Tottenham Hotspur and the £70m Igor Thiago question this January | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago for around £70m, but whether it makes sporting sense is far from clear.

ESPN Brasil reported that Spurs and Aston Villa had asked about Thiago and that Brentford would seek about £70m, with the Bees not keen to sell but braced for offers.

Spurs do have money to spend and PSR headroom, yet their inconsistent form and muddled attacking play underline the need to buy wisely. Dominic Solanke has injuries, Randal Kolo Muani has shown only flashes since signing from PSG and Richarlison may depart.

Thiago’s start has been prolific, with 11 league goals, but five were penalties and he has missed one. From open play he has six from 4.0xG, better than at Club Brugge, though some finishes carried fortune, such as the spinning effort against West Ham and a deflection versus Burnley. Over time, such overperformance can regress.

His strengths lie in arriving in prime areas rather than technique. He missed most of his debut season through injury and is not yet a proven 20-goal-a-season forward. Passing and link-up are below par, he has no assists, and his dribbling output is low, with only two players with at least 10 appearances completing fewer carries, one being Erling Haaland.

Thiago needs service, staying central rather than dropping off or working wide. Thomas Frank’s Spurs have alternated between a fixed No 9, which could suit him, and a deeper forward, which likely would not. Financially plausible or not, a mid-season sale by Brentford feels unlikely, and there is little corroboration that a Spurs bid is imminent.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk