- Exclusive by Graeme Bailey
The January transfer window is edging ever closer and Tottenham Hotspur will have the opportunity to strengthen their ranks soon.
In terms of the big picture, it’s clear what Ange Postecoglou is trying to do, but Spurs’ strength in depth is not quite there with regards to his tactical demands.
Midfield is an area where Tottenham could potentially bring in new recruits, with Postecoglou yet to make up his mind on his strongest trio in the middle of the park.
In addition, James Maddison’s N17 future is becoming increasingly uncertain in wake of him slipping down the pecking order at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Now, according to The Spurs News sources, Tottenham are monitoring a 22-year-old Champions League midfielder who has been likened to Paul Pogba.
READ MORE: One of the best youngsters in world football could now join Tottenham earlier than expected
Tottenham set sights on PSV Eindhoven’s Malik Tillman
The Spurs News understands that Tottenham have taken a keen interest in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Malik Tillman.
Spurs are keenly monitoring the United States international’s progress, having previously picked up on his potential during his spell at Rangers.
Sources say that Tillman is a fascinating player who a lot of Premier League clubs – including Aston Villa – are following closely after spotting him at Ibrox.
Tottenham are currently looking for extra creativity and a spark in midfield and Tillman ticks those boxes.
The 22-year-old can play all over midfield and attack and has been in brilliant form his season.
Bayern Munich, who sold Tillman to PSV for around £10million last summer, have a £29million buy-back clause on the player until 2026.
And while this is seen as ‘the only issue’ with regards to Tottenham’s interest in Tillman, ‘we are not too near that stage yet’.
Tottenham are also looking at goalkeeping additions, with Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier firmly on the Spurs radar.
Who is Tottenham target Malik Tillman?
Born in Nuremberg, Tillman was part of the youth squad at Greuther Furth before joining Bayern Munich’s academy setup.
The 6ft 2in talent rose through the ranks and made four appearances for Bayern, which earned him a Bundesliga winner’s medal in 2022.
Tillman also took in successful loan spells at Rangers and PSV while on the Bundesliga giants’ books.
And though Bayern sold Tillman to PSV a few months ago, the fact they retain a buy-back clause shows that they are very optimistic about his future in the game.
The Bundesliga website compared the Tottenham target to Paul Pogba, noting that the player himself also made this comparison.
“When I play as a No.8 or No.10, my playing style is similar to Paul Pogba’s,” they quote Tillman as saying. “I like him a lot. I really like how he plays. He’s something of a role model for me.”
Meanwhile, Germany Under-17 coach Michael Feichtenbeiner is quoted as saying in 2019: “In general, he’s very good on the ball.
“He can create combinations, chances. He can also score. He’s a good midfielder, a No.8 for us, who can work defensively. But he’s better in attack. He has very good skills to spot the other players.”
Meanwhile, Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig likened Tillman to Liverpool icon Roberto Firmino a few years ago.
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