According to a recent report by Tuttomercatoweb, Tottenham Hotspur are trailing Inter Milan in the race to land Hellas Verona defender Marash Kumbulla this summer. The same source has also revealed that the Italian giants have a ‘clear advantage’ in pursuit of the Albanian centre-back but will face competition from Napoli, Liverpool, Manchester United along with Spurs during the summer transfer period.
Kumbulla’s Rise To Prominence At Verona
The 20-year-old has produced a string of eye-catching performances at the centre of Ivan Jurić’s defence during this campaign. He is currently one of the most promising young centre-backs in Italian football based on his rapid emergence at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
The Albanian defensive ace has made 19 appearances for his current employers this term and has got one goal to his name across all fronts. He has secured over 1500 minutes of playing time which has helped him mature as a centre-back over the past nine months.
Defensively, Kumbulla has shown a lot of promise after averaging 1.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 2.9 clearances in every 90 minutes of league football this season (stats via whoscored). His numbers showcase his remarkable consistency under the stewardship of Juric.
Back in October last year, the Serie A starlet played his first senior match for the Albanian national team when he was brought on as a substitute against Moldova in an important UEFA European Championship qualifier. If Kumbulla can continue to show signs of progress in the future, then he should have a decent shot of becoming a mainstay at the heart of Edoardo Reja’s backline.
What Are The Albanian Youngster’s Best Attributes?
Kumbulla is predominately a centre-back but can operate as a defensive midfielder if required. His incredible versatility and potential have not gone unnoticed with so many top European clubs prepared to battle it out for his services this summer. However, the Albanian needs to earn more experience at the highest level if he intends to become a world-class player in his position someday.
The Hellas Verona youth product is usually quick to read the danger and can position accordingly to pull off some crucial interceptions and last-ditch clearances for his side. He is also not shy about committing to the cause by putting his body on the line when attempting to stop a goal-bound strike from the opposition. However, Kumbulla still has a long way to go before he is ready to feature in the Premier League week in week out. He will need to hit the gym to develop his upper-body strength so that he can cope with the physicality and high intensity of English football.
Should Jose Mourinho Step Up His Efforts To Sign Kumbulla This Summer?
Kumbulla’s ceiling is sky-high, so he could prove to be a shrewd signing for Spurs in the long-run. The one-time Albania international will allow Mourinho to build his team’s attacks from the back as he is generally very tidy with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 84.2% in the Serie A this season (stats via whoscored).
There is no denying that Tottenham are in dire need of adding more quality to their defensive department if they are to challenge for some major trophies in the coming seasons. Hence, it makes sense for Mourinho to step up his pursuit to bring Kumbulla to North London this summer.
The Albanian prospect will not only add more quality to Spurs’ backline but also enhance the overall depth of their squad. He will also offer more competition for the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season. Kumbulla could even serve as an ideal replacement for the ageing Jan Vertonghen this summer.
