Young, Skillful and Brazilian. It’s almost a certainty that Corinthians starlet Paulinho will be playing his trade in the Premier League next season.
The 24-year-old has been subject to a £17 million bid from Tottenham and he is expected to complete a move to the London club by the end next week.
Paulinho is currently playing a starring role for his country, heading in the winning goal against Uruguay to help Brazil reach the final of the World Cup warm-up event.
While he is focused on tomorrow’s clash with Spain at the Maracana, Paulinho is almost certain to leave Corinthians this summer and Spurs would be his preferred destination.
The Brazilian said earlier in the week that the north London club had tabled a bid for him, and admitted White Hart Lane is a desired option as he would relish working with boss Andre Villas-Boas and the influential Gareth Bale.
But what exactly does Paulinho have to offer Tottenham and the Barclays Premier League?
Fellow Brazilian, David Luiz, claims the central midfielder has the ‘perfect game’ for English football. “If he gets to play in England, he will definitely go far,” the Chelsea defender noted to Fifa.com. “His game fits perfectly with the pace of English football.
“It’s incredibly valuable to have someone like that in your side. Especially when the team [Brazil] is getting along together as well as ours is.”
Paulinho is a classic box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Yaya Toure or Steven Gerrard. He possesses Maruoane Fellaini’s strength and aerial prowess, and Frank Lampard’s ability to find the net from long range.
As comes with the territory, he has a penchant for surging runs from deep and supporting the attackers ahead of him. However, that does mean he needs to be paired with a defensive midfielder to bring out his full potential. At Tottenham, Sandro could prove to be his perfect midfield partner.
While some Brazilians have failed to fully adapt to the European game, Paulinho has the advantage of a few years on the continent under his belt.
Physically, he ticks all the boxes. He is a strong runner and good in the air. His work-rate is fine overall, but his attacking bursts certainly outweigh his efforts to get back and defend.
If he does make a move to the Premier League then he is likely to struggle as the more defensive minded of a double-pivot midfield pair. However, at Tottenham he is likely to be given a more attacking role, with Sandro or Scott Parker supporting him in defensive midfield. In this scenario he is likely to have a very successful spell at White Hart Lane.
Paulinho is an archetypal example of a player who in the most basic of terms, makes things happen for Corinthians. When he gets on the ball, the attacking midfield three in front of him begin to move and create.
He has shown South America in its entirety, his importance for one of the continents best teams. Not only has he been the key to the creation of chances for the São Paulo giants, but on many an important occasion, he has been there to finish them off as well.
The Brazilian could be the player Andre Villas Boas needs to complete the puzzle at Tottenham. With his attacking influence pitched alongside Gareth Bale, the Premier League outfit could finally see itself break into the top four next season.