Why Tottenham should beat Arsenal to the signature of Florian Grillitsch
According to a report in Metro (h/t Bild), Premier League’s north London giants Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing TSG Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch. Both clubs have been monitoring the Austrian starlet after some of his impressive displays for the German side this season.
As per the report, it is not confirmed how much transfer fees would be needed to lure the player to England but his agent was in the land of the Three Lions to discuss his future. The 23-year-old joined Hoffenheim from Werder Bremen in 2017 and has a contract at the Rhein-Neckar Arena until 2021.
Here’s why Tottenham should beat their rivals Arsenal to the signature of the Austrian:
Spurs’ requirement is greater than that of Arsenal
After failing to spend even a penny in the summer transfer window, Tottenham were bound to be stretched in terms of resources when the crunch of the season arrived. They are already missing the likes of Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama, with the former’s contract expiring at the end of this season.
Furthermore, injuries to Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen over the course of October/November really tested the bench strength, which isn’t that great. Hence, it is imperative from the club’s viewpoint that they sign a central midfielder, if not for squad depth, then at least to replace Dembele.
As for Arsenal, their requirement is far less desperate than their rivals. They have good and fit options in central midfield.
Talking about the player in the spotlight, Florian Grillitsch is a fantastic midfielder who is versatile enough to play in different positions across the central strip of the field. Predominantly a box-to-box number eight, the 23-year-old is adept at operating as a number 6, or as a number 10 behind the striker.
His height (187cm) aids him to be a genuine threat from set-pieces and also in general play. The Austrian is an impressive passer of the ball, boasting a pass success rate of 81.1% in the Bundesliga.
He reads the game very well off the ball, making tackles and interceptions to stop the opposition attacks. The midfielder does them at an average of 2.2 and 2.1 per game respectively.
Overall, Grillitsch is a complete package of a midfielder who has emerged as a top player this season. Among the two north London clubs, it is clear why Tottenham need to push the throttle and sign the player.
Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com