Tottenham Hotspur were in the news on the deadline day, making two signings and offloading four players as Antonio Conte wielded his axe on the squad. Spurs coughed up the cash to make a double transfer swoop for Juventus duo Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, sending Bryan Gil, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso on loan while selling Dele Alli to Everton.
The north London club had earlier missed out on Wolves’ Adama Traore and FC Porto’s Luis Diaz. Traore returned to Barcelona on loan last weekend, while Diaz signed for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Sunday. The Lilywhites had to hence fall back upon Plan B and it will be interesting to see whether Conte can get the best out of the players who had flattered to deceive at Juventus in recent times.
Kulusevski has played 27 times for the Turin giants in all formats this season, but only seven of those were starts. Bentancur, who was a target for Aston Villa, has featured more regularly as compared to Kulusevski, racking up three assists in 18 starts across all competitions.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski to Spurs—Can the duo help Spurs get top four?
Dejan Kulusevski is one of the most gifted young attackers in world football but he had failed to cement his place in Max Allegri’s starting XI this term. Rodrigo Bentancur may have enjoyed more first-team opportunities than Kulusevski but he has blown hot and cold, with Juventus 11 points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
Both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur would have welcomed the chance at a change of scenery, and a move to Tottenham certainly strikes the right chords. Spurs haven’t been as prolific as they have been in the last few seasons under Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino, netting only 26 goals in 20 games. This is the least number of goals scored among those in contention (Manchester United, West Ham and Arsenal) for the fourth spot in the table.
Kulusevski would improve Spurs’ quality in the final third by adding pace, flair, creativity and energy. The Swede is a versatile player who can play anywhere across the front-line, and such versatility could be boon for a tactically astute manager like Conte.
The ex-Atalanta man could potentially form a strong understanding with the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura, while providing a different dimension to Spurs’ attack. Similarly, Bentancur could have an instant impact in Tottenham’s midfield.
The Uruguayan international would be a straight upgrade over Harry Winks or Oliver Skipp at the heart of Conte’s midfield. He has the requisite passing range, composure and game-reading skills to control the tempo of games, as well as the ability to create chances in the final third. The 24-year-old would reinforce a vital area of the pitch for Tottenham, whilst adding the depth they need to qualify for the Champions League.
Both Kulusevski and Bentancur have the qualities to cut the mustard in the Premier League, and their additions would certainly give Conte’s Spurs the lift they need in the fight to finish in the top four this season.