According to Daily Star, Tottenham Hotspur are in a healthy position to sign Sampdoria defender Joachim Andersen. The Danish international was targeted by Arsenal earlier this summer. But, the Gunners have now been put off by his hefty £31.2 million valuation, which could consume a fair chunk of their reported transfer kitty of £40 million.
As a result, Spurs will now have the opportunity to launch a bid for the promising young defender, who is also courted by Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan. Sampdoria have offered Spurs the defender, and now it would be interesting to see what Spurs do here.
What can Andersen bring to the table?
Anderson is known for his composure on the ball, coupled with the excellent passing range that makes him a useful ball-playing centre-back. He can move up the pitch and easily pick passes to midfielders and forwards. The 23-year-old notably attained a pass completion rate of 88%.
The Dane is a technically astute defender, whose positional sense allows him to thrive in a possession-based style of play. It also helps him to cut off passing lanes and nullify key passes in the final third. The defender averaged 1.1 interceptions this past season.
Aside from that, Andersen has attempted 1.3 tackles and completed 4.5 clearances per game which are indicative of his doggedness at the back. Additionally, the defender boasts a tall frame of 192cm that makes him an intimidating figure in the backline. It also gives him a considerable advantage in the air, with the 23-year-old winning 2.3 headed duels per game during the 2018/19 campaign.
Why should Spurs go for Andersen?
Tottenham Hotspur are in danger of losing star player Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian international reportedly has a release clause of £25 million that can be activated this summer. And his potential departure could leave a large hole in the Spurs backline despite the presence of Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen.
Andersen, in that regard, will be a replacement for Alderweireld next season. As mentioned earlier, the Dane is capable of building up from the back with impressive passing that arguably makes him a better fit than Sanchez, who has not only appeared tentative with his passing but has also lacked concentration in recent times.
Therefore, the Sampdoria defender will provide some much-needed competition in defence and with the young Juan Foyth also on the rise, Tottenham could potentially equip a solid backline next season as they aim to push for the Premier League title.
Anderson’s £31.2 million valuation also makes him a considerably cheaper option when compared to other available defenders in the market, with West Ham United recently slapping a £60 million price-tag for Manchester United target Issa Diop.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
