Perfect for Postecoglou: Spurs can win Premier League by repeating Van de Ven trick

Tom Weber

• Updated: 22 Dec 2023 11:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Tottenham are in desperate need of another centre-back.

Over the last week or so, Ange Postecoglou has been publically stressing that Spurs must reinforce their central defence in January. Having allowed Davinson Sanchez to depart for Turkey after the Premier League transfer window closed, the north London club now find themselves shorthanded in that department.

With Micky van de Ven injured, Eric Dier also dealing with fitness issues and Cristian Romero having a proclivity for getting suspended, Daniel Levy must make funds available in the winter to help out Postecoglou.

"We've got to get the right person," the Australian told Sky Sports. "It's not just about bringing another body in, it's about getting the right one in and hopefully that'll happen." The right person could be Jean-Clair Todibo, with whom Spurs have already opened talks, but perhaps there is another player who would be an equally good - or even better - fit.

Kossounou the ideal Spurs player?

Despite all the talk of the dreaded "Bundesliga tax," the signing of Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg proved a stunning success prior to his injury. Spurs should look to repeat the trick by going back to the German top flight in search of their new defender.

Odilon Kossounou could be just the man to solve Postecoglou's defensive issues. The Ivorian has been in absolutely spectacular form for table-topping Bayer Leverkusen this term, playing all across Xabi Alonso's stout back three.

The 22-year-old, already a solid player previously, has found another gear this season and added some rather unexpected skills to his game. Nowadays, he isn't merely a centre-back. Kossounou has, incredibly, become something of a playmaker for Bayer 04.

Because of the stability that Alonso's system offers, the Ivorian has license to go on marauding runs up the pitch and he is relishing this new role. It has allowed him to not only showcase his physical side - being very athletic for a central defender - but also his technical prowess. Comfortable on the ball and with the vision to boot, Kossounou has become something of a creative force for Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old is the textbook definition of a ball-playing centre-back and has the necessary pace to keep up with quick attackers, making him suitable for Postecoglou's risky approach to defending. Data experts SciSports rate Kossounou very highly, believing that the only Leverkusen player with higher potential than the defender is none other than wonderkid Florian Wirtz.

Using SciSports' Career Advice tool, we can see that Kossounou would be an ideal fit for Spurs. SciSports collect hundreds of data points to calculate a Club Fit rating and they assert that only Juventus would be a better option for the Leverkusen man than Spurs, giving the Premier League side a very good score of 81.