Tottenham Hotspur eased the pressure with a win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, but many supporters will feel the win was little more than a stay of execution.
A clearer marker of where Thomas Frank‘s side are at would be how they fare on the road against Burnley in the Premier League at the weekend, with progress essential following last week’s league defeat against lowly West Ham United.
The corrosion of fluidity in attack has formed the crux of Tottenham’s struggles this season, with Frank’s midfield drawing plenty of criticism for a lack of progression.
While Conor Gallagher has been added to the ranks, it’s clear that a more creative player should be added.
Spurs make Premier League midfielder their dream target
Tottenham’s midfield options have flattered to deceive this season, with neither Joao Palhinha nor Rodrigo Bentancur offering enough by way of progressive passing, thus stifling the club’s overall playmaking.
|
Premier League 25/26 – Lowest xG Totals |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Team |
Goals Scored |
xG |
|
(16) Tottenham |
31 |
25.2 |
|
(17) Nott’m Forest |
21 |
24.3 |
|
(18) Sunderland |
23 |
22.7 |
|
(19) Burnley |
23 |
20.5 |
|
(20) Wolves |
15 |
19.8 |
|
Data via Understat |
||
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
While Gallagher brings new mettle and experience to Frank’s system, he too is not a natural playmaker, and that’s a vacancy that needs filling.
Sporting director Johan Lange will have any number of candidates lined up, but Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton appears to be their ‘dream target’.
That’s according to TEAMtalk, who believe that Wharton has an understanding with the Eagles that he will see out the remainder of the campaign before earning the chance to move to a bigger club this summer.
With Manchester United also hot on the 21-year-old’s trail, any successful bid will likely come in at about £65m, making him the most expensive player in Spurs’ history.
Why Adam Wharton would be perfect for Spurs
Wharton is well established in the Premier League, and his technical skills make him the perfect candidate for a starring role for a team like Tottenham, challenging for the ascendancy.
Hailed as a “passing machine” by journalist Henry Winter, Wharton has created 26 chances and completed 45 long balls in the Premier League this season, as per data-led site FotMob, placing him in the top bracket for those metrics.
While Xavi Simons (and the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski) all boast strong creative properties, the Palace talent differs in that he plies his trade from the heart of midfield, defending properly and watching the goalmouth action from afar.
Should Tottenham complete this deal, it would provide Gallagher with the perfect partner, and perhaps it would be to the detriment of Lucas Bergvall, limiting the young Sweden star’s game time.
Bergvall, 19, is one of the most exciting prospects in north London, and Frank has every faith that he will become a leading man in a Lilywhite shirt in the future. However, he’s not yet proving himself capable of assuming talismanic responsibilities in the Premier League.
When you look at how Bergvall compares to Wharton, that is only further underscored.
Not only has Wharton contributed significantly to the rise of Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner’s wing, but he has been propelled into the thick of Three Lions action, and with the World Cup now only months away.
Bergvall is a top talent, one worth keeping onto if you’re a member of the Tottenham hierarchy, but he’s still a raw and unpolished talent, and if the dragging months of this campaign have informed us of anything, it’s that Frank and his side need to kick on quickly.
Spurs contenders to sign £100m-rated “monster” who’s a huge Tel upgrade
Tottenham are hoping to sign a new wide forward before the end of the January transfer window.