Tottenham Hotspur have officially captured the signing of Matt Doherty. The Premier League giants have agreed a £14.7 million fee with Wolves regarding the transfer and the defender. He has become the third major signing for Spurs this summer, following Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joe Hart.
Matt Doherty: The perfect wingback?
Doherty is regarded as one of the most hard-working wingbacks in the Premier League, having enjoyed immense success at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Especially over the past couple of seasons, the 28-year-old has emerged as a key component in Nuno Espirito Santo’s efficient unit, helping them enjoy two strong seasons in the top-flight.
A part of Wolves since 2010, Doherty is renowned for his all-round quality on the flanks. Defensively, he is an excellent tackler, having attempted almost two tackles per game with a success rate of 78%. A tally of over one interception per game, meanwhile, is indicative of his ability to read the game.
Standing at 1.86m, Doherty’s imposing frame also gives him a considerable advantage in the air, with the right-back winning 3.7 headed duels per game this past season.
Also, the Republic of Ireland international is a fantastic athlete. He loves to march forward and provide the offensive support, which is combined with his ability to whip in crosses into the box that has served Raul Jimenez quite well in the last two seasons.
Can Doherty answer Tottenham prayers?
Tottenham Hotspur are desperate for a new right-back this summer, following the permanent departure of Kyle Walker-Peters while Serge Aurier has been linked with a move away from north London. The addition of Doherty, in that regard, is a smart move by Jose Mourinho.
As mentioned earlier, the Wolves star is a complete wingback. His ability to cover ground quickly bodes well for Mourinho’s tactical philosophy that revolves around the idea of denying the opposition a chance to make their transition.
It also requires a lot of digging, especially in the press, where Doherty’s tenacity and willingness to win back possession for his team could come in handy.
Not to mention, the defender can read the game as well and has decent positioning sense, thus making him a potential upgrade over Aurier, who is clumsy and inconsistent.
Offensively, the Irishman’s ability to swing in crosses from the wider areas of the pitch should bode well for someone like Harry Kane, who, much like Jimenez, is quite good in the aerial aspect of the game. Spurs, therefore, have made a massive coup with the signing of Doherty this summer. A fee of just £14.7 million makes it a potential bargain.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
