Why Spurs should beat Arsenal to sign Pablo Fornals next summer
According to the Express, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are set to go head to head in transfer tug of war over Villarreal playmaker Pablo Fornals, with Serie A giants Napoli also linked with the Spaniard.
The same report claims that Gunners boss Unai Emery is keen on bringing Fornals to the Premier League in the summer as a like-for-like replacement for Aaron Ramsey. However, with Arsenal likely to work with a tight transfer budget in the summer, they would need to get Mesut Ozil off their books as the German’s huge wages are proving to be a crippling factor for the Gunners in the transfer window.
Tottenham are also genuinely interested in the Villarreal star, with the Lilywhites yet to find a suitable replacement for Mousa Dembele who departed for China in January. Mauricio Pochettino has preferred a midfield diamond in the Premier League this season and Spurs need more depth and quality in their midfield options to challenge for silverware next term.
Meanwhile, Fornals has caught the eye with his consistently impressive performances for Villarreal since his move from Malaga in 2017. The 22-year-old has accumulated a total of 8 goals and 18 assists from 85 appearances for the La Liga outfit in all competitions. The twice-capped Spanish international has also been in red-hot form in the Europa League this term, scoring thrice and setting up another three in the process.
Fornals has earned rave reviews for his technical abilities and versatility as a creative force in the middle of the park. He is capable of playing both No.8 and No.10 roles in the midfield, with his passing, tactical intelligence, creativity and vision combined with his hardworking and industrious nature making him a good fit for either position. Blessed with a sound technique and a good range of passing, Fornals not only excels with his work-rate but he also has the ability to dictate the tempo of the game and switch the play with accurate passes.
Known for his creativity and vision, Fornals likes to drive forward with pace and pull the strings, whilst also having the presence of mind to exploit the half spaces in the final third. Furthermore, he has the awareness to track back and help his teammates cut out the attacks with crucial interceptions.
To put things into perspective, Fornals would be a wonderful fit for both Arsenal and Spurs but the Lilywhites should look to beat their bitter rivals and have the final say in this transfer saga. Tottenham were challenging for the title earlier in the season but defeats against Chelsea and Southampton in recent weeks have left them vying for a top-four finish. And lack of depth in their reserves has been the major cause of their undoing over the course of the last three seasons.
With his versatility to play multiple roles in the midfield, the Spaniard would not only provide cover and competition for Dele Alli but his presence would also allow Pochettino the luxury of rotating the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Christian Eriksen at the centre of his midfield diamond. Both Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp can play in advanced roles but Fornals, with his sharpness on the ball and knack of creating chances, would be an upgrade on Spurs’ existing options.
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Still only 22, the Spaniard is yet to reach his prime but he has already shown strong signs of excellence at the highest level. Hence, it would be a shrewd move by Pochettino to invest in the rising La Liga star next summer.
