Ange Postecoglou would make a stunning statement by completing this transfer.
Tottenham Hotspur have been active in the January transfer window and may yet strike again, with Ange Postecoglou searching for the formula to secure Champions League qualification come the end of the season.
By and large, the north London outfit have been excellent this season but perch outside the top four, in fifth place, after 21 matches, three points behind Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Postecoglou justifiably felt that the squad’s thinness called for reinforcements and he has indeed acted accordingly, with Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner augmenting the ranks earlier this month.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has been the priority target for a while now but securing his services will be no easy task for the Lilywhites, with precocious winger Antonio Nusa also being fiercely pursued before the deadline next week.
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Daniel Levy is preparing a formal offer for this prodigious talent.
While all of this occurs, plans are judiciously being drawn up for the summer transfer window and Postecoglou is pushing for the acquisition of a truly exceptional player.
Spurs’ search for a forward
According to Spanish reports, Tottenham are interested in signing Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane in what would be a stunning capture for Postecoglou’s project.
That said, Liverpool and Arsenal are both named as suitors and Spurs’ hopes of sealing the deal for the £86m-rated winger would inevitably hinge on qualifying for the Champions League.
Out of contract at the end of next season, the Germany international is said to be the perfect fit for the path Spurs are seeking under their manager, and concrete efforts could be made to bring him to the club in the summer.
Why Spurs want Leroy Sane
Sane signed for Bayern Munich in a £55m transfer from Manchester City back in 2020 and has since chalked up 47 goals and 48 assists across 160 fixtures, dazzling from both flanks throughout his trophy-laden time in Bavaria.
Tottenham have their work cut out in convincing the 28-year-old to join Postecoglou’s team with vested interest from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, but then clinching the likes of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven last summer highlights the allure of making this move.
And what a player Spurs would get their hands on, with Sane heralded as “one of the best wingers in the world” by teammate Jamal Musiala.
As per FBref, the 6-foot phenom ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.
| Leroy Sane: Similar Players | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Club |
| 1. | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 2. | Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich |
| 3. | Diogo Jota | Liverpool |
| Source: Football Transfers | ||
Such metrics underpin the claim that he is among the pantheon of first-class wingers in the modern game, so effective with his creativity and marrying this technical prowess with raw pace and power that allows him to barge into the danger area.
This season, the £331k-per-week has posted nine goals and 11 assists across 27 outings for the dominant German champions, who do trail Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen this season, and while he hasn’t scored across hisn past nine league matches, Sane has racked up eight assists in this period.
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Ange Postecoglou empathizes with James Maddison’s Tottenham sideline struggle ahead of FA Cup return
Maddison will return for Friday’s visit of Manchester City in the FA Cup after almost three months without football due to ankle ligament damage.
It halted Maddison’s brilliant start to life at Spurs and Postecoglou revealed the England midfielder struggled at times during the longest absence of his career.
“Not low but it was tough for him, because he does love his football, he loves the environment of football clubs, he loves the dressing room,” Postecoglou said.
“He’s kind of a force within that. It’s hard for all players when they’ve got to go through rehab, especially a character like him.
“I suggest that our sports science staff wouldn’t enjoy the one-on-one with Madders. He’s more of a guy who wants to be in the group.
“We did send him away in the middle of it. We felt it was good for him to get away with his family, we sent a physio with him (to Dubai).
“I think that helped bridge that time. When he got back from that, he was refreshed.
“Once he could see the finish line of ‘OK, I’m getting to the tail end of it,’ you could see his spirits lift. It’s been good to get him back.
“I know what Madders expects and, in training, you wouldn’t know that he’s missed so much. The quality is there straight away and everyone notices it and he’s looking good physically.
“And he’s the kind of guy who will want to make up for lost time and come back in and make an impact straight away.”
Spurs have not played for two weeks and the break has enabled Maddison to return to full fitness while Ben Davies and Dane Scarlett have recovered from hamstring problems.
Dejan Kulusevski is also available after illness ruled him out of the 2-2 draw at Manchester United a fortnight ago, but Giovani Lo Celso is still sidelined with a muscle issue.
Postecoglou gave his squad four days off during their mid-season break and, while plenty travelled far and wide to the likes of Dubai and Miami, the coach stayed at home to catch up with his family, who were in Australia for Christmas, and also put plans in place for the future.
He added: “My family were away and they just got back, so it was some quiet time at home.
“I kind of use those moments to look a bit farther down and see stuff that needs to do. While the cold face of it is games to prepare for and win, there is some longer-term stuff I am still keen to build within the club.
“You start mapping out those things and see if we can make an impact now or a bit later or when we are going to make an impact.
“It all helps you to get to where you want. Everybody wants to get away but even if I got away I would be thinking along those lines.
“I take what I do really seriously and I feel that sometimes if I switch off for too long, I am kind of missing something. That is the way I am wired.”
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