Spurs set to sign new defender within days

The transfer window may not have opened yet but things are already roaring into life for Tottenham Hotspur. They needed to as well given how the season has played out.

Roberto De Zerbi said at the climax of the campaign that there was no time to take a holiday and judging by how Spurs have started the summer, it certainly does not look as though anyone has taken a vacation.

Spurs are already closing in on the signing of Andy Robertson but he is not the only Premier League player who could head to the Lilywhites this summer.

Indeed, big news emerged on Thursday morning that they had lodged a big bid to sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Spurs looking to strengthen their backline

The news of Spurs’ interest in Van Hecke will come as no surprise considering De Zerbi had him at Brighton. That said, the timing of the bid, so soon after the close season is something of a shock.

Tottenham are wasting no time here but unfortunately for them, their initial advances have been rejected by the Seagulls.

That said, according to reports, the Londoners are now close to reaching an agreement on personal terms with the centre-back as they aim to prise him away from the south coast.

Spurs will hope to have the deal done before the World Cup where Van Hecke is part of the Netherlands squad travelling to North America for the tournament.

Well, even if they don’t get that one wrapped up as swiftly as they hope, Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has provided good news on the hunt for two other signings.

Writing on Thursday, he noted that ‘barring any late disasters’ transfers for Liverpool’s Robertson and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi are ‘expected’ to be sealed once the transfer window officially opens on June 15th.

Both players are out of contract at their respective clubs but Spurs have moved quickly to seal their signatures with announcements due soon.

How Senesi compares to Van Hecke

There is simply no hiding from just how poor Spurs have been defensively over the last two seasons. It’s been a huge reason for their plight, finishing 17th in the division two years in a row.

As a result, strengthening a backline that is also set to lose captain Cristian Romero is certainly the biggest priority.

In Van Hecke and Senesi, Tottenham would be bolstering their defensive line significantly, potentially even making it one of the best in the Premier League. Wouldn’t that be something, eh?

The two of them are incredibly progressive defenders, players who like to bring the ball out from the back and that should be music to the ears of supporters who are hoping De Zerbi can make them not just more solid, but also a team that’s easier on the eye.

Aged, 25, Van Hecke is one of the best defenders outside of the division’s classic ‘big six’ sides. Standing at 6 foot 2, he’s a real unit, ranking among the top 14% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won per 90 with 3.08. Senesi, conversely, wins 2.49 per 90.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Senesi is slightly more slender than Van Hecke and he’s less aggressive too when it comes to his defensive duties. That said, he’s simply incredible at bringing the ball out from the back.

That should not be the first priority when it comes to signing centre-backs this summer. First and foremost, Spurs need to get better defensively.

Yet, they also need to fit De Zerbi’s style of play and the two defenders in question here certainly do. So, who’s better? Well, perhaps it’s the 29-year-old Senesi.

Playing for a Bournemouth team that played at breakneck speed under Andoni Iraola, the Cherries were repeatedly punching above their weight. Senesi played a hugely important part in that.

Compared to Van Hecke, he’s four years older so knows his game better and that is seen in the stats.

Indeed, besides aerial duels and progressive carries, the Dutchman lags behind a bit compared to the South American. The Argentine is just remarkbly good when it comes to passing out from the back, ranking among the best 1% of centre-backs in Europe for progressive passing.

Furthermore, he makes an incredible number of ball recoveries and is among one of the top blockers of a ball in Europe (best 3%).

Combine Senesi’s passing ability with Van Hecke’s carrying ability and you have a match made in heaven. As a combination they could be a dream together but as the elder statesmen, it would fall to Senesi to become Tottenham’s new leader in defence.