Fixing a Dembele shaped hole

If we are to believe the sad but likely news that we’ve already seen Moussa’s last game for Tottenham, then finding a replacement of his ilk must become our number one priority when identifying transfer targets this summer. Dembele has been a great servant to the club in the six years he has spent in North London. It’s been a joy to watch him take on opposing players, two or three at a time, with his unique mixture of strength, balance and skill. Long standing admiration being as strong as it is, it’s hard to picture how the team sets up without him going forward.

It’s widely assumed that a world class centre back in Toby Alderweireld will likely be leaving the club this summer too, and there are further concerns that our English contingent Danny Rose may have interests ultimately laying elsewhere. But while letting go either or both of these great defenders is a great loss to the club, we have reasonable depth within the current squad to cover their positions. Beliefs substantiated last season during lengthy absences by both of these players while on the long term injury list. Davidson Sanchez has contributed much more, far earlier than expected in his first season at the club, perhaps explaining the willingness last summer to act like we had used some Footy Accumulators for BTTS tips and won enough to break the club’s transfer record in order to secure the young talent. So if Toby stays it’ll be a tough split between him and Sanchez on match day. If he goes then the fans already have somebody to pick up the mantle. Davies has been as reliably rock-steady on the left side of defence in Rose’s absence, and promising youngsters like Juan Foyth and Kyle Walker-Peters have taken their opportunities well when presented. So there’s much less still to worry about if we lose personnel from the back this summer.

This is why the potential farewell to Dembele a more anxious affair, I don’t currently see a similar ready replacement for his role in the team. At the risk of sounding sycophantic, I can’t think of anyone who does what Dembele does better than he can. Not in our current squad at least. Others have occupied the void in an injury stricken run for him, but none have taken up his role to the same effect. Sissoko appears to have some of the power and presence of Dembele, paired with a great turn of pace, if less ball control and quality of pass. But is arguably is better suited hugging the touchline of the wing rather than in the central midfield space where Dembele sits. Harry Winks is an encouraging breakthrough talent in the middle of the park who admittedly looked more of a hardy veteran getting stuck into the Real Madrid stars for a Man of the Match worthy Wembly performance in last year’s Champion’s League campaign. Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier when called upon do well worthy midfield work, but they both occupy a more defensive role.

With trepidation, I don’t see anybody in our squad who can so easily get it past a player or two. We have passers, we have blockers and we have speedsters and more, but who is our dribbler if Dembele is out? Who has that same close ball control with the strength and skill to protect the ball while committing defenders and then finding the timely pass to get behind defences, the style of play which has always characterised many of his vintage performances for spurs.

I can’t with any ease think of any player in the premier league or anyone playing for other European teams who play just like the Belgian maestro. If buying, who would best fit the bill? Of players we’ve been linked with, Rafinha playing for inter last season, and Tanguy Ndombele for Lyon, both look like they can cut through an opposition. But whether they’re comfortable plying their trade at a premier league pace, not in the French or Italian league is a question. Of another transfer link currently playing in Europe, I really like the look of Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic. He would be an ideal replacement, and even though he has a buy-out clause in his contract that the club could exploit, business with Real Madrid over the last few years has generally been a one way affair, so it’s still a difficult one to see happening unless we place some luck bets!

What of proven premier league talent? Reuben Loftus Cheek, current performer in the England squad, would make a well worthy presence in midfield but whether Chelsea will sell, much less to a London rival, is a big doubt. If he doesn’t feature in their plans again next year then he’ll be more likely to go out on loan to Crystal Palace again than be allowed to join us. While perhaps again more defensive minded, Steven N’Zonzi did admirable work during his Premier League years with Stoke and Blackburn and while now at Sevilla, is rumoured to want a route back into the premier league. But if those rumours are to be believed then he might be as close to joining the other club in North London. Further left field thinking, I wonder if old club favourite Nacer Chadli could find a way back to the club. The compatriot of Dembele with similarities in build and skill-set, always struck me as an obvious understudy for the elder Belgian, and while younger Chadli predominantly plays on the wing, so did Dembele early in his career. An outside possibility but a route that he may want to follow back into a team which he’d be welcomed warmly back to. Jack Grealish is another transfer link who can safely take on a player, and would he be ready to take the step back up to the premier league from battling in the championship with Aston Villa?

I have every trust that Pocchettino, the scouts and Levy and co. have better ideas for a life after Dembele. Whether that is something the club will have to face this summer or another, I just hope that we recognise that replacing him will be no easy task, and that it is one of upmost importance if we are to continue to progress and compete to the high standard which we have set in the last few seasons. And if we have seen the last of Dembele at spurs, thanks for everything this great player has contributed during his stay at this great club, I wish him all the best.