Jose Mourinho is busy in the transfer market as he aims to assemble a team which can take Tottenham Hotspur back to the top end of the points table next season. This has seen them linked with a number of names recently but one player they are now close to signing is Wolves wing-back, Matt Doherty.
Sky Sports claims that Spurs are in advanced talks to sign the Irish defender and could announce him in the upcoming days. But what will he bring to London?
Matt Doherty And His Wolves Stint
Having joined the Wolves academy in 2010, Doherty broke into the first team in 2014 and has been a regular at the back for the club for over three years now.
A versatile defender who can play across the backline, Doherty has 28 goals and 41 assists in 302 appearances for the club, mostly playing in a right-back or right wing-back role.
Known for his astute defending and ability to soak up pressure, the 28-year-old is an experienced wing-back who times his runs into the final third to good effect.
He is a decent crosser, but it is his dribbling and close control that makes him a dangerous presence on the flank.
Matt Doherty is aggressive with his tackling, is strong in the air at both ends of the field and at his age is an experienced player that can be a huge asset for Spurs next season.
Matt Doherty: Chances At Spurs
Mourinho has Serge Aurier as his first-choice right-back in the current squad. But the Ivory Coast international has been linked with an exit while young Kyle Walker-Peters recently made his move to Southampton permanent.
Japhet Tanganga, Davinson Sanchez and even Moussa Sissoko were used at right-back last season, leaving the manager in search of a full-back for the first team this summer.
And Doherty fits the bill well.
The Wolves star is a smart player, has the hunger and technique to win most duels and will surely improve Spurs’ creativity on the flanks. Matt Doherty also brings fluidity and aggression to the backline, all attributes that fit into Mourinho’s system at the club.
At 28, the Irish full-back has loads of experience under his belt and can walk into the first team next season. Even with the signing of Doherty, Mourinho will need another right-back backup, if he decides to sell Aurier this summer.
So, irrespective of his price tag, Spurs desperately need a right-back and Doherty can not only fill the hole but is one of the best options Mourinho has in the current transfer market.
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