Is this La Liga winner the “special” player Hoddle wants Spurs to buy?
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Mauricio Pochettino is Tottenham’s third manager in a year, yet the side hasn’t managed to take many steps closer towards being a top-four contender.
Perhaps the Argentine is well aware that a squad overhaul is needed in order to achieve his playing philosophy, but there are no shortage of experts advising him of the case nonetheless.
The latest is Glenn Hoddle, who claims Spurs need “a special player” in order to realise their 19/2-rated Champions League dreams next term.
What Hoddle falls short on though, is pinpointing any men that may fall into that “special” bracket, so we’ve done his job for him with the below recommendations:
Koke – Atletico Madrid
According to the former Spurs great: “There is a lack of world class strikers and midfield players which control the game, express themselves and that is what I think they miss.”
All three of our picks could transform the Lilywhites’ lack of creativity in midfield and Koke is the leading light of the trio.
A La Liga winner at the tender age of 22, the Spaniard registered 13 assists in league competition last season and already has eight through 14 appearances this term.
Joao Moutinho – AS Monaco
Spurs had a deal in place to sign the Portuguese string-puller in 2012, only for it to collapse at the last minute.
Moutinho since joined the riches at Monaco, whose free-spending ways have now folded, resulting in the midfielder being the only big-money acquisition left in the squad.
A return for the 28-year-old’s services could be more successful for the north Londoners this time around.
Kevin de Bruyne – Wolfsburg
Having only just signed for the German side from Chelsea in the summer, the Belgian is unlikely to make a swift return to Premier League action, although his performances hint he could make a better fist of it should he get a second attempt.
Only Cesc Fabregas has more assists in league games than De Bruyne in the top European leagues and his 3.8 key passes per game indicates he has the ability to control games as Hoddle requests.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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