Should Tottenham bring veteran Serbian ace back to the Premier League? – Opinion

If we are to start with considering the quality that the former Fulham ace possesses, he is more of a player that you can call a bit orthodox in how he goes about things in front of goal. Mitrovic is strong when it comes to duels and is also aggressive with his aerial prowess, and most importantly, he is comfortable with his back to the goal. And when you consider how Ange Postecoglou likes to play, he does suit a part of the system but not all of it.

He is someone who can play a rotational role or maybe become a late-game option in a 4-2-3-1 at Hotspur Way under Ange Postecoglou. The Australian head coach can especially use him in games where Spurs are struggling to get the better of deep (or compact) blocks.

If we are thinking Europe or games that are going to have high physical duels (like against Arsenal), Mitrovic could be considered to play as a focal point and end up freeing runners around like Son, Maddison, and Kulusevski to work it off of him.

The thing you need to remember is that Mitrovic will not invert like a false nine or drop into midfield like Harry Kane, but he doesn’t need to given how he brings verticality, presence, and disruption to the side.

Strengths

One thing that the 30-year-old is extremely good at is his elite aerial abilities. Given how Tottenham have struggled aerially a lot in the last campaigns, having Mitrovic straight away enables that aerial prowess of the side, given how he is a threat from the corners and free-kicks. Moreover, he is also someone that will bring a lot of Premier League experience, which can be quite important, especially given how the North Londoners currently have a really young squad.

Weaknesses

He is thirty, and that age profile is the one that Daniel Levy has not been looking at lately, given how the 63-year-old has been looking to create a young side with high potential. And given his age, he will only have a short-term upside.

Does Mitrovic risk attain needed rewards at Hotspur Way?

Let’s get one thing straight: Mitrovic is not someone you think about building your system around, but he is instead a player that you turn to when your system is not working, and Tottenham have lacked such a player in the squad recently. We saw in that Europa League final (and a few other games along the last season) how the North Londoners need a player that adds a different flavour up top when Plan A is not coming through, and Mitrovic brings that difference, and he does so with a proven Premier League record. But he does not bring a long-term upside to the roster, which makes it interesting from the outside whether the North Londoners would push on securing his signatures…