Spurs must be selling a star of 20 million pounds sterling which can be “as effective as Declan Rice”

Tottenham Hotspur was forced to settle for a point on the Amex on Saturday when they were held in a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank’s team had beaten West Ham United and Villarreal in their last two games without conceding a goal, but they could not add to these victories with a third successive victory.

A late goal from Jan Paul Van Hecke made sure that the Lilywhites did not move away from the match without showing anything for their efforts.

Although it is a fairly disappointing result, because they were almost beaten and only picked up one point, there have been positive performance on the ground.

A player who drew attention with his exhibition in the middle of the park was the summer signature Joao Palhinha, who started in position number six for the Spurs.

It was his fourth start of the Premier League season since his signature by Bayern Munich, and it is already clear what type of player the club brought.

Why Joao Palhinha is not the perfect player for spurs

Palhinha is a defensive midfielder outside. If you were told to list the attributes you would like in a pure defensive midfielder, he has them all.

International Portugal is large, mobile, strong, wins well, is fighting well, participates in the air and covers the gaps in the midfield. All the things you associate with a midfielder with a defensive spirit.

So far this season, by Sofascore, Palhinha has an average of 4.2 plated and interceptions per game and won 65% of its duels on the ground and 54% of its air duels in the Premier League, which is proof of its defensive force in the middle of the park.

However, despite putting yourself on the match sheet against Manchester City, the former Fulham star leaves something to be desired with his use of the ball.

The best types number six in world football are not pure defensive fields, because they should dictate the game and have an impact in possession as part of a team that wants to win the greatest prices.

As you can see in the table above, Palhinha is very short as a progressive passer compared to some of the best defensive or depth fields, whether they play as a number six or an eight number, across Europe.

This does not mean that the international of Portugal is a bad player, in a way, but his lack of progressive play in possession may be the reason why Bayern was ready to send him on loan.

Palhinha may not be the perfect player, therefore, to deploy in matches when the spurs should be the dominant force and must decompose the teams, but can be ideal in the biggest games, as against Manchester City, when they need defense.

The Spurs had once a promising young player, who had the potential to be a defensive monster like Palhinha, but with the progressive passage to make him the own version of the Declan Rice club.

Given what has happened to him in recent years, it may seem ridiculous to suggest, but Oliver Skipp could have been the own rice of Tottenham in different circumstances.

Why spurs can sell Oliver Skipp

The English number six rose by the ranks of young people to the Spurs and made a handful of appearances for the first team before lending himself to Norwich City during the 2020/21 campaign.

Skipp has played 45 of the 46 Norwich championship matches this season, by Sofascore, and played a central role in its Premier League promotion, winning the title in the process.

As you can see in the table above, England U21 International has provided quality both as a progressive smuggler and a carrier, while excellanting defensively with its ability to make plated and blocks in its own.

After this season with the Canaries, the former Spurs striker Paul Stewart said he could be as effective as Rice, who was in West Ham United at the time and well above Palhinha in the previous table for progressive passes for Arsenal last season.

The expert said: “You know what, I would like to see him do what Declan Rice does. I think he has that in him and I think he has shown it to Norwich. The applause that came out of East Anglia were massive about Oliver Skipp. I think he can continue and be as effective as Declan Rice at West Ham.”

Unfortunately, Skipp only started 37 Premier League matches in the next three combined seasons, fewer league departures he did not succeed in a season with Norwich, which meant that the midfielder could not really hit his stride in northern London.

Angel Postcoglou chose to separate from the English midfielder in the summer of 2024, the selling to Leicester City, and this is a decision that they should regret.

Skipp failed to impress with the foxes, having been thrown in a season which ended with his relegated club of the Premier League, but things could have been so different for him.

Everything is hypothetical now, but what happens if the defensive midfielder had received a real series of games to show what he could do after his return from this superb loan with Norwich? Perhaps it would have become the own version of the club of Rice by the club in position number six, as a player who could progress the game and disturb it.

Instead of taking advantage of him, the Spurs could have given him a chance to nail a place on the side and recover his confidence. Now playing in the championship, it seems that his career is heading in the wrong direction.