According to La Repubblica, Tottenham are eyeing a swoop for Gonzalo Villar. The Premier League giants are closing in on the capture of Paulo Fonseca as their new coach, and the Portuguese tactician is expected to raid his former club, AS Roma, to sign a few players. One of the three stars identified as a potential target is Villar, meaning the newly appointed Roma coach, Jose Mourinho, could face a battle to keep hold of the talented midfielder this summer.
Gonzalo Villar’s Rise To Prominence At Roma
A product of the Elche youth academy, Gonzalo Villar joined Roma at the start of 2020 for a fee of just €4 million. It proved to be an absolute bargain for the Italian giants as the young midfielder has since emerged as one of the rising stars in Serie A.
Villar made 33 Serie A appearances this past season, playing a vital role in Roma’s second line of press. His contributions in the middle of the park were indeed crucial in helping the Giallorossi finish seventh in the league table.
A central midfielder by trade, Villar is an excellent carrier in the middle of the park. As you would expect from most Spaniards, the 23-year-old is very skilful on the ball and has the ability to drift past defenders even under tight pressure.
The Roma starlet also tends to drop in between the centre-backs to receive the ball. His playstyle, therefore, can be compared to former Dortmund prodigy Julian Weigl, although Villar is much more capable when it comes to ball progression.
Why Villar Should Be An Ideal Fit For Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur are in need of midfield reinforcements following a disappointing campaign under Jose Mourinho. The Premier League giants still haven’t properly replaced Mousa Dembele, who used to be their midfield lynchpin, boasting the ability to bring the ball out from the back.
Villar, in that regard, could be an ideal solution due to his ball-carrying quality and technical prowess which should combine well with the more robust nature of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The duo should offer more variety for Tottenham midfield next season.
The addition of the Roma midfielder might ultimately improve the club’s build-up play from the back, whilst allowing the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele to express themselves more in the final third.
In addition, Villar also has the experience of working under Paulo Fonseca, which should make things easier for him to settle in quickly in England. At the age of 23, the Spaniard has a lot of room to improve his game as well – making him an ideal long-term investment for the Lilywhites.
