According to Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Donny van de Beek. The Lilywhites have been watching the Ajax playmaker for the past 12 months, although the player is strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid. Van de Beek is currently valued at £47 million, which the Spanish giants might be willing to pay.
How has van de Beek fared this season?
Following the departure of Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong in the summer, van de Beek has become one of the leading figures of the Ajax side this season. He has emerged as a key performer for the Dutch giants, having been involved in 14 goals in just 23 league games.
The midfielder’s productivity in the final third has been critical in helping Ajax retain their narrow lead over Feyenoord in the table, although they are only ahead due to a superior goal difference. Nevertheless, van de Beek’s contributions cannot simply be overlooked, having notably averaged 1.8 key passes per game this season.
The Dutchman’s performances are not only restricted in the creative department. He has attempted 2.7 tackles per game with a success rate of 74%. Moreover, his tally of almost two shots on goal per game is indicative of his willingness to find the back of the net, which, in turn, is reflected on his scoring tally this season.
How will van de Beek fit into the Spurs team?
Tottenham’s interest in van de Beek does indeed make sense at the moment. The Lilywhites are in dire need of a quality midfielder, following the struggles of last summer’s marquee signing Tanguy Ndombele. The Frenchman has already been linked with a move to Barcelona, and his potential departure could create a massive hole in the creative department.
That’s where van de Beek could come into the fray. The 22-year-old can potentially build a strong midfield combination with Harry Winks at the base of Jose Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1. His creativity and flair would combine well with Winks’ aggression and tenacity, making Spurs much more effective and productive in the middle third of the pitch.
Not to mention, it could significantly improve Tottenham’s ball-retention as both the players are equally capable of distributing possession all around the park. Van de Beek has notably attained an 82% pass completion rate despite his direct style of football.
That being said, it will be difficult for the Lilywhites to get their hands on the Ajax ace, especially with Real Madrid keen on his services. And with the club likely to fail in qualifying for the Champions League, it remains unsure whether van de Beek would want to join Spurs in the first place.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
