Why Tottenham signing Tonny Vilhena would bolster their midfield
Back in December 2018, a report from the Mirror (h/t Corriere dello Sport) had mentioned Tottenham among the potential suitors for Dutch midfielder Tonny Vilhena, who was plying his trade with Feyenoord back then.
Italian giants AS Roma were also understood to be interested in a deal for the 25-year-old but he ended up staying put in his homeland. Vilhena eventually completed a move to Russia with Kuban Krasnodar in the summer of 2019 and has established himself as a key player for the club.
Profile
A youth exponent of Feyenoord, Tonny Vilhena made his senior breakthrough in the Eredivisie during the 2011-12 season. He gradually established himself as a key player for his boyhood club and went on to accumulate an impressive 41 goals and 29 assists in 258 appearances over eight full seasons in the Dutch top-flight. Vilhena was instrumental in Feyenoord’s 2016-17 Eredivisie triumph while he also won 2 KNVB Cup titles during his illustrious tenure at the club.
The 25-year-old has continued to impress after moving to Krasnodar, where he appeared in the group stages of the Champions League for the first time earlier this season. Having made his senior international debut for the Netherlands in 2016, he has amassed 15 caps for his nation so far.
Vilhena would add more depth to the Tottenham midfield
Tottenham roped in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton to bolster their midfield in the summer and the Danish international has quickly established himself as a key player under Jose Mourinho. Hojbjerg has started each of the club’s 15 PL fixtures, playing every minute of their campaign so far.
Despite the Dane’s positive impact in North London, Tottenham should consider reshaping their midfield even further in January or next summer. Moussa Sissoko has a contract until 2023 but is nearing the latter stages of his career at 31. Meanwhile, Harry Winks has slipped down the pecking order under Mourinho, starting just 4 games in the PL so far this season.
Winks’ diminished role in North London has raised doubts over his long-term future at the club. With Mourinho preferring to use Tanguy Ndombele in an advanced No.10, Spurs can certainly do with another box-to-box enforcer in the middle. Reigniting interest in Tonny Vilhena would represent a smart decision by Tottenham with one eye on the future.
The Dutchman ticks plenty of boxes to come through the door as a useful addition to Tottenham’s ranks. A typical box-to-box midfielder with an eye for goals and assists – his record at Feyenoord substantiates those claims – Vilhena also offers a lot with his work rate. His heat map in Russia last season shows strong concentration at both ends of the pitch, meaning the Dutchman would suit Mourinho’s style of play in North London.
Verdict
Tonny Vilhena already boasts an impressive profile for a player aged just 25, with more than 300 club career appearances under his belt. The Dutch international looks like a player with real quality who would thrive in the intense atmosphere of the Premier League. With his best years still ahead of him, Tottenham should start keeping tabs on him once again.