In a recent report, Alfredo Pedulla revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are facing stiff competition for Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode this summer. It has been stated that Spurs would have to rival Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Bournemouth in the race to land the Italian defender this off-season.
Kayode’s Impressive Campaign In Serie A
Kayode had a decent season at the Italian club after he put in a handful of promising displays on the right side of their defence. The 20-year-old found the back of the net once and earned four assists in 37 matches for Fiorentina in the previous campaign across various competitions.
The Italian talent was a solid presence when defending inside his half as he averaged 2.0 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A football. He even distributed the ball relatively well from the right flank based on his pass completion rate of 87% in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Fiorentina will run out in the summer of 2028. Therefore, Spurs would have to launch a convincing offer if they are serious about signing Kayode in this transfer period.
Is Kayode A Good Choice For Tottenham Hotspur Boss Angelos Postecoglu?
Kayode is a tough-tackling defender who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t hesitate to clear the danger when the opposition are on the front foot. The Italian talent is a decent crosser of the ball and can create the odd chance for his teammates from the right flank. He is primarily a right-back but can also operate as a right-sided wide player if told to do so.
We can expect Kayode to add more bite and steel to Tottenham head coach Angelos Postecoglu’s defence. He is good enough to compete for a regular starting place at the North London club next season.
At 20, Kayode has the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. Therefore, he would be an excellent choice for Spurs to pursue in this summer transfer window. However, there are some concerns over whether Kayode can adapt to the physicality and high intensity of Premier League football if Tottenham manage to snap him up soon.
