Anthony Onifade

Sat 22 July 2023 18:10, UK

Tottenham desperately needs centre-back reinforcements this summer which was made evidently clear last season when they conceded 63 goals, and new manager Ange Postecoglu faces a key decision in the transfer market.

Postecoglou is in the market for new centre-backs and Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven has been tipped as a £25million target (The Mirror, 10 July), while former on-loan Frenchman Clement Lenglet could be set for a permanent stay in North London.

The North London club need left-footed with the new manager keen on a progressive, dynamic and controlled approach throughout the whole team within a possession-based, and front-foot system as he looks to get the club back to their very best.

Lenglet is, of course, well known to Spurs having spent last season on loan from Barcelona, who are said to be willing to do business on a transfer and despite the Lilywhites struggling with their defending last term, the former Sevilla man stood out as one of their best performers in a disastrous Premier League campaign.

One key trait needed from a defender in a Postecoglou side as he exerted at Celtic is short, precise passing while playing under pressure, as well as the ability to step up into midfield in order to squeeze the opposition. These are traits which Lenglet absolutely excelled at last season.

As per Fbref, the former Sevilla defender was in the top one per cent of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for his pass completion rate over a short distance with an outstanding 96 per cent of these types of passes completed per 90.

The stats suggest he is also more than comfortable operating in midfield and forward areas as he would make 0.78 tackles per 90 in the middle third, placing him in the 87th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe and was in the top four per cent of centre-backs making tackles in the attacking third (0.21 per 90).

Lenglet’s ability to step up into midfield is also demonstrated through his comfort carrying the ball forward. He was in the top six per cent of defenders around the continent when it came to progressive carries (1.54 per 90) and would often continue those carries into the final third, making 1.21 per 90, placing him in the top eight per cent compared to his European positional peers.

A defender in a Postecoglou team will also need to be able to defend high up the pitch in a system which requires relentless and aggressive pressing – something Lenglet proved himself plenty capable of last season.

However, at 28 years old, it remains to be seen whether the Australian coach will look to Lenglet’s experience or a more young option elsewhere.

Lenglet, as the stats showed, excelled last season but given the vibrant, front-footed high-octane style Postecoglu is trying to build for the forthcoming campaign, in stark contrast to Antonio Conte’s passive and reactive approach, Wolfsburg defender Van de Ven may seem the ideal bet.

Romano suggested on his personal Twitter account (28 June) that Van de Ven is among new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s top targets, and a verbal proposal is now set to be submitted, with the 22-year-old eager to make the switch.

Van de Ven could be the ideal fresh and vibrant signing for Postecoglou on the basis of last season, while his ability to play at left-back – where he featured four times in 2022-23, as per WhoScored – is an added bonus.

More crucially, the Wormer native also possesses the capabilities to perform in the Austrailian’s system and certainly more than held his own in an impressive breakout campaign.

Not only is he progressive and proactive with his play on the ball where he ranks in the top seven per cent of all centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, as per FBref, which shows his ability to bring the ball out from the back – a trait that Postecoglou can take full advantage of, but de Ven is exceptionally quick which could prove incredibly useful in Spurs’ potential high-line which Postecoglu incorporated excellently at Celtic.

The 22-year-old is also more aggressive, front-footed and proactive than Lenglet which is evidenced by his 254 duels won last season, one more than Bayern Munich star Matthijs de Ligt, and also winning 49 aerial duels.

The centre-back also shone in other areas, with the defender registering 1,821 intensive runs, also recording 334km covered throughout the campaign was bettered by just 13 other players, as per the official Bundesliga website.

And finally, back on the defensive side of things, the Netherlands native blocked more shots (24) than any other Bundesliga player under the age of 25 last season, as per WhoScored.

Van de Ven certainly seems the ideal fit for Postecoglou’s system hence Tottenham’s push to sign him but the experience of Lenglet could prove crucial in this new era under the former Celtic boss and the Frenchman can’t be counted out as an option for the Australian should the move for Van de Ven fall through.

Whatever happens though, Postecoglou certainly has a key decision to make this summer but whoever he chooses will evidently boost and establish his lofty plans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In other Tottenham news, One youngster at the club has already impressed during pre-season.