Three defensive monsters Tottenham could sign instead of Joao Palhinha this summer - Opinion
Tottenham Hotspur seem more and more likely to sign Joao Palhinha this summer, but are there better options out there in the transfer window?
On Thursday, May 7th, Roberto De Zerbi told the press in no uncertain terms that he “100%” wants Tottenham to sign Joao Palhinha permanently.
“We have to start from this type of people. More than players, we need reliable people and players, and Palhinha is one of the best,” the Italian said.
This came after the Portuguese midfielder recorded his 100th tackle in Tottenham’s victory against Aston Villa.
Palhinha, on loan from Bayern Munich, had a somewhat difficult start to North London life and still divides opinions among the fan base. But he has entered a rich run of form recently, and his resurgence leaves the club in a difficult situation.
If Tottenham stay up, should they sign Joao Palhinha or reinvest?
Tottenham have a £22m option-to-buy clause in Joao Palhinha’s loan, which initially seems low, but many argue the 31-year-old won’t have long left on his physical prime and that that money should be used to bring in a new, perhaps more well-rounded midfielder.
In the past, Spurs have infamously insisted on the resale value of any players they sign, but they will probably have to forgo any future profits to keep the ex-Fulham star.
What Palhinha offers on the pitch, however, is exceptionally difficult to replace.
Few midfielders in world football combine his tackling volume, positional intelligence and ball-winning instincts with such relentless consistency. If he doesn’t re-sign, Spurs will be tasked with finding a successor capable of replicating that rare ability.
So, looking at tackle data across Europe, here are three midfielders Tottenham could target next – one ambitious option, one realistic alternative, and one outside-the-box shout.
Tempting James Garner from Everton might be tricky for Spurs
The only midfielder in Europe with more tackles than Palhinha this season is James Garner. In fact, the English midfielder has the most tackles of any player in the Premier League this season.
Garner has always been solid and reliable, but has taken his game up another level this season, adding creativity and finesse in the final third of the pitch.
At the time of writing, he has scored two goals and recorded nine assists in the league for Everton and could easily finish the campaign with double-digit G/As.
As well as this, Garner has also covered multiple positions and looks just as comfortable at either fullback as he does across the midfield. Given Palhinha’s recent tactical instructions of dropping into the backline, this adaptability could be crucial.
Everton, however, will not want to sell a key player, and without European football (assuming Tottenham are in the Premier League, firstly) could make prizing him away very difficult. Spurs have been linked with a move for Garner in the past though, so watch this space.
Stylistically, Garner feels like the perfect replacement, but other options should also be explored.
Wolves’ Joao Gomes could be a more realistic target
Third on the list for most tackles in the Premier League this season sees an already relegated João Gomes. The Brazilian sits just behind Garner and Palhinha, and is next in line to reach the 100 tackle milestone, currently sitting on 99.
In what has been a poor season for The Old Gold, the 25-year-old has been one of a few shining lights, and has definitely stated his case for a move to a bigger club this summer.
Gomes brings tenacity and an unrivalled aggression that echoes his Portuguese namesake, but it’s his ball carrying that could make him more of an asset. Fans, especially in his role under Thomas Frank, often sighed at the on-ball ability of Palhinha and arguments about his passing range have gone on all season.
It wouldn’t be the worst idea to bring in a more technical midfielder to deploy in the pivot, but at what cost?
If Spurs do see him as a legitimate option, they’ll need to move fast. Reports indicate that Tottenham and Man United could be in a tug of war for Joao Gomes this summer.
Tottenham could shop in the very physical French league
If Tottenham were to replace Palhinha’s tackles, it wouldnt have to be neccessarily from within their own domestic league.
While the Premier League is often cited as the world’s most physical, it seems players from the Ligue 1 seem to adapt the quickest, coming from a very intense French league.
Down in 13th place on the Europe’s most frequent tackler dataset sits Mamadou Sangare, a midfield general for RC Lens.
Born in Bamako, Mali, Sangare came through the Red Bull system with Salzburg before learning his trade on loan spells across Austria and Belgium; he joined Lens from Rapid Vienna last summer.
Sangare excels on both sides of the ball, and his tackling numbers place him among Europe’s elite as he develops as a force of nature for RC Lens, who sit just six points off league leaders PSG.
This is another option that offers more in possession than Palhinha, without completely losing that defensive prowess – his composed, almost relaxed style is met with vision and distribution, allowing him to progress play from deep areas.
Chelsea and Man United are interested in Sangare, but Spurs should be looking to hijack another Lens player, just as they did with Kevin Danso‘s proposed move to Wolves.
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