Should Tottenham spend £35m for Chelsea youngster despite his undoubted talent – Opinion

Despite his limited minutes with the first team, Acheampong has already been highly rated by those at Stamford Bridge, especially given that he is quite apt in modern tactical systems that require in-game shape-shifting. He also has that composure with the ball at his feet and possesses that strong short-to-mid-range passing accuracy. The 19-year-old also doesn’t rush decisions when facing opponents pressure, which ideally slots into Thomas Frank’s low-block build-up approach. He also possesses those physical and athletic traits that line up to succeed in the English top tier, given that he can recover aggressively as well as put in that pressing shift when needed.

He also has that defensive awareness and has showcased good 1v1 timing in the limited time he has played for the Blues first team. What impressed me the most was his understanding of pressing angles (which could come through quite well when you consider the framework that Thomas Frank likes to implement, especially with his wing-backs or full-backs with angle opening the pass on the inside).

And all this in only just a few minutes playing in the Premier League and without any extended run to build consistency or adaptation to elite levels.

That being said, I still think that he will need to work on his decision-making, especially when it comes to high‑tempo situations.

How can Acheampong fit under Thomas Frank at Tottenham?

Given that Thomas Frank will play within his renowned 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 hybrid systems, Acheampong will be mainly tasked with taking in those right channels. In a 4-3-3, Acheampong can rotate with Porro as an inverted or hybrid full-back on the right when the Lilywhites want building stability.

And then in a 3-5-2 / 3-4-3, you can also use his versatility and slot him in a right-sided centre-back role in narrow diamond structures where he is supporting wing-backs or cushioning against counterattacks.

Strengths

Josh Acheampong is a highly regarded player who has that RB/CB versatility about him, and he can go on to play in a high-ceiling manner in the system that Thomas Frank is expected to deploy at Tottenham. Moreover, this versatility brings in valuable squad flexibility and a sense of composure on the ball which fits seamlessly into the tactical blueprint of the Danish head coach.

And he is regarded as a top prospect at N17, reportedly attracting attention from elite clubs, and his ability to cover multiple positions suits a rotation-heavy setup.

Weaknesses

That being said, the lack of senior minutes and experience in the English top tier will raise questions about whether he is ready to play in abundance given the physical and mental demands in the Premier League, and while his potential is undeniable, the significant upfront investment without guaranteed performances makes this transfer a very high-risk one for me, especially given that he is someone who is yet to establish himself.

Author Opinion: Acheampong at this fee is highly risky…

There is no denying that Josh Acheampong is a technically gifted player and has that tactical capacity about him. He also has those attributes to seamlessly fit into the structure that Thomas Frank wants to implement at Tottenham. However, that being said, Tottenham need to negotiate smartly given that a £35m fixed fee is premature and has a high possibility to backfire. Instead, I think that Levy can propose structured payments which are directly tied to performance that will help the Lilywhites mitigate the risk and align with the long-term squad philosophy that Levy has.