Arthur Melo has been linked with a move to Tottenham (Getty Images)
According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Daily Mail), Tottenham have joined the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo ahead of the summer transfer window.
Melo, 23, came through the ranks of Gremio’s youth system in his homeland and impressed with the club’s senior set-up for one and a half years. He was later signed by Ernesto Valverde for Barcelona in the summer of 2018. Since then, he has been a regular member of the first-team.
Except for the time he has been injured, Arthur has been a consistent player and has already won the La Liga title with the Catalans last season. His eye-catching displays have also attracted the attention of Inter Milan, as per the report.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have been on the decline since their Champions League finals defeat to Liverpool last season. They look ]nowhere near their best and are struggling to make it into the top six this term.
Jose Mourinho’s arrival brought optimism into the squad but that faded away after a few weeks. They got off to a good start under the Portuguese but have failed to carry the momentum forward. They are currently 8th in the league standings behind Sheffield United and are at risk of losing out on the Europa League spot.
Apart from their defensive errors and the lack of quality options up front, the midfield unit has also struggled to make an impression. Spurs have a plethora of midfielders in Moussa Sissoko, Giovani Lo Celso, Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and on-loan midfielder Gedson Fernandes.
Summer signing Ndombele has failed to live up to the expectations and could be on the move to La Liga with Barcelona interested in him. Argentine playmaker Lo Celso has impressed in bits, but has lacked consistency. Winks, on the other hand, has largely been used as a defensive midfielder.
Thus, Mourinho should bring in midfielders who are in form to bolster their options in the middle of the park. In that regard, Barcelona’s Arthur would be a suitable option.
Arthur has been in sensational form for the past two seasons and has also contributed with 4 goals and 4 assists this term. His inclusion to the squad would definitely bring in a healthy competition. Moreover, given his recent form, he can get into the manager’s starting XI with ease.
At 23, the Brazilian has a huge future ahead and would definitely add quality to Spurs’ midfield. Having proven his worth and value at Barcelona, Arthur has the potential to become a crucial player for Tottenham. Thus, they should make Arthur a priority target when the transfer window opens.
