Is Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka a good fit for Spurs?
By Gary Pearson
As the winter transfer window approaches, Schalke’s Leon Goretzka is a high-priority target for Maurcio Pochettino, but is the 22-year-old a good fit for Spurs?
The tall, rangy midfielder has a similar physique to Manchester United’s Nemanja Matić. About five centimetres shorter than Matic, Goretzka stands at 6’2″, providing the physical stature to dominate most individual battles.
The German, who has been on Schalke’s books since 2013, looks a perfect replacement for Mousa Dembélé, whose recent, recurring injury woes are deeply troubling, particularly as the Belgian relies heavily on his agility and movement to cover large swathes of ground.
While similar to Matić’s physical stature, the German midfielder offers more pace, inventiveness and skill than the United holding midfielder. Goretzka has the quality to make marauding runs deep into the opposing half but is just as content to distribute early and hold a more defensive position.
This lad also can also finish. Goretzka has four goals in nine Bundesliga matches this season.
He covers ground like a gazelle and rarely concedes possession. The midfielder also has a tireless work rate, a necessary attribute for any Pochettino target.
Check out the skill he display at 2:43 of the below highlight reel. The deft, imaginative layoff is enough to piqué my interest. Few players have the wherewithal and talent to pull off a skill like that in real-time.
Goretzka is currently playing at a high enough level to quite possibly infiltrate Spurs starting 11 from the off. That’s excellent news for a Tottenham team with intentions of reeling in Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. In addition, the German international is still young, about a year older than Dele Alli and Harry Winks and a year younger the Eric Dier.
Ample time remains for the gaffer to instil his beliefs in the relatively young German, a crucial prerequisite for most Pochettino transfers.
Experienced on the international stage, Goretzka helped Germany on their way to winning the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Spurs have their work cut out to secure the potential transfer, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all interested in landing the talented midfielder’s services. You’d think, with Tottenham’s upward trajectory and Arsenal’s current regression, Goretzka would favour a move to the white side of North London. Also, the benefits of learning from a young, charismatic manager like Pochettino far outweigh those of working with a tired, drained and haggard boss.
Next: Paulo Gazzaniga keeps clean sheet in Spurs Premier League debut
Schalke will do their utmost to refrain from selling to a Bundesliga adversary, while Barcelona still have their sights set on Philippe Coutinho.
That would mean Spurs are in the driver’s seat to sign Schalke’s principle asset.
Bringing a player of Goretka’s talent aboard would certainly buoy Tottenham’s chances of chasing down City atop the Premier League table.