In a recent interview with Football Insider, former England forward Kevin Phillips has backed Tottenham Hotspur to land LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman this summer. Phillips said,
“It is always a bit of a risk before they come over and play in the Premier League.
“It is a very good league over in France but it is nowhere near full of quality like that Premier League.
“However, to be 21 and playing in the team that could win the league ahead of PSG shows that he does have great qualities.
“Is it a slight gamble? Yes, but you could have said that about Van Dijk coming down to Southampton from Celtic and we all know how that one turned out. This could be similar.
“I think it might be worth the gamble. Botman could be a really shrewd Van Dijk-like signing.
“It is an area they definitely need to address in the summer if they want to start competing for the top four spots again.”
Botman’s Impressive Form In French Football This Season
Botman has encountered a solid campaign at the Stade Pierre Mauroy after producing a run of commanding displays at the centre of Christophe Galtier’s defence. The ex-Ajax defensive ace has made 47 appearances for the French club this term, picking up one assist and five yellow cards in various competitions.
The Dutch centre-back has done well to average 0.8 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 3.0 clearances per 90 minutes in the Ligue 1 and the UEFA Europa League this season. The 22-year-old has even been tidy when interchanging possession with his teammates as he has completed 86% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
What Will Botman Bring To North London?
Botman can use his strong 1.95m frame to dominate the opposition and win some crucial 50-50 aerial duels for his team. He has also got good defensive awareness that allows him to clear the danger quickly on the defensive end of the pitch.
The Dutch youngster can even time his tackles well to earn possession back for his side. He excels at playing his way out from the back and won’t have any trouble settling into Tottenham’s playing style at the English capital.
If this season was anything to go by, Spurs need to inject some quality into their squad if they are to challenge for a top-four place in the Premier League next season. Botman fits the bill perfectly as he will bring plenty of quality to the North London club’s defensive department. Hence, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should consider listening to Phillips’ advice by orchestrating a move for the Dutch sensation in this off-season as he has the potential to grow into a future star in English football.
