Playing for 90
Fansided

Tottenham should move for PSG ace if the price is right

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Lucas of PSG celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Lucas of PSG celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Lucas Moura could thrive at Tottenham

Tottenham’s motto of “To Dare Is To Do” could soon be applied to the club’s January transfer window. If Spurs do make a bold move to bring Lucas Moura to North London, the talented Brazilian could complete Mauricio Pochettino’s prolific attack.

Reports from France claim Daniel Levy is trying to bring Lucas to Tottenham via a loan move. Predictably, PSG only want to part with him via a permanent transfer. A solution in the middle ground of a loan move with an option to buy might be enough to placate everyone involved.

Some might consider it a red flag that Lucas has struggled so mightily to get into the PSG starting XI this season. The pacey winger has only managed to earn 72 minutes of playing time in five Ligue 1 appearances this year for Unai Emery’s squad.

It’s important to consider the type of attacking talent he’s playing behind. Lucas plays his best football out on the wing. PSG aren’t starting average players in front of him. Instead, Lucas is languishing on the bench behind the likes of Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe. Any member of that trio would waltz into the starting XI of any Premier League side not named Manchester City.

One need only look to Lucas’ performance last season for the Parisian giants as proof he’s capable of big things. During the 2016-17 campaign, Lucas started 29 league matches for PSG and earned an impressive Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.41. He managed 12 goals and five assists for his club’s impressive attack.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Perhaps more interestingly, Lucas played his best football when the lights were at their brightest. He elevated his play in Champions League competition to 7.60 in his seven appearances. The Brazilian international was trusted to start six of those seven matches as well.

It’s also helpful to remember that we’re not talking about an aging star here. Lucas has been on the European scene for several years, but he’s still just 25-years-old. He would fit in perfectly with Tottenham’s young corps of emerging stars.

Perhaps more importantly, Lucas would give Pochettino’s attack something it doesn’t currently possess. He’d be the club’s only true speedster on the wing. Lucas would represent a much better version of what Georges-Kevin N’Koudou was supposed to add to the club.

The challenge for Pochettino would be keeping all his attacking midfielders happy if Lucas were added to the mix. Currently, he employs a relatively comfortable rotation of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Heung-Min Son and Erik Lamela. Adding one more player to that mix could prove tricky. On the other hand, injuries have a certain habit of working those problems out for Spurs.

Next: 5 moves Spurs should make in January

In the end, the decision of whether or not to add Lucas to the mix is going to come down to the price PSG are demanding. If they are willing to be reasonable in their transfer negotiations, Tottenham should pounce on Lucas. Taking advantage of PSG’s embarrassment of riches on the wing could be the move of the summer for Spurs.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur