Why Douglas Costa Would Be Perfect For Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur are once again in the hunt for the Premier League title. The North London club sit 2nd in the league table, just 4 points below leaders Chelsea. With 5 games still to be played, they have a strong chance of overturning the deficit in the coming weeks.
Title or no title, the qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League is an absolute certainty for the club. Mauricio Pochettino’s side did not enjoy much success this year in Europe but will be keen on improving their displays over the coming seasons, while also sustain their status as the title challengers.
To that end, they will need some strengthening of the squad in the summer. According to reports, Tottenham have identified Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa as a key transfer target for the summer transfer window.
The 26-year old Brazilian international hasn’t been heavily involved in the scheme of things with Die Roten this season under the new regime of Carlo Ancelotti and is reportedly considering an exit in the summer, with the Premier League being a possible destination. Tottenham seem to be keen on capitalising on his plight with the German champions and swoop in ahead of next season.
Here are three reasons why the Lilywhites should go all out for Costa’s signature in the summer:
Big Improvement on Current Options
It is no secret that Tottenham have been trying to strengthen their wide areas for quite some time now. In the summer of 2015, Pochettino brought in Clinton N’Jie – who turned out to be a dud. He was shipped out on loan this term.
Last summer, they signed Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, both of whom have again been dismal additions to the squad. Though N’Koudou is still young and has time to develop, Sissoko, an international player with France and with years of experience in the Premier League, has failed abysmally.
The former Newcastle United man has struggled to carve out a place in the team and when the opportunities were afforded, he has just disappointed. With Erik Lamela’s future in doldrums after his injury hiatus, things don’t look good for him either.
There is no question that Costa will be a huge improvement on any of the options that Pochettino has at his disposal at present. A world class talent, the 26-year old is comfortable on both flanks and can terrorize the opposition with his blistering pace and could prove to be the missing piece in their squad that could lead them to a title.
Better Bet Than Wilfried Zaha
In their bid to add more quality to the flanks, Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, for quite a while now. The former Manchester United man has had a great season with the Eagles and has been their best player this term. Zaha has scored 6 times and has registered 11 assists as well.
But his struggles on the bigger stages are well-documented from his spell with United. The 24-year old struggled to break into the first-team and was questions were raised over his attitude on plenty of occasions. There is no guarantee that he wouldn’t go down a similar path with Spurs.
Costa, on the other hand, has been playing for one of the best teams in Europe for the past two years. He has done exceptionally well for Bayern and also possesses a great amount of experience in the Champions League as well. This season, he has scored 7 times and set up 9 goals. 2 goals and 3 assists out of that tally have come on the continental stage.
Zaha would cost Tottenham somewhere in the range of £25 million and Costa, according to reports, is expected to be available for £30 million. With just a little extra investment, they will be getting a player who would be much better suited for their ambitions.
Statement of Intent
Tottenham are a club on the rise and have been making huge strides both on and off the pitch. Still in the race for the title and being all set for another season in the Champions League, they are emerging as one of the new superpowers in English football.
If they manage to get their hands on Costa, whose availability will definitely have put the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea on high alert, imagine the statement that the club would be making. Signing one of the best players from one of the best teams in the continent will go a long way in helping them achieve their dreams of becoming a top European team and will make a huge mark.