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The current transfer window looks like it could be a busy one for Tottenham Hotspur; Jose Mourinho’s side have already brought in Portuguese midfielder Gedson Fernandes, while playmaker Christian Eriksen has finally departed for Inter Milan after a lot of protracted negotiations. Before Friday’s transfer deadline, though, more deals may be done – and two of the players that are heavily rumoured to be finding their way to North London are wide forward Steven Bergwijn of PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan’s Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek.
With the addition of those two players – and without Harry Kane, who is injured for the foreseeable future – how could Mourinho’s side line up? Potentially, in one of these four ways.
#1: 4-2-3-1
A 4-2-3-1 formation is one that Jose Mourinho has used with Tottenham in the past, with two deeper-lying midfielders sitting behind a four-man attack, with two wide forwards – in the past, Son Heung Min and Lucas Moura - complimenting Dele Alli as a support striker to a central forward, usually Harry Kane.
In this line-up, we’d see both new signings unleashed in their favoured positions. With Kane out until the late spring, Krzysztof Piatek would slot directly into his spot as the main striker and the focal point of the team’s attack, while Steven Bergwijn could fit directly into his favoured position as a left-sided wide forward.
In the current Tottenham line-up, Son has usually started matches from the left – but both he and Bergwijn could fill either role, meaning they could switch positions during a game in order to make things even harder for their opponents.
In terms of the deeper midfielders, in this line-up we’ve got Harry Winks – playing the passing metronome – and Giovani Lo Celso as a playmaker, but Mourinho could easily take out either man and put in either Gedson Fernandes or Tanguy Ndombele instead.
#2: 3-4-3
Mourinho has looked at using a three-man defence while utilising wing-backs since arriving at Tottenham in November, and this system would allow both of his new signings to thrive while providing Spurs with more width across the middle. In this formation, Ryan Sessegnon would step in at left wing-back.
The middle of the park would be patrolled by Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks, giving Spurs a lot of bite alongside the ability to move the ball accurately forward. Mourinho could also go with the likes of Eric Dier, Gedson Fernandes or, when fit, Moussa Sissoko here too.
With a front trio of Son Heung Min, Steven Bergwijn and Krzysztof Piatek, Tottenham certainly wouldn’t be short on goal threats; Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura could also deputise for either wide man.
The area in which this side is lacking would be in creativity, but the hope would be that the wing-backs would provide this by charging forward on swashbuckling runs. If Mourinho’s side were struggling to pick an opposing defence open, either Giovani Lo Celso or Dele Alli could be introduced from the bench.
#3: 4-3-3
In this 4-3-3 line-up, Mourinho’s defence would remain largely the same as it has been since his arrival – with both Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez able to deputise for any one of Ben Davies, Jan Vertonghen or Serge Aurier.
The midfield could compromise Gedson Fernandes, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, a combination that would hopefully allow Spurs to demonstrate a tough centre, but with enough ball-carrying, passing and creative skills to feed the front three.
Our attacking trio in this system could consist of Krzysztof Piatek as the frontman, with Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura attacking from wide areas. Son Heung Min could easily step into either of the wide slots, while Mourinho could also bring Dele Alli in for any of his midfield trio in order to instil more of an attacking threat.
#4: 4-1-3-2
This ultra-attacking system would see Tottenham make use of their most defensive midfielder – Eric Dier – as a screen for a 4-man defence, although Jose Mourinho could easily use the passing skills of Harry Winks or the driving style of Tanguy Ndombele in the slot, too.
Going forward, Son Heung Min and Lucas Moura would play as wide attackers – almost traditional wingers – while Dele Alli would play in a somewhat deeper role, looking to make late runs into the box in order to provide Spurs with an extra attacking threat. In matches against more defensive sides, the creative skills of Giovani Lo Celso could instead be deployed here.
Steven Bergwijn meanwhile has played in a more central role for PSV Eindhoven in the past, and while he isn’t a traditional striker per say, he could certainly play off a target-man – with Harry Kane injured, Krzysztof Piatek – as a secondary striker to look to find opportunities on goal.
Another option could of course see Alli shift forward into Bergwijn’s role as the secondary striker – with the Dutchman then either heading to the bench, or into one of the wider roles occupied by Son and Lucas.
