Mousa Dembele has been with Tottenham Hotspur since 2012 but his influence shone through over the course of the last season as the club earned the bragging rights of being the best team in London.
Dembele played as a central midfielder for Spurs and although his impact on the team didn’t translate into assists and goals, he did play a vital role. And since then, there have been rumours about him making an exit. Reports claim that AC Milan and Inter Milan are interested in the Belgian midfielder, with Levy valuing him at around £20m
In such a scenario, here are three possible players that should be considered as replacements for Dembele.
Corentin Tolisso
Corentin Tolisso is one of the most exciting young midfielders in world football right now. He can play multiple positions and is creative despite occupying a deeper role. He also has a great right foot that has helped him score quite a few goals in his nascent career.
He is good at covering passing lanes and making interceptions, which help the team defensively. Tolisso’s vision from deep positions is extraordinary and his ability to read the game is rare to find in a player who is just 23 years of age.
Currently playing for Bayern Munich, the 23-year-old might be a relatively expensive option but given his talent, the extra money will be worth it.
Mateo Kovacic
The Croatian hasn’t disappointed whenever he has been given a chance to display his immense abilities. There are enough reasons to believe that he can fill the boots of Modric on the international stage and Tottenham could be the best place for him to realise his potential.
The youngster can play multiple roles in the midfield. He is probably the most press-resistant player you will find in world football right now.
His pace and ability to dribble past players, coupled with his tackling skills, makes him an asset in both aspects of the game. He is an intelligent player who can create chances out of nowhere and break the opposition’s lines of defence with his dribbling and passing skills.
However, much like in the case of Tolisso, Real Madrid will not sell the Croatian for cheap.
Adrien Rabiot
Rabiot is another youngster whose talent surpasses expectations. The most crucial skill for a midfielder to possess is the ability to pass the ball with great accuracy. On that front, the 23-year-old has already shown what he is capable of.
His control over the ball is second to only his passing ability. That being said, his decision-making isn’t phenomenal. Rabiot is a mix between a holding midfielder and a ball distributor. This is exactly what Spurs need if they were to lose Dembele.
The French youngster seems like a perfect fit for Spurs, who have the likes of Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane to take full advantage of his superior passing ability and control.
The odds of Dembele exiting the club are very low but Tottenham should make enquiries about the availability of these players as a contingency plan. You can never truly predict the future of events in the footballing world.
