Playing for 90
Fansided

Tottenham won’t make a serious bid for West Ham star

By Rucker Haringey

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
STRATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Manuel Lanzini isn’t the right attacker for Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino would surely like to add another talented Argentine to his Tottenham squad next season. Don’t expect it to be Manuel Lanzini though. Spurs will leave the West Ham attacker for another club to purchase.

It’s not that Lanzini doesn’t represent solid value at his reported transfer price tag of £30 million, it’s just that he isn’t the right type of player for Pochettino’s style. Spurs will be looking for a player who gives their attack something different. Lanzini isn’t that player.

The 24-year-old Hammers midfielder is simply a lesser version of Christian Eriksen. I’m sure West Ham fans will perceive that as a slight, but it’s not how I mean it. Eriksen is very nearly a world-class attacker, while Lanzini is still trying to ascend to that lofty perch.

Both players are capable of moments of offensive brilliance. Lanzini showed Pochettino as much with his match winning goal that served to snuff out his club’s title hopes. Unfortunately, neither Lanzini or Eriksen really stretch a defense with their pace. Neither star is capable of dominating opponents with their physical size either.

Both men are finesse based attackers who can torment opponents with long-range goals or incisive passes. Unfortunately, clubs can really only afford to play one such player at a time. In Spurs case, they need the other attackers to offer something vastly different. Dele Alli can bother opponents with his trickery on the ball and movement. Players like Erik Lamela can stretch the field laterally with their speed.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Lanzini doesn’t have the pace to really trouble opposing fullbacks. He can utilize clever movement without the ball, but he’s at his best when he’s pulling the strings  in the middle of the pitch. That’s precisely where Eriksen is at his best.

Perhaps if Lanzini were available for £15 million and content to serve as Eriksen’s understudy then things would be different. If Spurs would have moved for him before Dimitri Payet’s exit from West Ham, it’s possible that could have been the case.

Now, Lanzini’s game has progressed beyond that level. He’s proven that he can carry a Premier League attack from the middle of the formation. He wouldn’t get that opportunity next year for Tottenham.

Next: Should Spurs re-sign Defoe?

Manuel Lanzini is definitely worth £30 million, but West Ham won’t receive that sum from Spurs. They’ll look at other Premier League options to transform their attack this summer.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur