Tottenham remain confident they’ll win massive transfer race
Tottenham continue to chase Ryan Sessegnon
Mauricio Pochettino has quite a reputation for acquiring and nurturing young English talent. In fact, he’s established a pipeline directly from Tottenham to Gareth Southgate’s national team. Spurs want Ryan Sessegnon to be the next player to make that ascendancy under Pochettino.
The good news is that Tottenham continue to lead the race for the Fulham starlet. Some English pundits even believe that Spurs are close to clinching a deal for the left-footed virtuoso. The smart money believes Tottenham’s ability to complete the signing depends on Fulham staying in the Championship next season.
The real question is how Sessegnon will fit in under Pochettino. There’s no question he has an abundance of talent. Even at a young age he is clearly one of the top players in the Championship. His defends like a much older player, but it’s his offensive skill that really stands out. Sessegnon has drawn a lot of comparisons to former Spurs star Gareth Bale as a left back who flourishes when he flies down the left flank.
It’s reasonable to believe that left back would be the first place Sessegnon could earn meaningful playing time. Ben Davies is entrenched as the starter for the moment, but his lack of dynamism makes him a curious fit under Pochettino. Danny Rose is the most athletic Tottenham left back, but he lacks the skill to really flourish in the final third. There’s also a significant chance that Rose will be sold this summer.
Remember that Pochettino gives his fullbacks a lot of license to run forward and create width for his attack. Sessegnon would certainly have defensive responsibilities for Spurs, but it’s the perfect club for him to receive a lot of time and space on the ball as well. In many ways, Tottenham are the perfect club for Sessegnon to grow responsibly.
That does not mean, however, that Sessegnon will settle in as a fullback over the long haul. It’s my belief that his future will eventually take him into the attacking midfield. It might take him a season or two under Pochettino to fully complete that transition, but it’s inevitable. Sessegnon simply has too much offensive creativity to remain in the back four for too many seasons.
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Tottenham fans need to begin to pray that Fulham remain in the Championship next season. If they do, Spurs are likely going to end up with a massive talent on their hands. Ryan Sessegnon is likely going to go from the Whites to the Lillywhites.