Jacob Ramsey vs Mohammed Kudus: Who fits Tottenham better under Thomas Frank?

When we are deliberating about the Ajax academy graduate, in a lot of ways he does seem like someone who has the capacity to play the Bryan Mbeumo-style wide forward role under Thomas Frank at Tottenham, especially if the Dane head coach is to slot him in a front two with Solanke or rotating in as a #10. The West Ham ace can end up being ideal if Frank deploys a system that he is expected to at N17 (more counter-attacking and transition-heavy framework).

The Ghanaian showcased his ability with dribbles in the English top tiers in the past couple of seasons with the Hammers, especially given how he is press-resistant when it comes to tight spaces and has that explosive ball-carrying ability in transitional situations. Given his versatility, you can slot him on either flank as well as in a central role in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 hybrid. But while Frank likes to play structurally, Kudus doesn’t always give you structure; he is someone who thrives in chaos.

Then moving towards his Villa Park counterpart…

Jacob Ramsey

While Jacob Ramsey can play on that left flank, he is more of an inverted profile and can fit in seamlessly in Thomas Frank’s midfield trio (particularly when slotting in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 lineup), which gives you that perfect balance between pressing intensity and a vertical way of football whilst keeping the structure that the Dane wants to deploy. So whilst Ramsey will end up being less explosive than Kudus, he will be a more system-friendly option that gives you positional discipline.

And as we have seen in his time under Unai Emery, Jacob is a strong ball carrier through central zones and has that smart off-the-ball capacity (especially in the left half-space). Moreover, given that he will fit into the homegrown quota, it’s a major factor in terms of squad balance that the chiefs at Hotspur Way would be thinking around.

That being said, he has had his injury concerns. Almost every time he started being a regular at Villa, some or other injury restricted his minutes. Another thing is that he is not as consistent a goal scorer or provider like Kudus just yet; Frank will have to hone this if Levy brings Ramsey to Tottenham.

Author Opinion: I think Ramsey is the smarter fit, but Kudus has that bigger swing…

If Thomas Frank is looking to bring in more control whilst keeping his structure and having more chemistry within the sequences, then Jacob Ramsey is an ideal low-risk signing who has that neatness about him to fit into the Dane head coach’s midfield. The Villa ace had that capacity to break lines with runs and control space in a mid-block fit for the system that Frank is expected to deploy at Tottenham.

But then if Frank wants chaos, the . Kudus is definitely the man to go with, given that he gives you that dynamism in the final third, and while he needs more tactical moulding, he is definitely more explosive.