The thought process behind Tottenham's move for Dejan Kulusevski

 

It's safe to assume that Dejan Kulusevski's Juventus career has been more miss than hit. After breaking onto the scene with Parma, scoring 10 goals and providing a further eight assists in 2019/20, the Old Lady spent big to secure his services from Atalanta in January 2020. He was named Serie A's Best Young Player at the end of his sole campaign with Parma with the Italian giants allowing the attacker to remain with the Crociati on loan.

 

Yet with Juventus, the young Swede has struggled. He started just 19 times last season and hasn't fully won over Max Allegri, with just five of his 20 league outings coming from the outset. The most recent of those came in their 2-0 win over Udinese earlier this month - Kulusevski was subbed off at half time. 

 

A fresh start is needed for the attacker who has picked up more yellow cards (8) than he has scored goals (5) or registered assists (6) during his time with Juventus. Could that come at Tottenham? The January transfer window has been, well, 'Spursy' for Spurs. In the space of 24 hours, they missed out on Adama Traore and Luis Diaz to Barcelona and Liverpool, respectively, and it seems that, ahead of Monday's deadline, they are keen on securing the services of another player to play out wide or up front. 

 

 

Juventus' big money acquisition of Dusan Vlahovic from rivals Fiorentina means they need to cash in on sellable assets to balance the books and while Spurs' deal for Kulusevski is a loan with an option or obligation to buy, as per the Athletic, the Serie A side will hope to shift the 21-year-old to make way for the powerhouse Serbian hitman. 

 

Sporting director Fabio Paratici is a huge fan of Kulusevski having signed him for Juventus in the first place, and Spurs fans will be hoping Conte boasts a similar admiration for the Sweden international. A key reason for that would be Kulusevski's versatility. During his time with Parma and Juventus, he has started in a fair few roles, including on the right or left flank, up front in a strike partnership, in the number 10 role or even in a box-to-box role. 

 

The latter would perhaps be of particular importance for Conte. Spurs are in need of a player to advance the play from midfield, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp, Conte's favoured central pairing, lacking the vision and dribbling qualities to get the ball into attack from midfield with great regularlity.

 

Kulusevski is perhaps better suited out wide, but a return of 2.1 successful dribbles per 90 in Serie A this season is a solid return. He isn't afraid to get the ball down and run at opponents to help set Juventus on the front foot, with this quality perhaps the best weapon in his arsenal, and could be an asset in the middle of the park. On top of that, despite a return of just one goal and three assists, a commendable return when you take into account he has registered just 762 minutes of league action, the Swede is a player capable of picking out a teammate where needed. 

 

1.2 key passes per 90 may not seem like much, but in his full season at Parma and first full campaign with Juventus, Kulusevski was chipping in with 2.4 key passes per 90. A lack of game time and confidence shown in him by Allegri has certainly affected his output, yet his previous campaigns in Italy highlight how effective an attacking outlet he can be when given a decent run of game time. 

 

However, and this may ultimately be the selling point for Conte, is that Kulusevski is willing to get stuck in for the good of the team. A return of 1.8 tackles per 90 this season is his highest since the start of 2019/20 and this quality would certainly sit well with the Italian. Whether Conte has plans for Kulusevski to play in attack, in midfield or to mould the Swede as a right wing-back, it remains to be seen, but he is a hard working individual who is prepared to operate in a number of positions no matter where the manager asks him to play. 

 

Some fans may feel a move for Kulusevski smacks of desperation as the north London side scramble to add new faces to the squad ahead of Monday's deadline, but Kulusevski remains one of the most highly rated forwards on the continent. A lack of regular action for Juventus has seen him drop off the radar somewhat, however he would prove a hugely effective arrival provided Paratici and Spurs can pull this one off by the time the clock strikes 11pm on January 31st.

The thought process behind Tottenham's move for Dejan Kulusevski