According to Mundo Deportivo, as cited by Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur are in the race to sign Carles Alena. The Barcelona midfielder is tipped to leave Nou Camp on loan, and Spurs are reportedly one of the two Premier League sides, interested in acquiring his services. In this article, we will discuss what the potential addition of Alena to Tottenham could mean for the team.
Eriksen’s future sealed?
Alena is not a fully-fledged number ten. But, one could argue that Tottenham’s interest in him pretty much means that the future of Christian Eriksen is now finally sealed. And as a result, they are targeting him as a potential replacement for the Dane, who is keen on leaving north London.
A host of clubs including Real Madrid and Manchester United have shown their desire to sign Eriksen in January, with the playmaker’s contract expiring at the end of the season. His departure could be a massive blow for Spurs as he was widely recognised as one of the world’s best attacking midfielders.
Now, the main question stands as to whether or not Alena will be able to replace Eriksen, both stylistically and from a statistical point of view.
What about Lo Celso?
Giovani Lo Celso arrived at Tottenham in a season-long loan deal from Real Betis in the summer. There were a lot of expectations pinned on the Argentine, who was touted as a potential replacement for Eriksen as well as an alternative for Moussa Dembele in midfield.
However, the ex-PSG star has struggled with injuries throughout the season so far. In fact, he is yet to receive a single start for his new club, which pretty much tells the story. And though he has now recovered from injury, Alena’s potential arrival could create another obstacle for the midfielder in his bid to become a first-team regular at Spurs.
How will Alena fit into the Spurs side?
The biggest issue regarding the addition of Alena is that it’s rather puzzling as to where exactly Pochettino can deploy him. The Spaniard is mainly a central midfielder but can also feature in the number ten slot.
The best bet will be to utilise him as an alternative for Harry Winks, who has failed to impose his authority against an intense second line of press. Alena’s technical superiority, in that regard, could come in handy.
Alternatively, Pochettino can also deploy in a more advanced role, alongside Tanguy Ndombele or Dele Alli, though that will force him to start Moussa Sissoko as a defensive midfielder.
