Tottenham interested in Barcelona ace Ansu Fati, could be available for £42.8m – report
Tottenham are interested in signing Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, according to El Chiringuito.
The Spanish TV show reported on Thursday (24 August) that both Spurs and Premier League rivals Aston Villa are tracking the Spain winger.
According to the report, Fati’s agent Jorge Mendes has offered his client’s services for around £42.8million (€50m).
Spurs have money to spend having sold club-record goalscorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in a deal Sky Sports (13 August) said was worth £100m.
Thus far, Ange Postecoglou has added James Maddison, Manor Solomon, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario to his squad.
A risk
There is no doubt whatsoever that Fati is a supreme talent and if Tottenham were to get the best version of the exciting 20-year-old then boy, would they have a player on their hands.
Having said that, Fati has well-documented injury problems during his young career, making only a combined 17 LaLiga appearances in the 2020-21 and 21-22 campaigns (soccerway).
While that figure bumped up to 36 last term, only 12 of those were as part of the starting XI and Barca legend Xavi – now head of coach the Blaugrana – clearly has reservations over him.
For Spurs, it would be a signing that represents somewhat of a risk. With his injury record not the best, and his prodigious talent potentially stunted by the time spent on the sidelines it could be a move that falls flat on its face.
Or, it could be a move that turns out to be an inspired piece of a business for a player who on his day can be a world-beater.
One stat, provided by FBRef, that will particularly excite Postecoglou is the fact over the past year Fati has been in the top 91 percentile for progressive passes received per 90 minutes (11.10), showing how comfortable he is in the transitions – an important part of how the Australian wants to play football.
He is also in the top 99 percentile for touches taken in the opposition area per 90 (8.11), which will also excite Postecoglou, who will want scorers from all the pitch after the departure of Kane.
This is one to keep a close eye on.
In other Tottenham news, Guglielmo Vicario has really arrived as the club’s number one after his performance versus Manchester United.