Opinion: Imagine Him & Maddison: Spurs Could Provide Ange with His Own Trossard in £60m “Superstar”
The transfer window officially opened yesterday, and Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, are already working hard to secure new players and offload those deemed surplus to requirements.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham had a relatively successful first season, managing to qualify for the Europa League. However, missing out on a Champions League spot was a disappointment. Thus, it’s no surprise that they are looking to strengthen their squad, particularly in attack. One player being linked with a move to Tottenham is Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who has been compared to Arsenal’s prolific Leandro Trossard.
On the latest episode of the Sky Sports Transfer Talk Podcast, journalist Pete Graves revealed that Tottenham is among several clubs interested in signing Eze this summer. Other teams showing interest include Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Manchester City. While the level of competition for his signature is high, Spurs are aware of the price tag placed on him by Crystal Palace, which is reported to be £60 million, according to BBC Sport.
Signing Eze would be a costly and complex deal, but bringing him in could significantly enhance Tottenham’s prospects next season under Postecoglou. Eze could form an impressive partnership with James Maddison, adding much-needed attacking impetus.
Eze’s comparison to Trossard primarily stems from FBref, which lists the ten most similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for every player. For Eze, Trossard ranks as the seventh most similar attacking midfielder and winger. Their similarities are evident in several key metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, actual goals and assists, progressive passes, shots, attempted passes, tackles, goal-creating actions, and dispossessions per 90 minutes.
Additionally, Eze shares another crucial trait with Trossard: versatility. This is a significant reason why he could complement Maddison well at Tottenham. Eze can play in multiple positions, including either wing, left midfield, attacking midfield, central midfield, and even as a centre-forward. His ability to excel in various roles on the pitch makes him an ideal partner for Maddison, sometimes finishing chances and at other times creating them.
Eze’s impressive output is another reason he would make a great addition to the team. In 31 games this season, the 25-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided six assists, averaging a goal involvement every 1.8 games for Crystal Palace. This performance surpasses Maddison’s, who scored four goals and provided nine assists in 30 games, averaging a goal involvement every 2.3 games.
Given his versatility and output, Tottenham should prioritize signing Eze this summer. His addition could be a game-changer for the team next season. If he performs similarly to Trossard, Tottenham’s aspirations could go beyond Europa League qualification, potentially securing a Champions League spot.
In conclusion, as the transfer window progresses, Tottenham Hotspur, under the guidance of Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou, should make every effort to acquire Eberechi Eze. His versatile playing style and impressive performance statistics make him a valuable asset who could significantly enhance the team’s attacking capabilities and help them achieve their goals for the upcoming season.
