Borussia Monchengladbach striker Alassane Plea could be on the move in the upcoming summer transfer window, with the player voicing his ambition of playing for a Champions League outfit to Canal+ as reported by Goal.
The Frenchman was already linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer, but a transfer to North London could be on the horizon, should the Lilywhites rekindle their interest in this highly talented forward next summer.
Why should Spurs break the bank for Alassane Plea?
Plea has been in terrific form after joining from OGC Nice last summer, scoring nine goals in seventeen matches while registering three assists.
Although his scoring ratio has taken a beating in recent weeks, with the Frenchman netting only one goal in his last six league matches, his excellent performance in front of goal has helped Gladbach exert pressure on Bundesliga’s top dogs in Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Much like Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, Plea is a versatile forward, who is quite effective when it comes to developing chances in the final third.
The Frenchman likes to drop off and drag the defenders out from their positions thereby allowing the other attackers to come in and exploit the space between the defensive lines. He also gets involved in the build-up play in the final third and his average of one key pass per game this season reflects that.
Although Plea may not be as skilful as Firmino when it comes to outsmarting defenders in tight spaces, the 25-year-old is blessed with raw pace, which allows him to shift into a wider position. In fact, he has appeared as a wide attacker numerous times during his career and even under Dieter Hecking this season.
This could certainly prove to be beneficial for Tottenham Hotspur, who have lacked the services of someone, who can operate as the Ramdeuter.
Plea, in that regard, could be an excellent choice as he will not only open up spaces for Harry Kane but will help the likes of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli afford more time on the ball using his intricate movements and clever positioning.
However, Spurs will likely have to fork out a sizeable sum to attain the services of Plea next summer, especially with the striker still being contracted to Gladbach until 2023.
But, it’s a risk, we feel, Pochettino should take with the increased competition in the league pointing towards the need to significantly strengthen the squad and to an extent, the quality of the starting eleven, as well.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored