According to Record (subscription required), as cited by Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur, have joined the race to sign Robin Koch. The SC Freiburg defender has been one of the most in-demand defenders in the market right now, following his breakout spell in the Bundesliga. He is courted by Premier League rivals West Ham United as well as European giants like Napoli, Benfica and RB Leipzig.
In this article, we will discuss three ways Koch could prove to be useful for Jose Mourinho, should he end up joining Tottenham this summer.
A versatile defender
A former member of the K’Lautern youth academy, Koch is a centre-back by trade. He has predominantly featured at the heart of Freiburg’s backline under Christian Streich. However, with the Freiburg coach having an array of other options in central defence, including Manuel Gulde, Nico Schlotterbeck and Philipp Lienhart, he hasn’t been shy in deploying the defender in midfield.
As a matter of fact, Koch has featured in the holding midfield role seven times in the league this season. It suggests the fact that the German international is quite comfortable in the number six role, where he can just screen the backline.
This kind of versatility could be handy for Mourinho as it will allow him much more freedom as far as team selection is concerned. Moreover, with Eric Dier struggling to impress, the Freiburg star would emerge as a like for like replacement.
Tactical compatibility
What makes Koch such an appealing target for Tottenham Hotspur is the tactical compatibility he offers to the table. Much to the liking of Mourinho, the German is a defence-oriented player. That means even when he is deployed as a number six, Koch will prioritise defence more than anything else.
The player’s imposing 1.92m frame, combined with his ability to read the game goes hand in hand with Mourinho’s pragmatic style of play. Hence, Koch is likely to thrive under the Portuguese mastermind and make Spurs much more effective in the second line of the press or in the backline, where the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld have both failed to provide consistency.
A financially viable target
Tottenham Hotspur, like every other club in Europe, have been hit financially due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It would understandably take a toll on Mourinho’s summer budget. And that’s where Koch really comes in handy.
While Freiburg reportedly turned down a £17.5 million offer from RB Leipzig in January, the defender will be available for much lower this summer due to the pandemic. In fact, Record claims that he is valued around £10.5 million, which is criminally low for a player of his calibre.
It is good news for Tottenham, however. The Lilywhites will be able to bolster their defensive options without having to dig deep into their pockets. Whether or not they will be able to get their hands on Koch remains a question though, especially with so many clubs interested in his services.
