters’ focus, there remain some question marks over whether or not a new winger is also needed.
Of course, Son and Kulusevski are both brilliant players with track records that prove this. Nonetheless, in Postecoglou’s system, they are being asked to hug the touchline and isolate their full-backs out wide, while looking to beat them and get in behind.
These are not roles either player is necessarily used to operating in, and while they do deserve more time and opportunities to adapt given their importance to the club, it couldn’t hurt to have some fresh competition keeping them on their toes.
And as per El Chiringuito TV via Twitter (24 August), Tottenham, alongside Premier League rivals Aston Villa, are interested in FC Barcelona winger Ansu Fati.
Here, Spurs Scout has had a look at Fati and determined whether or not he would be the right fit for the club.
Superpower – Attacking potential
At one point, Fati was being viewed in European football as the next big thing and even inherited the number 10 shirt at Barcelona from Lionel Messi. This was perhaps a step too far and might have put unnecessary pressure on the player at such a young age.
Although it is easy to forget he is still just 20 and, despite a plateau in recent seasons, continues to possess plenty of potential, such potential that could be unlocked in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
As per fbref, the forward has a plethora of qualities that would make him suitable for life under Postecoglou. In particular, he was impressively in the top one per cent of his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past calendar year for the number of touches he had in the opposition penalty area (8.11 per 90).
In addition to this, he was in the 86th percentile for the number of touches he made in the attacking third (30.91), demonstrating his ability to get forward and find himself on the ball in useful areas.
He would often drive into dangerous positions, sitting in the 83rd percentile for the number of carries he made into the opposition penalty area (1.96 per 90), while also ranking in the top nine per cent for the number of progressive passes he received (11.10 per 90), representing his ability to find useful spaces where he could be picked out by a teammate.
Postecoglou likes all of his forwards and midfielders to chip in with goals and trouble the goalkeeper with attempts, something that Fati would likely often do. He was in the top one per cent of attacking midfielders and wingers across the continent for both the number of shots he had (4.24 per 90) and his non-penalty expected goals total (0.54 per 90).
He is also a good passer of the ball, which would please Postecoglou as the 57-year-old demands that his players keep possession through crisp and precise passing. Fati was in the top six per cent of players in his position for his overall pass completion rate (83.5 per cent) and the top one per cent for his completion rate over a long distance (79.3 per cent).
The above image shows Fati in comparison to Spurs’ two current wingers and reveals that he could bring some qualities to Hotspur Way, which his potential competition is currently not providing as effectively.
Weakness – Take-ons
While there is a lot to like about Fati’s game, as demonstrated by the stats, there is a key area of his game that he lacks, which would be an issue for his potential new boss. Postecoglou demands his wingers to isolate their full-backs and have the ability to beat them one-on-one, something the 20-year-old isn’t brilliant at doing.
As per fbref, he had some of the worst take-on stats across Europe in comparison to his positional peers. He was in just the 34th percentile for the number of take-ons that he attempted (3.05 per 90) and even lower for the number that he completed, sitting in the 32nd percentile in regard to that particular statistic (1.31 per 90).
This left him positioned in the 47th percentile for his successful take-on percentage (42.9 per cent) and what is more concerning is how often he was tackled when trying to beat his man.
Of his 3.05 take-ons per match, he was tackled on 1.47 occasions, which meant that he was dispossessed 48.2 per cent of the time when attempting to get past his opponent.
Where would Fati fit in at Tottenham?
While his take-on numbers do make for concerning reading, they could simply be down to a lack of confidence, which Postecoglou would look to build up if he were to bring the player to the Premier League.
He most likely wouldn’t arrive as a starter, but rather as a squad option and at the age of 20, one for the future. On the other hand, his stats in comparison to Tottenham’s two current starting wingers suggest that he could quickly find himself in the starting 11 if he got his head down and impressed.
That is what makes him an exciting signing, his ability to develop into a top player in the future, but also his capability of being a starter straightaway.
How much would Fati cost Tottenham?
This is the question that would be on most people’s minds, especially Daniel Levy’s. According to the report by El Chiringuito, the winger could be available for around £42.8million, which represents a fantastic price.
In the current market that is a steal and a few years down the line, if the player lives up to his potential, could be looked back on as a real bargain. Of course, there is every chance he also won’t succeed, but that is the risk taken with every transfer.
And at the price of £42.8million, the benefits certainly outweigh that risk.
Should Tottenham sign Fati?
Levy should absolutely be getting on the phone right away and looking to bring him to the club. He has plenty of qualities Postecoglou requires in his wingers, as well as room and potential to develop the areas of his game he is currently lacking in.
Spurs need more options out wide, if anything to boost the performance levels of the current wingers at the club, and Fati could do that while also acting as a real option to displace both Son and Kulusevski if their levels don’t pick up.
Levy, you know what to do.
In other Tottenham news, the women’s team have retained the services of one of their standout performers from the past few seasons.