TTLB Opinion: Tottenham should be looking at £50m Premier League star who can replace James Maddison

So Ramsey is more of a dynamic profile that suits Angeball. He is somebody that is press resistant when it comes to driving with the ball and is apt at making those third man runs into the box. The Aston Villa man is also good at playing those quick combination passes into tight spaces. Given his physical profile and agility, he is quite suited to transition from a defensive setup into offensive sequences quite quickly, making him an ideal fit into the system that Postecoglou has deployed at Tottenham (particularly when we are speaking about that 2-3-5 offensive setup).

Despite his budding age (23), he has already logged over a hundred appearances donning Villa colours and has shown consistent improvements. Now if he were to come under Ange, the Australian head coach can coach Jacob into a more interior midfielder, which will add a sense of attacking threat to his game while bringing some positional discipline.

Moreover, we know Levy and how he loves to capitalise on market opportunities. The fact that Villa needs to sell, the club chairman will be in it. And unlike quite a few other Tottenham targets, Jacob has proven his credentials in the Premier League, making him more ready to adapt and compete from day one at Hotspur Way.

How can he replace James Maddison at N17?

If we are talking about comparing Jacob to the former Foxes midfielder in the Lilywhites ranks, then let’s start with some basics: positioning. While Maddison is more effective and efficient when you throw him in the central zones, Ramsey is quite flexible to play in the wide left, central, or advanced number eight role.

Maddison has that ability to advance the ball with the ball at his feet, but he is not as explosive and dynamic when it comes to breaking the solo lines as Ramsey. James is more of an elite creator and a threat from set pieces, while Ramsey is someone that runs into space and arrives late into the box inside.

If we are talking about the defensive side of their games, the Lilywhites supporters have showcased frustrations with Maddison now and then for his defensive work rate. But here, Ramsey brings more of a high-pressing solution given how Ange can use him as a trigger presser.

See, Jacob Ramsey is not a Maddison replacement when it comes to the creative side of the game, but he does bring a sense of a more dynamic, box-to-box threat. And in games where the Foxes midfielder is nullified on the creative side of things, Ramsey has that ability to create solutions by carrying the ball into channels and becoming an option in wide channels (making an overload). And then pressing from the front in case the North Londoners lose the ball.

Author Opinion

If you ask me, Jacob Ramsey is the kind of transfer that Levy has too frequently allowed to fall through (like Conor Gallagher last summer). He is not only Premier League proven but also brings a sense of physical and tactical balance to the system at N17. And while he does not have Maddison’s vision or set-piece ability, he does bring a vertical, box-to-box element that the current roster has lacked (especially in those fixtures where opponents have snuffed out the creativity with their compact blocks).

Moreover, Ramsey can also help defensively, as well as go forward, which makes him ideal to play alongside Bentancur or Sarr in that left interior role.