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Tottenham agree £25 million deal for Brazilian winger

By Benjamin Barkworth

METZ, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Lucas Moura of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club or PSG celebrates scoring a goal with Neymar Jr during the Ligue 1 match between Metz and Paris Saint Germain or PSG held at Stade Saint-Symphorien on September 8, 2017 in Metz, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
METZ, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 08: Lucas Moura of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club or PSG celebrates scoring a goal with Neymar Jr during the Ligue 1 match between Metz and Paris Saint Germain or PSG held at Stade Saint-Symphorien on September 8, 2017 in Metz, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain have come to an agreement over the transfer of Lucas Moura.

Reports indicate that the winger is close to joining Tottenham with the deal subject to personal terms and a medical. Multiple clubs have been after his signature due to the bargain price that he is available at. PSG need to recoup some of the large transfer fees they spent on Neymar and Kylian Mbappé; selling Moura helps in this regard and reduces the ridiculous depth they have in forward areas.

The Brazilian winger has seen his chances limited this season with six substitute appearances in all competitions. This is a good move for him personally because it allows him to get his career back on track under a manager who has a reputation for improving players. It’s also a good move for Tottenham because they have another player, alongside Son Heung-min, who can provide width in forward areas without relying on wing-backs.

Tottenham also have the added bonus of Moura being eligible for this season’s Champions League. The Brazilian is only 25-years-old so he still has time to develop, but is also vastly experienced. His time in Paris has been full of success because he has won 13 domestic trophies. However, PSG weren’t able to get past the Champions League quarter-finals in his time there.

What does he bring to the team?

Moura provides a wide option on the right flank, which Spurs currently lack at the level the Brazilian is able to provide.

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This increases the variety of options available to Mauricio Pochettino and allows him to utilise different formations without having to compromise through the personnel he uses.

PSG mainly use a 4-3-3 formation while Tottenham usually switch between 3-5-2, 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations. 4-2-3-1 is the formation that suits the Brazilian most, but he will be required to do more defensive work than he is used to.

PSG could afford to take some liberties with their defensive shape because of the talented individuals that they had; Spurs can’t afford to take these risks.

Pochettino could bring the best out of Moura, though, because he is an intelligent player. He likes to set up his team in a pragmatic manner because he often reacts to the opposition.

This means that Moura has a lot of systems that he has to get used to. Tottenham can switch between dominating possession, pressing high up the pitch and breaking on the opposition from a low block in different matches.

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Moura has the ability to thrive in all these different styles. He is able to work intricately in the final third while keeping possession in tight spaces, which will help against packed defences. His pace and decision-making means that he can be an outlet when playing on the counter-attack. Pressing is the style that will be hardest to get used to, but that is all about coordinating with the rest of the team in order to cut off passing lanes and isolate opposition players.

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