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Cristian Tello on Tottenham’s Radar

By Alexander Balano

ROME, ITALY - MAY 15: Cristian Tello of ACF Fiorentina scores the team's third goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on May 15, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - MAY 15: Cristian Tello of ACF Fiorentina scores the team's third goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on May 15, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) /
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After signing Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen, Tottenham’s next position to address has been attacking midfielders and/or wingers.

There isn’t much news surrounding Tottenham’s link with Barcelona winger, Cristian Tello, other than the obvious explanation that Mauricio Pochettino is looking to add more attacking options before the transfer window closes, as reported by the Mirror.

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So who is Tello and why are Spurs interested in the 24-year-old?

The first reasoning is his transfer fee. Barcelona, according to the Daily Star, are seeking £6.75 million to sell the La Masia graduate who has spent time away from the Catalan giants on two different loans to Porto (2014-16) and Fiorentina (2016).

To make 26 combined appearances for Porto and Fiorentina last season, scoring two goals and registering six assists in league play, a £7 million fee seems reasonable enough.

But because the one-time capped Spanish international wants regular playing time, the price seems a bit expensive for a part-time player.

Something that even Fiorentina balked at and they want to sign Cristian Tello permanently after making 15 appearances since joining them at the end of January.

With Mauricio Pochettino searching the transfer market for valuable signings, Cristian Tello by default is an option worth looking at.

And this brings us to the second and third reasons why Tottenham are considering a move for the Spanish winger.

During Pochettino’s tenure as Espanyol manager, Tello was coming up through the academy ranks, and while this was about six years ago, at 18-years-old he could have impressed Pochettino enough that he has kept tabs on him ever since.

Then, earlier this week, CalcioMercato reported that Josep Maria Orobitg, Cristian Tello’s agent, had flown to London to speak with Tottenham officials about a possible move. Or at least gauge Spurs’ interest.

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With these three things combined, besides the fact that Mauricio Pochettino is looking at more attacking options: a £7 million fee, knowing Tello during his youth days in Espanyol’s academy and Tello’s agent flying to north London, it’s difficult to imagine what will come of this.

And quite frankly, nothing actually did. Either talks broke down, or there wasn’t much to discuss in the first place.

Cristian Tello’s numbers in La Liga are decent, 59 appearances and 11 goals, but it’s minutes that he’s truly after and right now he won’t be a starter over Christian Eriksen or Érik Lamela at left and right wing, respectively.

Even Tottenham’s backups might prove to be a better option in the long run with Alex Pritchard and Clinton N’Jie getting more opportunities this year, hopefully.

The only person that Tello could truly replace is Nacer Chadli as he would be younger. But what Chadli has over the 24-year-old besides more minutes as a starter, is the fact that he has two years of playing in Mauricio Pochettino’s system and three years of Premier League football.

Premier League experience isn’t a must, but it helps when trying to sign someone. If players haven’t played in England’s top flight division, then at the very least they were a starter and had a good season elsewhere which made Tottenham sign them.

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Right now, who knows how good Cristian Tello is.

His numbers these past couple of seasons doesn’t say much as he hasn’t been given enough playing time. But going to Tottenham this year would see him occupy a spot on the substitutes’ bench due to the lack of spots available in the starting XI.

The interest in Tello is nice, because of his low value and him being a versatile winger, but other than that this move seems highly unlikely when you consider the 24-year-old’s desire to get regular minutes.