In a recent print edition, L’Equipe reported that Tottenham Hotspur are in the race for LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman this summer. It is understood that Spurs could face competition from West Ham United, Newcastle United and Manchester City in pursuit of the Dutch centre-back during this summer transfer window (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Botman’s Recent Rise In Dutch Football
Botman was a solid presence at the centre of the Ajax backline last season when he put in a series of impressive displays in the Dutch top-flight. The 21-year-old participated in 47 matches for the Amsterdam outfit in the previous campaign, picking up one assist and five yellow cards across various competitions.
The Badhoevedorp-born talent caught the eye on the defensive end of the pitch by averaging 0.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 3.2 clearances per 90 minutes in the Dutch Eredivisie. He even distributed the ball with conviction after completing 86.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Botman has done remarkably well to establish himself as a top performer in the Eredivisie. He could now be tempted with the opportunity to move to the Premier League and join Nuno Espirito Santo’s revolution at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.
What Will Botman Bring To The English Capital?
Standing at 1.95m, Botman is a towering presence at the back and can command his penalty area with authority. He can win his fair share of aerial duels and is usually quick to sense the danger that helps him earn possession back for his side.
The seven-time Netherlands Under-21 international hardly gives away the ball when passing it out from the back and can be an aerial threat from indirect offensive set-pieces. However, he is still quite unproven at the highest level, so Spurs should only consider bringing him to England if they are willing to be patient with his development.
Botman will undeniably bring a lot of quality to Nuno Espirito Santo’s defensive department and could increase competition for places within Tottenham’s match-day squad. Thus, the London giants should consider launching a move to acquire the signature of the Ajax whizkid before the start of the new campaign as he has what it takes to become a success story in English football in the coming seasons.
