Three signings to cement Tottenham as title contenders next season

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Hakim Ziyech

With the likely departures of Alex Pritchard and Nacer Chadli, Spurs have a chance to upgrade their options in attacking midfield. A reasonable suggestion would be to add some pace and direct running to scorch the White Hart Lane turf. Since the departures of Andros Townsend and Aaron Lennon, Spurs have lacked genuine speed in wide positions. Although Erik Lamela offers verve and quality down the wing, his game is more about silk than jet-heeled bursts. Many could see the lack of directness as a potential weakness of this Spurs side. However, Poch’s system provides width in a different manner: through the fullbacks. Walker, Trippier and Rose track high up the field, complementing Spurs’ inverted wingers and pulling away markers to create space in dangerous positions. Hakim Ziyech, the Twente attacking-midfielder, would offer the cunning and class to exploit this space.

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Although more of a Christian Eriksen than an Aaron Lennon, Ziyech would operate in perfect tandem with Poch’s system. In the first choice Spurs 4-2-3-1, one of Alli and Eriksen floats on the left of the attacking midfield trio with the other playing as a number ten. Ziyech could mirror this set-up on the right, flitting into the middle of the pitch to receive the ball, confusing his marker and creating space. Although typically a number 10, Ziyech naturally drifts to the right throughout the match. Embracing this tendency in Spurs’ system would allow him to harness his full passing range and dribbling ability. A midfield trio of Alli, Eriksen and Ziyech would be a nightmare to mark as all are comfortable centrally or in wide positions and would exchange roles throughout the game. Much in the mold of Payet (albeit a right sided player), his playmaking ability is enhanced by the extra freedom the wing allows.

Sofiane Boufal may seem a more flashy signing, providing pace and great shooting ability, but Ziyech has the skill and talent to better adapt to the Spurs system and the Premier League. His consistency has been fantastic in the Eredivisie, and after an abject season for Twente the club will honor his desire to play European football elsewhere. However, with Dortmund among other clubs waiting to pounce on the Moroccan starlet, Spurs must act fast to get their man.

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