Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Barcelona’s Arthur. Mundo Deportivo report that Spurs are competing with other suitors, including Inter Milan.
REPORT: Tottenham Hotspur Interest in Barcelona’s Arthur Melo
A Potential, Yet Unlikely Move
As per Mundo Deportivo, there could be a swap deal involved for Arthur. They highlight Tanguy Ndombele as a potential choice here. This would partly make sense since Ndombele has yet to really fit in at Spurs. But, the record signing will surely get another chance under Mourinho; the manager has challenged him many times to prove his worth.
A sticking point is that the player may not want to move. His contract runs until 2024. Furthermore, he has recently stated his intention to carry on at Barcelona. He said: “L’Inter? È un onore, mi piace. Però col Barça non è finita.” This roughly translates to the player feeling honoured by the potential interest from Inter, however, he hasn’t finished his career with Barca yet (La Gazzetta dello Sport).
Comparisons to Xavi
Xavier Munoz and Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo rate Arthur highly; they have even compared Arthur to Xavi. They note that even Xavi commended Arthur’s ability. Indeed, they go on to highlight his ball control skills and technical ability. Yet, his ability to be decisive in the final third is yet to really develop.
A technical midfielder of this kind of calibre would fit in well. Spurs already have the likes of Giovani Lo Celso. Harry Winks is another player that has been compared to a Xavi like player. Thus, Arthur would complement the squad. However, the notion that he isn’t so effective in the final third may limit his value. At Tottenham, though, he may get the chance to have a more important role in the team. Thus, he would be able to execute those killer passes and notch a few goals.
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