Spurs lining up Bentancur replacement in £45m “monster” who’s a bit like or even more than Bissouma – opinion
This midfielder also plays similarly to Yves Bissouma of Postecoglou.
The hard-fought draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad Stadium gives the team under manager Ange Postecoglou a lot of confidence as they ended a three-match losing run.
Spurs’ thrilling new era under new management was derailed after a period of struggle following a defeat against Chelsea, despite the team’s impressive new mindset despite all the injuries and suspensions. The team had surged into early title contention in the Premier League this season.
A golden age may be approaching if Postecoglou can instill confidence in his players and persuade them that they can compete against teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, and City—all of whom have struggled to defeat Spurs this season. If the transfer strategy used in the upcoming windows can continue to be successful.
Tottenham’s 15-year trophy drought has been a hot topic in English football discourse, but under Postecoglou’s tutelage, it seems less significant because the football is speaking for itself and with time and effort left in the Australian’s hands, great things will undoubtedly happen.
However, there is still work to be done on the transfer front, and although Rodrigo Bentancur’s recent injury may expedite the strengthening of the engine room, the backline seems to require quick attention.
Tottenham transfer news – Kalvin Phillips
Tottenham is definitely in the running to acquire Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in January, according to a report from Football Insider over the weekend. The England international is having difficulty finding playing time with the treble winners.
The intrigue stems from Bentancur’s ankle ligament tear against Aston Villa one week ago. The Uruguayan was just recently able to return from a long-term injury, which kept him out of the game until February.
Phillips, who paid £45 million to join City from Leeds United in 2022, may try to make a move in January since he is worried about his spot in England’s European Championship team the following season. Pep Guardiola is willing to let him go.
In order to sign the 28-year-old this winter, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will need to move quickly since West Ham United, Newcastle United, and Juventus are all keen to make a move.
Kalvin Phillips’ style of play
Phillips has made 29 appearances for City, but he hasn’t been particularly impressive. His manager called him “overweight” following the seasonal break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar a year ago, which left Phillips fuming.
This season, the £150,000-per-week midfielder has appeared in eight games for Manchester City, although he has only started one—a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
It hasn’t worked out, therefore there’s not much sense in continuing this drawn-out transfer when Tottenham needs a player, and the January window offers a chance to start over.
The 31-cap player, who began his career with Leeds United before moving to Manchester, was the cornerstone of Marcelo Bielsa’s striking team. They blitzed into promotion from the Championship and finished in ninth place when they returned in 2020–21, scoring an impressive 62 goals.
Phillips, who has played a supporting role in Europe’s top five leagues for the past year, has nevertheless managed to display his best qualities. According to FBref, he is in the top 1% of midfielders for pass completion and passes attempted, the top 4% for shots taken, the top 5% for clearances, and the top 17% for blocks per 90.
Additionally, Phillips shone in 29 games for Leeds during the 2020–21 season, completing 85% of his passes, averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.6 tackles, and 1.6 interceptions per game, and winning 63% of his dribbles, according to Sofascore. Former Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolasie called Phillips a “monster” of a player.
| Kalvin Phillips: Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Tackling | Aerial duels |
| Blocking | Discipline |
| Interceptions | |
| Direct free-kicks | |
| *Sourced via WhoScored | |
Described by former Whites manager Neil Redfearn as a “expert deep-lying midfielder,” Postecoglou is naturally drawn to the idea of joining the team. Despite his injuries, there isn’t much evidence to suggest he wouldn’t be a dependable and hardworking player.
His previous Premier League experience is a good indicator of his chances of succeeding at a team like Tottenham, if he is given the opportunity to establish a strong role and have an impact in the middle of the park, keeping the squad cohesive and fostering the growth of his creative teammates.
Why Tottenham must sign Kalvin Phillips
Postecoglou has a lot on his plate, and Bentacur’s absence will be made worse by the African Cup of Nations claiming the careers of Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma in January and probably February.
Fortunately, Phillips is rated by FBref as being comparable to Bissouma, suggesting that the tough midfielder might fit into Postecoglou’s style without upsetting the balance.
Despite being dubbed a “incredible talent” by former Seagulls manager Graham Potter, Bissouma struggled last season to fit in with the London club after completing a £35 million transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the 2021–2022 season.
However, as Tottenham struggled in the previous season, the £55k-per-week ace truly did find it difficult to make an impression. He only started 10 games in the league as injuries further limited his ability to succeed.
When it comes to pass completion, passes attempted, successful take-ons, progressive passes, progressive carries, and interceptions, the Malian star is in the top 2% of midfielders, the top 7% for tackles and clearances per 90, and the top 20% for all of the above metrics.
Since Phillips can mimic his passing ability and hone his defensive skills to safeguard the backline, he would be the ideal replacement for the man who has been a veritable machine in the middle this season but will be gone after the new year.
Whether or not supporters agree with the selection, Gareth Southgate’s consistent faith in Phillips for England shows that there is little doubt about his quality, even though he is understandably rusty right now and will take some time to return to peak form.
Spurs has to complete the transaction soon. Phillips might provide the necessary depth in the center, and the team’s strength and dedication to finishing the season strong is demonstrated by their recent draw with Manchester City.
