Should Tottenham reignite interest in 27 goal forward as Eze alternative? – Opinion

Lookman is someone who has transformed into a devastating transitional forward given how he thrives on space and has that capacity to drive directly at the defenders. What makes him really good is he is not hesitant at either choosing to shoot or slip a teammate through, which in a way is very much like the type of wide forward that Thomas Frank used at Brentford in Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

But then he is not just your high sprint on the front foot guy, given that he is equally helpful on the defensive side of things. Lookman is someone who has shown capabilities with his pressing abilities, given how he is generally leading that press from the front with intensity, and then he tracks fullbacks deep into their zones and tries to force errors high up the pitch. Now this pressing IQ and stamina will end up elevating the mid-block press that Thomas Frank used to great effect at Brentford, especially when pinning play to one side.

And lastly, he is a versatile profile, given how Lookman is comfortable starting from the wide left, drifting into central spaces, or operating as a second striker, and then Frank encourages this tactical rotation and role-switching in the offensive line, which comes quite in line with this ability of Lookman to adapt and combine.

How would Lookman fit in at Tottenham under Thomas Frank?

If I am thinking about integrating him into the side tactically, he will best fit in at that left wing role (possibly take over from Heung-Min Son, given how the South Korean has been linked with a move away from N17).

And the Dane head coach likes a left-sided attacker that has the ability to cut inside onto his stronger foot, and Lookman fits this mould as he brings these ball-carrying capabilities into the central zones. So then when he is on his trail from the outside to inside, it also opens up this overload potential with full-back overlaps (Destiny Udogie) and link-up play with Maddison from more central zones. Lookman (as he has shown time and again for Atalanta) is also a goal-scoring threat from that zone 14.

If I am thinking about Lookman deployed in a mid-block system, he can become a transitional weapon. Given how you can ask him to play a bit deeper in a 4‑3‑3 out of possession, the Nigerian international can spring into the attack sequences once the ball is won. And given how he has this engine to play in a creator as well as a finisher role, the 27-year-old would thrive off midfielders like Bentancur or Sarr threading balls into space.

Then if you go on and slot him in that right winger role, Lookman would stretch play or cut in and combine. And he can also play as a second striker or shadow 10, where he would support box entries and runs beyond the line.

And lastly, the former Fulham ace who scored 15 goals in Serie A last season allows Frank to switch between a 4-3-3, 3-5-2, or even 4-2-2-2, depending on the opponent and in-game sequences.

Author Opinion

The crowd in England always looked at Ademola Lookman as someone who has a lot of potential with more of a “what if” tag, but he is no longer a what if; the 27-year-old has matured into a tactically versatile player who is always goal-hungry and takes high-efforts, and he will end up thriving in an aggressive, fluid, and transitional system that Thomas Frank is mostly going to implement at Hotspur Way.

And he does replace that directness and unpredictability that Eze was going to bring to the table whilst adding goal output and pressing intelligence. I think he should definitely be under consideration at N17 if the North Londoners fail to secure Eze.