According to Citta Celeste, Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position to sign Timothy Castagne. The Atalanta defender is unlikely to continue his career in Bergamo and is tipped to leave the club. Castagne’s current contract expires at the end of next season, leaving Atalanta with no choice but to cash in on their defensive star this summer.
Timothy Castagne’s spell at Atalanta
Castagne has been a part of the Atalanta side since 2017 when he joined from KRC Genk for a fee of €6.5 million. He hasn’t exactly established himself as a first-team regular for the Italian giants, but he has mustered 82 competitive appearances for the club. The Belgian has been rather unfortunate due to the presence of Hans Hateboer.
The two right-backs have shared the game-time at Atalanta under the leadership of Gian Piero Gasperini. This season, for example, Castagne has featured in just 14 league matches compared to Hateboer’s 21. And with his current contract expiring in 2021, the ex-Genk starlet will be looking to move to pastures new, in search of regular game-time.
What can he bring to the table?
Standing at 185cm, Castagne is considered as a utility defender. While his imposing frame does not necessarily give him the physical edge, largely due to his slender body, he is indeed an excellent athlete. The Belgian can cover a lot of ground and is very good when it comes to rotating possession at a quick-rate.
Defensively, Castagne is an efficient tackler, attempting only 1.7 tackles per game with a success rate of 82%. He does love to move forward, however. In fact, what makes him such a sought-after defender is his ability to provide offensive support, with the defender notably attaining an impressive pass completion rate of 84%.
As far as versatility is concerned, Castagne, aside from his preferred role at right-back, can also be deployed on the opposite flank. It is a noble quality for any modern fullback.
Should Tottenham sign Castagne?
Castagne should definitely enjoy a move to Tottenham, who only have Serge Aurier as a viable option at right-back. The Belgian, therefore, can put pressure on his Ivorian counterpart while also providing backup for Ben Davies on the opposite flank. This should give Jose Mourinho much more assurance as far as the depth of his fullback department is concerned.
Tactically, Castagne’s tendency to go forward and link-up with attackers is undoubtedly intriguing. However, whether or not it will be enough to help him become a vital component of the Spurs backline remains uncertain.
But in hindsight, the Atalanta star’s versatility is something that should help Mourinho, and with his contract expiring soon, he should be available for a cut-price too, making him a financially feasible option for the Liluwhites.
