Ange Postecoglou would strike gold by signing this outstanding Premier League talent.
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is expected to add another player to his squad this winter, and after signing centre-back Radu Dragusin and versatile forward Timo Werner, this will most likely be a midfielder.
Indeed, recent rumours reinforce this, with Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher appearing to be the primary target for a move before the January transfer market closes; Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers has also been mentioned.
Spurs, on the other hand, do not have a myopic approach to spending, with chairman Daniel Levy reportedly targeting many attractive players for a summer transfer, when money flows more freely.
Despite Werner’s signing and the trades made last summer, Harry Kane was transferred to Bayern Munich in August, and there is still opportunity for another forward-placed player, which might be a prominent subject at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Spurs transfer targets: forwards
While Spurs have been looking for an out-and-out centre-forward – Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke and Dutch Eredivisie winner Santiago Gimenez are also on their radar – the quest for summer reinforcements isn’t limited to that position.
For this reason, there may be truth to a recent rumour from journalist Graeme Bailey suggesting that Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is “set to leave” Selhurst Park in the summer, with all of the Premier League’s top clubs keen and Tottenham reported to have inquired.
Chelsea fought and failed to recruit the Frenchman last summer, but Steve Parish is expected to let him depart this year, despite having a rumoured £60 million release clause in his contract.
Michael Olise’s Season in Numbers
Olise has been recognised as a bright potential for several years, winning the 2020/21 Championship’s Young Player of the Season title before making an £8 million move to south London in July 2021.
Last season, he demonstrated his creative prowess by racking up 11 assists in 31 Premier League starts, prompting talent evaluator Jacek Kulig to call him “one of the best wide playmakers in Europe.”
However, since the summer, the 22-year-old has turned the switch and begun focusing on his shooting abilities, which have proven to be an undeniable success throughout his time on the pitch.
According to Sofascore, he has five goals and one assist in just seven starts, with 2.2 critical passes and 3.8 ball recoveries per game, completing 81% of his passes, dribbling 77% of the time, and winning 60% of his contested ground duels.
Olise only made his season debut in November after a lengthy recovery from a hamstring injury, and his resounding return to action was halted earlier this month, with Roy Hodgson confirming that he is likely to miss the remainder of January due to another muscular issue.
Nonetheless, the £100k-per-week star, who can play across the frontline but is finding a regular home on the right side, has proved that many clubs want to add him to their ranks, with Postecoglou’s project reaching new heights with his deployment.
How does Michael Olise compare to Heung-min Son?
Given Olise’s improved ability to wreak havoc on opposing defenders with his own striking, there are early indications that he could be Heung-min Son’s replacement at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Son, rated “world-class” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, has 157 goals and 85 assists in 393 games for Tottenham since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for £22 million in 2015.
He’s regarded as one of the best Premier League forwards of his time, and replacing him will be a difficult challenge, but if Olise makes the cross-London move, the club may have found their dream heir.
It’s… astonishing. Looking at the table above, Olise’s remarkable form this season is highlighted, outperforming Tottenham’s talisman in practically every aspect.
Now, the respective players have played significantly different amounts of football this season, with Son playing just over 1000 minutes more in the English top division, but this does not minimise Olise’s tremendous exploits on the game.
Furthermore, the fact that he has appeared so infrequently due to injuries strengthens the case that he has performed at a level to rival any star this season.
Son, for example, has 12 goals and five assists in 20 Premier League games and has looked equally devastating in both centre-forward and wide roles, as well as creating 11 big chances for his teammates, a total only surpassed by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The South Korean great may be outclassed in most stats, but he is unquestionably one of the best forwards in the PremierLeague, and his abilities may serve as the gold standard for a developing talent like Olise to emulate.
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