Opinion: Ante Rebic deal could transform Tottenham’s attack and solve major Pochettino conundrum
Tottenham Hotspur have managed to dig themselves a gaping hole just at the moment in which everything appeared to be falling into place, but Daniel Levy could yet hand Mauricio Pochettino a timely boost to catapult the club back onto flat ground.
When it rains it pours. Tottenham are in the midst of a crisis in their season which is both damning and familiar in its character.
An annual crisis of football existentialism is a theme which habitually perpetuates in north London, with the narrative surrounding Pochettino’s failure to break his silverware duck and it’s correlation with Levy’s apparent reluctance to part with a penny in the transfer market painting a gloomy outlook for the future.
In the midst of a mini injury crisis and following a cataclysmic trio of results which ended Spurs’ realistic hopes of mounting a title bid and seen them crash out of both the Carabao and Fa Cup, there is an endless stream of reasons for supporters to vent at the club’s hierarchy.
Demands for new signings have fallen on deaf ears in the past but there is a growing feeling that Spurs simply cannot afford to draw a blank this month with a Champions League encounter against a slick, fresh and title-chasing Borussia Dortmund side looming on the horizon.
The final hours of the transfer window are sure to be characterised by intrigue and a strong sense of pessimism amongst the supporters, but that negativity could transform into optimism if a recent report from the Daily Mail comes to fruition.
Indeed, the report claims that Tottenham transfer target Ante Rebic has publicly declared his interest in moving to the Premier League.
“The Premier League is attractive and it would suit my style. I’d like to experience it.”
While the arrival of Rebic would not entirely dispel the problems which have plagued the club in the past twelve months, it would go along way to easing the current crisis and solving Tottenham’s long-term second striker conundrum.
The Croatia international played a starring role in his nation’s journey to the World Cup final in the summer, dribbling with infectious tenacity and working relentlessly hard off the ball to recover possession for his side.
His style is tailor made for the Pochettino mould and his versatility would give Spurs another option at centre-forward to utilise in Kane’s absence.
Rebic is not a natural centre-forward, but his preference to operate slightly behind a natural number nine and his goal scoring return this season suggest that he is perhaps better suited to a role at the spearhead of the attack than the likes of Dele Alli, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min.
Eintracht Farnkfurt’s talisman has continued his excellent form from the World Cup and started the Bundesliga campaign in style, with seven goals and three goals to show for his efforts from 14 fixtures.
In the modern climate it is difficult to find a player boasting that type of return who is valued at anything other than an extortionate price, so the fact he is reportedly valued at £35 million should be giving Levy plenty to ponder over ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Rebic is a perfect fit for Spurs – particularly given current circumstances – his potential asking price is not unreasonable and he clearly has personal motivation to make the switch to English football.
Time to act, Levy.
Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!