Spurs “positively” wish to signal £68m star for Frank

It was an odd previous marketing campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this yr.

Ange Postecoglou led the membership to European glory within the Europa League but in addition to their worst Premier League end in a era, which in the end price him his job.

It would not be unreasonable then to counsel that for a lot of the season, no less than domestically, only a few gamers stood out for the appropriate causes.

Nonetheless, one star who stepped up throughout the first half of the season was Dejan Kulusevski, along with his efficiency away to Manchester United a specific spotlight.

But, maybe in an indication of how ruthless the membership now wish to be, studies are linking them to a Premier League star who may nicely be an improve on the Swedish worldwide.

Tottenham switch information

Earlier than attending to the star in query, it is value a few of the different thrilling gamers linked with Spurs in latest weeks, corresponding to Antoine Semenyo and Xavi Simons.

The previous may very well be accessible for round £60m this summer season, and if that is the case, he could be one thing of a steal, as in simply 42 appearances this season, he scored 13 objectives and supplied seven assists.

Simons, however, seems set to price a little extra at round £65m, however as he is nonetheless simply 22 years previous, produced 19 purpose involvements in 33 video games this season and has been described as “among the finest 10s on the planet”, within the phrases of 1 analyst, that could be a payment value paying.

But, in relation to the participant who may come to the membership as an improve to Kulusevski, we needs to be trying nearer to house at Eberechi Eze.

Sure, in response to a latest report from journalist Paul O’Keefe, Spurs are nonetheless extremely within the Crystal Palace famous person this summer season.

Talking on a latest version of the Final Phrase on Spurs podcast, O’Keefe revealed that the membership “want to try this deal” regarding the Eagles ace and that he’s nonetheless “positively on their radar.”

Nonetheless, as different studies from this month have made clear, the North Londoners might want to stump up round £68m to activate the discharge clause in his contract.

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze celebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup

It sounds prefer it may very well be a pricey and complex switch to recover from the road, however it’s value pursuing, even when it may very well be unhealthy information for Kulusevski.

How Eze compares to Kulusevski

So, the very first thing to deal with is that whereas Eze is greater than able to taking part in out broad, he has spent the overwhelming majority of this season in attacking midfield, which additionally occurs to be the place Kulusevski thrived this yr.

So, there’s a real probability that if Tottenham get their man this summer season, the 2 gamers will likely be up towards each other for sport time subsequent season.

In that case, who comes out on prime after we examine them?

Properly, after we check out their uncooked output from this season, which is in the end what issues greater than anything, it is the “unbelievable” Palace ace, as dubbed by Oliver Glasner, who comes out on prime.

For instance, in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes, the Englishman scored 14 objectives – together with the winner within the FA Cup – and supplied 11 assists, which comes out to a median of a purpose involvement each 1.72 video games, or each 132.12 minutes.

In distinction, the Swedish worldwide scored ten objectives and supplied 11 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3450 minutes for the North Londoners this time period, which comes out to a very good however much less spectacular common of a purpose involvement each 2.38 video games, or each 164.28 minutes.

Okay then, what about after we have a look beneath the hood? Which star comes out on prime after we examine their underlying numbers?

Eze vs Kulusevski
Statistics per 90	Eze	Kulusevski
Non-Penalty Anticipated G+As	0.52	0.39
Non-Penalty G+As	0.69	0.53
Progressive Passes	3.37	4.66
Progressive Carries	2.36	4.51
Photographs	3.18	1.75
Photographs on Goal	0.93	0.69
Passing Accuracy	74.2%	73.7%
Key Passes	2.01	2.44
Shot-Creating Actions	4.69	4.82
Objective-Creating Actions	0.35	0.34
Profitable Take-Ons	2.33	1.43
Ball Recoveries	5.07	4.55
All Stats by way of FBref for the 24/25 Home Season

The previous Juventus star does fare barely higher right here, popping out forward in metrics like progressive passes and carries.

Nonetheless, general, that is one other comparability he loses to the Eagles maestro, who edges him out in additional related metrics, like anticipated and precise non-penalty objectives, goal-creating actions, and extra, all per 90.

In the end, Kulusevski is an undeniably proficient footballer, however from his output to the underlying numbers, Eze is an improve, and due to this fact, Spurs ought to do all they’ll to signal him this summer season.