Why Tottenham Should Avoid Signing Leonardo Bittencourt And Target Someone Better
German publication Kicker has claimed Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a summer swoop for FC Koln midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt. The Bundesliga outfit are currently fighting tooth-and-nail to avoid relegation but Spurs could stand a chance to sign Bittencourt for a bargain price.
Kicker claim that Tottenham can sign him for a mere fee of £7million if FC Koln get relegated by the end of this campaign. While the price seems fair enough, is Bittencourt really needed at Tottenham?
Bittencourt has just a few goals to his name and has chipped in with 3 assists so far. He is versatile; he can play anywhere in the midfield and also on the wings. A player of German descent, Bittencourt has represented his country at the U19 and U21 levels but he is yet to earn a cap for the senior side.
As far as his game style is concerned, Bittencourt can be decent in the middle of the park and is blessed with sublime finishing. However, his passing skills and aerial strength are quite poor.
As things stand, Spurs do not really need him on the wings but they could use him as a central midfielder. Right now, the club only has the likes of Mousa Dembele, Harry Winks, Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama as options in central midfield.
The competition is intensifying with every passing day and Mauricio Pochettino will need added depth in that area to deal with unforeseen circumstances. While they do they need a central midfielder, is Bittencourt the right choice?
For a long time now, Spurs have been preparing to rub shoulders with the big boys in the Premier League and the Champions League. They already have a strong team right now but to go the extra mile, the club will need proven quality players.
Somebody with European experience and some truly dazzling skills could work wonders for them but right now, we are looking at a player like Bittencourt, who has only managed to secure just a few minutes of Champions League action so far.
The 24-year-old might be skilled but that is rarely enough for a side looking to compete and excel at the topmost level. Furthermore, having scored just 2 goals this season, Bittencourt seems a tad bit underwhelming despite his bargain price tag.
Perhaps Spurs should look elsewhere for midfield talents and ignore Bittencourt for the time being.