He’s like Spurs’ Modric: Tottenham move to sign £35m midfielder

How far have Spurs fallen because the days of Luka Modric, Christian Eriksen and Gareth Bale?

It was solely not too long ago that Tottenham Hotspur certified for the Champions League closing. That they had probably the greatest younger managers within the sport in Mauricio Pochettino. In addition they had the most effective striker within the sport in Harry Kane.

Nevertheless, for numerous causes, the Lilywhites have been unable to start their actions in earnest. No matter you consider Daniel Levy, it’s sure that he has run the membership extra effectively than Johan Lange or Vinay Venkatesham this season.

The 2 are heading into this summer time understanding that there isn’t a manner they are going to be in a relegation battle for the third consecutive yr. This can be a prestigious membership. It is not regular to combat on the backside.

So how do they flip the tide? The addition of Roberto De Zerbi is a optimistic step. Now they should assist him within the switch market.

Spurs transfer ahead with signing key gamers for 2026/27 season

De Zerbi admitted there was no time for time without work after Spurs overcame a stoop on Sunday. very. They should get issues transferring shortly and ensure they head for a spot in Europe subsequent time period.

To make that occur, Lange and others are already shut to creating two free transfers for Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.

Given the state of Tottenham’s backline in latest seasons, they need to be of nice assist as they give the impression of being to enhance their protection.

Nonetheless, we can not afford to disregard the midfield. Conor Gallagher’s arrival in January was spectacular contemplating his hyperlinks with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. Nevertheless, he did not do a lot to assist the Spurs resolve their issues taking part in middle.

Though there have been some improved performances underneath the brand new Italian head coach, questions nonetheless stay in regards to the composition of these central areas.

Nicely, perhaps a brand new contract might assist. In line with stories in Italy through Sport Witness, the Londoners have made a transfer for Fiorentina midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.

The paper notes that Spurs are involved with Serie A sides and are in pole place to signal the 25-year-old this summer time.

There was no point out of a switch payment, however earlier stories instructed it might price as much as £35 million to carry him to English soccer.

What Fagioli brings to Tottenham’s midfield

Contemplating what number of midfielders Spurs even have, the truth that they’re struggling to place collectively a trio that may string collectively sturdy performances is kind of worrying.

Rodrigo Bentancur missed a lot of the season resulting from damage, however when he returned they seemed extra unified within the central space.

Elsewhere, Lukas Bergvall additionally missed a lot of the season, and Archie Grey was not all the time utilized in his most popular place resulting from accidents elsewhere.

Whereas the jury is out on Gallagher, the much less stated about Yves Bissouma’s Spurs profession, the higher. One of many major issues with most midfielders is a scarcity of development.

Many gamers, particularly Bentancur and Bergvall, are good at retaining the ball, however they lack the power to interrupt by way of the center of the pitch and run by way of gamers to retain possession.

Nicely, Fagioli would possibly have the ability to resolve that, and to some extent he can. In comparison with his Fiorentina team-mates, the Italian ranks fourth on the workforce this time period with 6.95 progressive carries per 90 minutes. To place this into context, no midfielder on the Spurs workforce had a greater 5.56 than Papu Matar Sarr.

Fagioli, described by Como scout Ben Mattinson as “one of the vital balanced midfielders of his era, an all-action box-to-box eight”, has a sure Luka Modric vibe to his sport.

A participant with “excessive approach,” in Mattinson’s phrases, and “unimaginable means” as Italy’s sporting director Ariedo Breida places it, the previous Juventus midfielder is equally gifted relating to passing. Certainly one of Modric’s finest attributes was the best way he carved open defenses together with his passing means and saved issues ticking like a metronome.

In Serie A in 2025/26, solely 13 gamers registered extra passes than Fagioli’s 2.18 per 90 key passes. Solely eight gamers have been higher at making key passes from open play. On the subject of discovering teammates, Spurs’ targets are elite.

In comparison with positionally comparable gamers in Europe’s high 5 leagues this season, the Italian additionally ranks within the high 10% of midfielders for his progressive passing means.

He’s a participant who completes a mean of 90% of his passes and barely loses the ball. He is already been in comparison with Andrea Pirlo, nevertheless it’s no surprise he is additionally being in comparison with Modric.

His carrying means means he is a extra energetic presence in the course of the park, a participant who can pop in with a bit extra hustle, however that may be an enormous boon for a Spurs workforce that lacks optimistic vitality in the course of the park.