Tottenham Hotspur have struggled in the recent past to consistently put together a great pair of full-backs. Danny Rose and Ben Davies have impressed recently. But, the club needs more quality in those positions for contending in the top tier. In comes 18-year-old left-back Dennis Cirkin.
The Tottenham Academy graduate has recently been under the supervision of head-coach Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager is all excited about Cirkin. He believes that the full-back could save Spurs almost £30 million in the transfer market.
Amidst these praises of Mourinho and claims made by him, today we take a look at an in-depth tactical analysis of Cirkin.
Dennis Cirkin: Tottenham’s 18-year-old Defender who has Caught Mourinho’s eye
Position & Compatibility in the Squad
Cirkin is a left-back and his versatile nature enables him to play as a full-back or a wing-back as the situation demands. He has got tough competition in the senior squad. There is Ben Davies who has cemented his position as the first-choice left-back.
Spurs also have Ryan Sessegnon who can literally play in any role on the left flank.
Considering Davies’ complacency and Sessegnon’s inconsistency, if Mourinho gives Cirkin the nod in the Premier League in the future, he has a great opportunity to make a permanent place in it.
Strengths & Weaknesses
The 18-year-old defender impressed most in his games against Olympiacos (UEFA Youth Champions League) and against Southampton Under-18s. He shows signs of great technical ability.
Offensively, he is a great crosser of the ball. Sometimes, he also loses his marker to find himself in a scoring position. Cirkin has scored two goals for the Tottenham Under-18 squad this season.
There are no apparent weaknesses as such due to lack of game time. But, the fact that Cirkin has not been tested a lot defensively might bring across some problems in the future.
Scout Verdict on Dennis Cirkin
With London rivals Chelsea deploying Academy talents in their first-team setup, it is high time that Tottenham also look to do the same. This is purely based on the fact that Spurs have some really good talent in their youth setup.
While Cirkin found himself on the bench against Middlesbrough earlier this season which raised some eyebrows, it will be great to see the player develop through Cup fixtures and some extra time minutes in the coming months.
It is a rare occasion hen Jose Mourinho praises a youngster. So, Dennis Cirkin surely must be something. It is high time the club produces a talent that causes some positive headlines across England.
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