Dejan Kulusevski has been participating in 11 on 11 scrimmages with the Tottenham Hotspur youth teams, and there is real optimism that his return to the pitch isn't a long way off. It feels good saying that about Kulu, who has been out for around 18 months with a knee injury that was apparently career threatening. At one point, it didn't even seem like we would get to this point where we could speculate about Kulu's return.
Tottenham are wisely taking things slowly with Kulusevski's recovery, but he is going to be making his return at some point on the near horizon, perhaps even to begin November. And when he does, Tottenham fans are intrigued to see the role that he plays.
Before Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, manager Roberto De Zerbi told the media that while he can see Kulu playing just about anywhere in the attack, he mostly sees the Swedish national team star as an attacking midfielder.
Dejan Kulusevski is a 10 alternative to James Maddison
De Zerbi said, via Daily Hotspur, "Winger or number 10. I prefer him as a number 10, but Kulusevski is a football player who can play everywhere."
Tottenham Hotspur are going to have to make use of Kulu in a variety of ways, but the No. 10 position is the most lacking area for Spurs right now. Their only true 10 who is healthy is James Maddison, as Tottenham quickly realized that Mohammed Kudus and Mateus Fernandes are not really options there. Maddison's health itself has been an issue, too, and while he should be starting in the upcoming Monday Night Football clash against his childhood club Coventry, he has yet to start a game since initially tearing his ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Conor Gallagher started as the No. 10 against Manchester United, and though he is the only non defender to have scored for Tottenham against Premier League competition this season - hitting one home against Liverpool in the League Cup and then one of the consolation goals against Aston Villa.
But while Gallagher has admirable work ethic and a nose for the goal, his overall quality as a 10 is quite poor, as evidenced by his struggles to create chances or meaningfully break the lines on the ball against the Man United defense.
Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, is a player who, even on the right wing, is a decisive creator. He has registered at least seven assists in league seasons with Tottenham and Parma, as well as least four goals with Juventus, Parma, and Spurs on multiple occasions. He is a wonderful footballer when he is in and around the goal, and he can help make a difference in the score line beyond Gallagher while also providing much better creativity and dribbling.
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