According to Daily Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are poised to make a late move for Stanislav Lobotka. The Celta Vigo star has caught the eye of Spurs, who are desperate to sign a midfielder this summer.
However, the Premier League giants might have to spend a decent amount of sum in order to sign Lobotka, who has a £31m release clause embedded in his current contract with Celta. They could also face stiff competition from Napoli, who will be keen to bolster their midfield following the departure of Jorginho earlier this summer.
Player profile and what he can offer
Stanislav Lobotka has found astounding success since moving to Celta Vigo last summer in a £4.5 million move from Nordsjaelland. In fact, he was one of few players to have featured in all of Celta’s 38 league matches last them, helping them attain a mid-table finish in the final league standings.
An influential figure in the centre of the pitch, Lobotka is labelled as the ‘Slovakian Xavi‘ thanks to his calm attitude and composure on the ball. He is highly proficient when it comes to circulating possession and dictating the tempo of the game.
Indeed! Lobotka is a pass master, who acquired some impressive statistics whilst playing for Celta Vigo last season. He averaged over 50 passes per game, which is certainly impressive especially when playing for a team like Celta. In addition, the 23-year-old also averages over 2 tackles and one interception per game, reflecting his all-round qualities in midfield.
However, it’s his intelligence and clever positioning which makes him such an appealing target for any club in the world.
Why do Tottenham Hotspur need Stanislav Lobotka?
Spurs are preparing themselves to cope with the departure of Mousa Dembele this summer. He has been strongly linked with an exit throughout the summer.
This could be a huge blow for Spurs, for whom, Dembele has been a reliable midfield outlet. Even if we consider the possibility of the Belgian opting to run down his contract for another year, Spurs do need a long-term replacement and signing someone like Lobotka this season will give the player time to settle down and form an understanding over the course of the season.
As iterated earlier, the Slovakian is blessed with immense talent in terms of ball-circulation and chance creation, which certainly bodes well for Mauricio Pochettino. In addition, his intelligence and presence of mind can help him thrive in any league in the world. Thus, making him an ideal addition to Spurs as they look to pose a strong threat for the title next season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored