View: Tottenham should avoid signing Gleison Bremer from Juventus
Ange Postecoglou desperately needs new defenders as his Tottenham reign gets underway.
The Australian manager will most likely look to implement a back four upon his arrival in North London. He will need a new defensive partner for Cristian Romero, with Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez surplus to requirements.
Postecoglou enjoys a possession-based style of football and requires defenders who are comfortable on the ball, can step into midfield, and defend high as his side looks to press aggressively.
One centre-back Tottenham have been linked with is Juventus star Gleison Bremer.
According to the Daily Mail (23 June), Spurs have added the Brazillian to their list of targets as they look to improve their defensive options to give their new boss the best chance of a positive start in the Premier League.
Bremer, who only joined Juventus from rivals Torino last summer, made 30 appearances in Serie A last season and could cost up to £50million. However, the stats suggest that this is a fee Daniel Levy should avoid paying.
Firstly, the number of passes made by the 26-year-old suggests he is not what Postecoglou needs. As mentioned, Spurs’ new boss enjoys a possession-based style of football with his centre-backs needing to make passes frequently.
As per FBREF, over the course of the last term, Bremer made just 49.90 passes per 90, placing him in the 66th percentile compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top-five leagues. He would attempt 55.64 passes per 90, which left him in an even lower percentile in regard to this statistic, the 59th.
The stats also suggest he is not a player who enjoys moving into midfield. Bremer only won 0.23 tackles per 90 in the middle third over the last year, which leaves him in the bottom 10 per cent of European centre-backs. Moving further forward he only won 0.03 tackles per 90 in the attacking third, leaving him in the 30th percentile.
His inability to squeeze up the pitch was further demonstrated through his possession statistics. The former Torino man was in the 16th percentile for progressive carries (0.23 per 90), the 25th percentile for carries into the final third (0.23 per 90) and the 43rd percentile for touches in the middle third (27.60 per 90).
His position in the top 12 per cent of European defenders for touches made in his defensive penalty area and defensive third suggest he is not a defender best suited to a high line, which Postecoglou will look to implement.
Spurs should therefore be looking elsewhere for defensive targets, especially considering the price tag on Bremer, with the right-sided centre-back not likely to be a great fit for the new management’s system.
In other Tottenham news, Spurs Scout has identified a club target who Daniel Levy should look to sign.