Tottenham Lodge want to sign ‘ball-carrying machine’

Tottenham Hotspur maybe it’s languishing in the lower half now Premier League table, but it makes no sense that this struggling side have given up on their manager just yet, after putting in a fighting performance at home to Newcastle United last time out.

WITH Ange Postecoglou forced to field a particularly depleted backline amid a spate of injuries – with Dada Spence and Archie Gray lining up at centre-back in the second half – the Lilywhites arguably deserved more on Saturday afternoon, after coming close to equalizing in the second half. -halfway when Brennan Johnson flashed persistently across the box.

Alas, that’s not exactly happening for the north London side at the moment, and rumors are flying around regarding possible replacements for the Aussie in the dugout, but now might be the time to back Postecoglou, rather than show him the axe.

Indeed, the former Celtic boss has not been helped by the lack of squad depth at his disposal at the moment, and reinforcements are certainly needed this month if this calendar year is to prove much more fruitful than the last.

The latest on Spurs’ midfield pursuit

As reported by the Italian newspaper AreaNapoli, it is said that the president of Spurs is Daniel Levy made an official offer for Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, with the Colombian international emerging as a ‘concrete target’ for those at N17.

The nature of the offer was not mentioned, with the Brazilian side reportedly rejecting the proposal in order to keep the 24-year-old on board ahead of this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

Whether Spurs can produce a fresh approach to secure a more immediate arrival remains to be seen, with the talent in demand – which is said to have €100m (£83m) release clause. in his existing contract – seemingly a figure who could reinvigorate the club’s midfield.

Spurs’ perfect Bissouma upgrade

One area that has been a problem for Postecoglou of late is the number six spot in the bottom of midfield, with the previously injured Rodrigo Bentancur holding out on the sidelines through suspension, while Yves Bissouma has endured his own discipline woes to date.

Indeed, neither man has been able to truly nail down that starting role in the 2024/25 season, with Bissoum ten Premier League starts until now, while Bentancur is he started nine times in the first league.

An upgrade is needed, so where is Rios – who noted 13 goals and an assist in 102 games for his current team – can enter the equation.

According to data analyst Ben Mattinson, Rios is “ball carrying machine“who represents”Colombian Yves Bissouma“, ensuring that he can be fitted in perfectly as an upgrade to the Mali international.

As indicated in the table below, Rios comes out on top in a range of attacking and defensive metrics amid his most recent league appearance (2024), with the former Flamengo player notably the more creative outlet, as shown by his superior record against shot creation actions.

That ability to create from deep — while also contributing defensively — could make the 6-foot-2 powerhouse a perfect fit for Postecoglou’s system, helping freshen up an area of ​​the field that has been a problem of late.

With the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski ahead of him, Rios could be a dream template for those creative figures, with Mattinson was particularly impressed with his ability to “eat up a lot of ground in a short amount of time”, ensuring he can take Spurs from defense to attack in a flash.

That front-foot approach would be exactly what Postecoglou craves, with the hope that Levy could get a deal over the line in the coming weeks, rather than waiting until the summer.