Postecoglou plotting Spurs move for £28m “mountain”, he’d be Absolutely perfect for Van de Ven – opinion

After acquiring Micky Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, Tottenham Hotspur may be about to boost their center-back lineup even more, according to rumours that the Lilywhites are also interested in Perr Schuurs, a fellow Dutchman.

What’s new with Schuurs moving to Tottenham?

The north Londoners could seek to the Torino ace to assist provide further depth and quality at the heart of the defense, according to The Times, after sealing a £34.5 million deal for Van de Ven on Tuesday, provided that the club is able to move on their ‘unwanted’ figures at that position.

According to the article, the Serie A club wants to sell the 23-year-old this summer and is seeking a cost of around £28 million, with’several Premier League clubs’ reportedly also showing interest in the former Ajax player.

With regard to who could be moved on to help supplement a deal for the 6 foot 3 ace, the report adds that Joe Rodon looks set to be on his way to Leeds United on loan, while Daniel Levy has seemingly been ‘trying to sell’ both Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

Even though a backup team may have faced Barcelona on Tuesday night, the eventual 4-2 loss to the La Liga giants will have further demonstrated the need for reinforcements in the center of defense, with Eric Dier appearing particularly’shaky,’ according to Alasdair Gold of football.london.

There is a “potential” that the recent signing of Van de Ven would be followed by the acquisition of another center-back before the transfer window shuts, as manager Ange Postecoglou himself acknowledged following that defeat in Catalonia. This would undoubtedly be done in an effort to strengthen a defense that allowed 63 league goals last season.

The signing of Schuurs – who has been dubbed a “mountain” at the back by journalist Josh Bunting – could be a dream option as far as Postecoglou is concerned, having caught the eye as a result of his standout form in Italy in recent times.

According to Gary Jacob of The Times, the former Netherlands U21 international has typically played as a left-back center-back, but the natural right-footer could pair up with the left-footed Van de Ven in the center of defense, potentially serving as the ideal partner for his fellow countryman.

Due to the 22-year-old’s “extreme speed”—as Wolfsburg’s managing director, Marcel Schäfer, put it—Postecoglou has discovered a rare gem in Van de Ven. The former Volendam player is also a true master at playing out from the back, ranking in the top 12% among his European peers for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

While also no slouch himself on the ball – as he ranks in the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90 – Schuurs could perhaps provide a more defensive-minded asset for the Lilywhites, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 20% for tackles made per 90, a greater record than that of the 6 foot 4 speedster (bottom 38%).

The Torino machine also averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game in Italy’s top division last season, which was again a better mark than Van de Ven attained in the Bundesliga (2.2 tackles and interceptions per game). This is more evidence of the Torino machine’s ball-winning skill.

That would imply that, while the latter player can provide a cool head on the ball in addition to his amazing recovery pace, Schuurs can be the defensive “mountain” to support Tottenham’s porous backline.

Such a combination could well prove fruitful indeed…