According to Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign David Neres. They are weighing up a €60 million move for the Ajax sensation and are willing to rival Everton in his pursuit. It is believed that both Neres and Giovani Lo Celso have been identified as the ideal alternatives to Paulo Dybala. But, who, among these three attackers would fit in better at Spurs?
How will each of them benefit Spurs?
Neres is predominantly a right-winger, who is capable of operating in nearly every area of the final third. He is known for his pace and dribbling skills that allows him to provide a threat on the counter. Besides, the Brazilian is also adept in taking on defenders, which becomes useful when probing the opposition. His speed and trickery on the flanks would surely add more dynamism to the Tottenham attack that is lacking the services of natural wingers.
As for Dybala, he is a secondary striker, who can also feature in the number ten slot and even in wider attacking positions, if necessary. His versatility would allow Mauricio Pochettino to utilise him not only as a cover for Harry Kane but also a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen. The Argentine’s craft and guile in the final third means he could become the main creative force of the Tottenham attack.
Lo Celso, on the other hand, is a central midfielder. But, he can play as a number ten as well as a wide midfielder. The Real Betis star is by far the best ball carrier of the three, thanks to his neat footwork.
Besides, being a midfielder, the 23-year-old has much better defensive work-rate, which is useful for any manager in the world. Lo Celso could turn out to be an excellent partner to new signing Tanguy Ndombele – a combination that could make Spurs one of the best midfield units in Europe.
Statistical comparison
Based on last season’s performances, Neres is statistically the best dribbler of the three and for obvious reasons. The Brazilian attempted 2.7 dribbles per game with a success rate of 66%. But, his volume is lower than Lo Celso, who attempted a whopping 3.2 dribbles, mustering a success rate of 62%. Dybala stands at just 56% with three attempted dribbles per game.
That being said, the Juventus superstar has attempted the highest number of shots per game with 2.2. Neres and Lo Celso, in contrast, have attempted 1.7 and 2 respectively. But, Neres’ 0.3 six yard shots per game is indicative of his ability to breach the opposition defence, though that feat should largely be attributed to Ajax as a collective unit.
As far as creativity is concerned, Dybala’s tally of 1.7 key passes per game is considerably higher than both his counterparts. But, considering Juventus’ dominance, it’s almost a given that their players would attain better numbers statistically.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Verdict
Neres may not be a bad option for Tottenham Hotspur. However, his lack of experience could be an issue as many players from the Eredivisie in the past have struggled to integrate themselves into the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.
To that end, Dybala is arguably the best option for Spurs among these three players. The Argentine ace has a vast experience of top-flight European football and could instantly make an impact at North London next season.
