According to Estadio Deportivo, Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in the services of Maxime Lopez. The Marseille midfielder is expected to leave the club as the French outfit looks to recover from the financial crisis inflicted by the Coronavirus pandemic. However, Sevilla are said to be in pole position in the pursuit of Lopez while Aston Villa and West Ham are also keen on his services.
Maxime Lopez: Player profile
A product of the Marseille youth academy, Lopez has been a part of the first-team since 2014. However, it wasn’t until the 2016/17 campaign when he finally made himself a key component in the starting lineup, making 30 league appearances. The Frenchman has now made 146 competitive appearances during his ongoing six-year spell at the club.
Lopez is a nimble footballer. Standing at just 167cm, the midfielder is known for his ability to carry the ball around half-spaces. He is also an excellent passer of the ball, notably attaining an impressive pass completion rate of 89% this season. In fact, he has maintained a pass accuracy of 87% or above throughout his professional career.
However, what makes Lopez such an impressive midfielder is his creative prowess. The 22-year-old is very effective from set-pieces while he also has an eye for that defence-threading through ball. So essentially, the Frenchman is an attack-minded midfielder, who can operate as a number eight or number ten.
Do Tottenham really need Lopez?
Tottenham Hotspur are in disarray at the moment. They are facing problems in every area of the pitch, which has led to their chronic downfall under Jose Mourinho. The midfield department, in particular, has lacked inspiration, especially after the departure of Mousa Dembele.
The likes of Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko have struggled with injuries this campaign while both Oliver Skipp and Eric Dier have not been able to impress Mourinho. Lopez, in that regard, could serve as an ideal alternative to Ndombele in central midfield.
The Marseille star can operate in the double-pivot alongside Harry Winks. Both these players can provide a lot of energy, ultimately making Spurs much more vigilant in the middle of the park.
However, it is fair to point out that integrating to a faster-paced nature of the Premier League could be a tough challenge for Lopez. Except for Ligue 1, the 22-year-old hasn’t featured at the highest level of football. And with Sevilla reportedly in advanced talks with Marseille regarding the transfer, it’s unlikely Spurs will be able to secure his services this summer.
