If Ayoze Perez is happy at Newcastle he’d be ecstatic at Tottenham
Newcastle’s Spanish striker Ayoze Perez appears to be a perfect fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s system at Tottenham
There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about at Newcastle this season, but young attacker Ayoze Perez has been a bright spot. Unfortunately for Newcastle fans, he might have shined a bit too much. His stellar play has caught the attention of bigger clubs around the world including the Premier League’s own Tottenham Hotspur.
Perez may only have three goals on the campaign but he is still their second highest rated player on the season per Whoscored.com. He’s an easy player to notice because of his lightning pace and attacking style out on the pitch. He is a rare breed of attacker who likes to dribble the ball and put in a challenge to win it back when necessary. His combination of offensive skill and defensive work rate make him an ideal fit for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham.
Pochettino’s high press is dependent on having attacking players who are willing to work tirelessly to win the ball back if it is lost. That’s a strength of Perez’s game so it’s no surprise that Tottenham are showing increasing interest in the striker. Rumors are ever-increasing that Spurs are preparing a formal bid of somewhere around 12 million pounds for the January transfer window.
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He really is the ideal fit for Spurs. Pochettino knows that he must bring in reinforcements to the squad given Tottenham’s Europa League obligations and the their ambitions to push for a Premier League title as the season moves on. Perez would be a useful player on both fronts.
He isn’t cup-tied with Newcastle so he would be eligible for Europa League competition this season and his positional flexibility would allow him to play alongside Harry Kane or as his replacement. In short, he’s just what Tottenham needs to shore up their attack.
Newcastle, of course, will fight hard to keep hold of their starlet in the January window. They are fighting an uphill climb to avoid relegation and will be very hesitant to sell any of their important players. However, Steve McClaren may decide that selling Perez to fund some acquisitions of his own might be best for their Premier League survival. Newcastle is particularly light in defense and if he could turn Perez into a couple of quality defensive players he might have to pull the trigger.
To Perez’s credit, he certainly isn’t out there agitating for a move. Just today he was quoted as saying that he’s happy at Newcastle and isn’t necessarily looking to make a move in January. Even if he privately wants a move, he is handling his business the right way for his club.
While he may not be itching to leave his current club, Tottenham would be a tempting offer for the young Spaniard. His style of play is a perfect fit for Pochettino and he could join the club’s young, dynamic core. Of course making the move would also take him from a relegation battle to perhaps a title chase. That would be quite the upgrade.
Ayoze Perez isn’t a lock to leave Newcastle in January by any means, but a move might be best for both the player and the club. If he’s made available, look for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham to swoop in and make a bold and decisive bid for the striker who fits their philosophy perfectly.