Tottenham signing this 23-year-old Bundesliga star as Dembele’s replacement would be a brilliant long-term investment

Hoffenheim defensive midfielder Grillitsch would be perfect for Tottenham

Tottenham have always been a rather midfield-heavy side that has seen the likes of Mousa Dembele, Victor Wanyama, Christian Eriksen and now Harry Winks tasked with controlling the midfield region in recent times.

While Wanyama has only featured 4 times in the league this season, the 31-year-old Dembele has featured just 10 times, with most of those games coming towards the start of the season. His last start in the Spurs kit was the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at the end of October before he suffered a foot injury that kept him out for a large run of games.

Recent reports from the Guardian claiming that Dembele is on the verge of his Spurs exit with a move to Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan being suggested. It is also stated that he would prefer the lower tempo football in China as it could suit his pace and style of play.

If Dembele is to leave the club before the end of January, it is essential for Spurs to find an able replacement. While Sissoko has been in good form when deployed in the midfield this term, depending on him and the defensive Wanyama to do the job that Dembele used to do could spell trouble for Mauricio Pochettino.

Having made no new signings in the summer, the Spurs chiefs must push for at least a direct replacement for the outbound Belgian. Sky Sports are reporting that they have identified Austria international Florian Grillitsch, who plays for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, as the man to slot in.

Quite similar to Dembele in his style of play, he is a confident young defensive midfielder who floats around the central areas of the pitch and makes things happen around him with quick passing and neat touches. While he is a defensive player, his vision and ability to pick out a pass have been crucial to the way Hoffenheim have been performing.

Still only 23, he has a massive future and for a midfielder like that, the Premier League could be the perfect platform for glory. Given that supremely talented players like Harry Kane and Dele Alli are on the pitch to support him, his positive qualities will begin to ooze.

He has played 20 games for Hoffenheim in all competitions this term and he even scored a goal in one of the Champions League group games. He is an extremely talented Austrian prospect who could develop into quite the player.

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Given that he has been playing in the Bundesliga since 2013, his Premier League journey will not be smooth sailing immediately but given the right coaching and support, he has the potential to eventually become a Tottenham great.