Tottenham Hotspur join the race to sign Portuguese ace: A smart move by Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to enter the chase for Gedson Fernandes, it has been claimed.

The Benfica midfielder has raised a lot of eyebrows with his impressive performances in Liga NOS, and a move to Premier League could be on the horizon.

According to Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have joined Manchester United and Liverpool in the pursuit of Fernandes.

Gedson Fernandes: A smart addition to the Tottenham midfield

It has been a breakthrough campaign for Fernandes this season, having made 45 appearances in all competitions for Benfica. His excellent close control and ability to drive forward has impressed the onlookers, as the midfielder has been involved in four goals in the league so far.

Fernandes is normally a central midfielder by trade. But, the Portuguese prodigy has also featured in a wider role as well as the number ten, which is indicative of his versatility in the middle.

This could make him an interesting option for Mauricio Pochettino, whose side have struggled with injuries this season. The likes of Harry Winks, Dele Alli and Eric Dier have missed a large chunk of the season, so the Argentine has had to rely on the services of Moussa Sissoko.

Fernandes, in that regard, could be an upgrade on Sissoko given his composure on the ball. The 20-year-old barely loses possession and can circulate the ball very well, having attained a pass completing rate of 84% this season.

Another key asset to Fernandes’ gameplay is his willingness to win back possession for his team. He has averaged 1.7 tackles per game in all competitions, which is quite impressive for an attack-minded midfielder. It also makes him a tailor-made fit for Tottenham’s efficient and aggressive style of play under Pochettino.

From a tactical perspective, Fernandes can be utilised alongside Dier in the double-pivot. His work-rate and aggression would help the English international, who normally tends to operate as a holding midfielder.

Alternatively, Fernandes can be deployed in the advanced midfield role, where his excellent composure on the ball would allow him to act as the ball-carrier in half-spaces.

Hence, the Benfica starlet would be a smart addition to Tottenham as they look to add more freshness to their midfield in the summer. And at the age of 20, the Portuguese has time on his side and can be chiselled into a world-class midfielder.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored