Tottenham figures in Germany as Joao Palhinha back-up may already have been found
Tottenham’s winter transfer window was quieter than many expected it to be.
The Lilywhites’ poor form this season has put Thomas Frank under pressure as head coach, and some new arrivals would certainly have helped the Dane.
Although there were six signings for Spurs, quite a few of them were youth prospects, who are unlikely to have much immediate effect on the first team.
Souza and Conor Gallagher look to be the only signings for right now, with a move for Andy Robertson failing to come to fruition in the final weeks of the window.
Additionally, the signing of Mason Melia was confirmed this window, after a pre-agreed transfer. Melia looks to be part of the first team in the coming months.
However, while they may not be able to sign anyone until the summer, the foundations for that window are already being laid down.
Tottenham send scouts to watch Leon Avdullahu
Joao Palhinha joined Spurs from Bayern Munich in the summer, with the deal being an initial loan move.
So far the midfielder has remained a regular feature in Frank’s starting lineup, but Palhinha has been far from a world beater.
The London club has an option to buy, which means the Portuguese midfielder is not guaranteed to be at the club next season.
In the event that the loan move is not made permanent, the N17 outfit may already have located their replacement for Palhinha.
According to the Daily Star’s print edition on Thursday, Tottenham have sent scouts to Germany to watch 21-year-old Hoffenheim defensive midfielder Leon Avdullahu.
The report by the newspaper says the player is rated around £15million.
How does Avdullahu compare to Palhinha this season?
Avdullahu has been a key player for Hoffenheim this season, starting every game for the club in all competitions. The Kosovo international has been capped five times by his nation.
Compared to Palhinha, the Bundesliga midfielder is a lot more progressive on the ball, with over double the number of accurate passes in the opposition half.
However, the current Spurs man is a lot more dominant in duels but fails to beat the Kosovan in winning the ball back.
| Stat | Joao Palhinha | Leon Avdullahu |
| Accurate passes in the opposition’s half | 11.9 (77%) | 24.9 (82%) |
| Total duels won | 6.4 (64%) | 3.0 (48%) |
| Balls recovered | 2.7 | 5.4 |
Overall, it seems that Avdullahu is completely different from the Portuguese international, and it perhaps showcases that Frank is looking to move in a separate direction from where he currently is now.
However, if results do not change, then the Dane may not be around to see those changes through.