According to a recent report by the Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in securing the signature of Arthur Masuaku from West Ham United during the summer transfer period. However, the same source has also revealed that Spurs will face stiff competition from Borussia Dortmund and Fiorentina in pursuit of the Lille-born full-back in this offseason.
Masuaku’s Rise To The Top Of English Football
Masuaku came through the youth ranks of Valencienne as he worked his way up to their first-team. Olympiakos decided to bring him to the Super League Greece in the summer of 2014. He had made 74 appearances for the Greek giants before being shipped out to West Ham United back in 2016.
Since sealing a switch to the London Stadium, Masuaku has established himself as a regular first-team starter for the East London outfit. He has enjoyed another solid campaign with the Hammers as he put in some commanding displays at left-back during this season.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo international has featured in 27 matches for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this term and has two assists to his name across all competitions. More importantly, he has made an average of 2.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per game in the Premier League (Stats taken from Whoscored).
What Does He Offer On The Pitch?
Masuaku can run with the ball at high speed down the left flank which enables him to cause a lot of problems for the opposing defenders in the attacking third of the pitch. However, there are some question marks over the 25-year-old’s defensive capabilities as he can be a bit unreliable at times when defending in his own half.
The addition of Masuaku will undoubtedly bolster Pochettino’s defensive options at the new White Hart Lane. However, he won’t be an upgrade over Danny Rose or Ben Davies. Hence, Spurs could be better of opting for a more proven option at left-back as Masuaku won’t be able to take Pochettino’s team to the next level.
Why Acquiring Masuaku Could Be A Massive Mistake By Pochettino
Even though the former Ligue 1 ace is a potent threat in the opposition half, he doesn’t provide enough defensive protection to merit a start for the UEFA Champions League finalists in the coming years. All in all, the North London outfit needs to avoid moving in for the Hammers star this summer as it would be a huge mistake and be detrimental towards their long-term development as a football club.
