According to RTP, Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a potential destination for Bruno Fernandes. The Sporting CP midfielder was linked with a move to Manchester United at the end of July. But, the Red Devils are yet to table a formal bid. As for Spurs, they have already sent officials to Lisbon in the hope that they will be able to strike a deal with Sporting face to face.
This recent update in Fernandes’ transfer saga is enough to suggest that Spurs are at crossroads between him and Giovani Lo Celso. So who is really the better option for the Lilywhites this summer?
Style of play
Fernandes and Lo Celso are both labelled as attacking minded central midfielders. But while the Portuguese heavily relies on his proficiency in set-pieces, Lo Celso’s game mostly revolves around his skills on the ball.
Fernandes notably ended up as the most prolific central midfielder in Europe’s top seven leagues. But, a chunk of those goals originated from penalties and free-kicks. As for Lo Celso, he scored nine goals last season, six of which came from open play.
As far as passing is concerned, Fernandes likes to take a more direct approach. He is capable of threading balls in behind the backline, and he often looks to formulate a scoring opportunity as soon as possible.
Lo Celso, in contrast, is an excellent ball-carrier and is always aware of his passing options. The 23-year-old can evaluate the best available passing option on the go while his quick-feet allows him to nestle through tight spaces.
Statistical comparison
Statistics suggest that Lo Celso is a considerably better passer than Fernandes. The Argentine attained a pass completion rate of 79% last season compared to Fernandes’ 75%. But, the Sporting CP captain is far more effective when it comes to creating scoring opportunities.
The 24-year-old averaged a whopping 3.2 key passes per game last season. That is significantly higher than Lo Celso’s 0.8. The ex-PSG star also trails Fernandes in terms of attempts on goal, though his tally of 2 shots per game isn’t bad at all. Besides, he comfortably beats his Portuguese counterpart in dribbles, having averaged 3.2 successful dribbles per game. Fernandes only averaged 0.9.
It’s also fair to point out that Lo Celso operates in a deeper role for Betis in La Liga, which, in fairness, is a tougher league than the Primeira Liga in Portugal.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Who is a better option for Spurs?
From a tactical perspective, Fernandes’ direct style of play and set-piece prowess makes him a much better fit than Lo Celso, whose overreliance on dribbles could make it problematic for him in his bid to thrive in the Premier League.
But at the same time, Lo Celso is much more experienced at the highest level of football, having already played for PSG. Therefore, it’s hard to tell as to who will be a better option for Spurs. But one thing is for certain – both are quality players, who are capable of enhancing the quality of the overall team and make them a strong contender for the title next season.
