When Dejan Kulusevski was slicing through Premier League defences like a katana through room-temperature Lurpack at the start of the season, there appeared to be no limit to what Spurs could achieve under Antonio Conte.
But, since the silky Swede was consigned to the treatment table with a niggling thigh problem, Tottenham have more closely resembled a team trying to carve a well-done steak with one of those plastic knifes you find in the fish and chip shop. Razor-sharp with Kulseveski, insipid without him.
The London giants have averaged 2.5 goals per game in the seven Premier League games in which Kulusevski has featured this season. Without the Juventus loanee, that tally drops to 1.3.
“It’s like we struggle a bit in the final third, to bring the ball into the box, to make the last pass, to create big chances during that type of game,” goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told The Standard following October’s 2-0 defeat to a far-superior Manchester United side.
“We also miss important players that can affect the game, players like Kulusevski. They are offensive players and in that type of game they can create difficulty to the opponent.”
Serie A star Ruslan Malinovskyi can solve Tottenham’s creativity problem
There is no one else in this Spurs squad quite like Kulusevski. While Richarlison is more of a blunt object, Kulusevski is an expert lock picker. Bryan Gil is perhaps the most similar, stylistically-speaking, but the spindly Spaniard is yet to truly earn Conte’s trust.
“His recovery was going well. And then, one day, the situation worsened,” Conte tells Football London; a blow to supporters hoping to see Kulusevski return before the World Cup break, When this happens you have to restart.
“You need time. You need time. We have the medical department to face injury situations and they have to face it in a short period.”
Reports suggesting that Spurs plan to renew their interest in Atalanta’s Ukrainian playmaker Ruslan Malinovskyi, then, feel like a direct response to the club’s ongoing difficulties during Kulusevski’s absence.
Per Bergamo-based publication Il Giorno, Tottenham have already held talks with Atalanta’s general manager, Lee Congerton. Malinovskyi, who is also on the radar of West Ham and Nottingham Forest, will reportedly cost a bargain £13 million. His contract expires in less than 12 months’ time. And, despite rumours of an extension, nothing is official just yet.
Goals and assists aplenty
Spurs pulled out of the race to sign Malinovskyi over the summer as negotiations threatened to become increasingly protracted. That they are now returning to the table – with Conte reportedly seeing the 29-year-old as ideal competition for Kulusevski – feels like a sensible decision given the current direction of travel (Corriere Bergamo).
Malinovskyi is one of Europe’s most prolific goalscoring midfielders. He hit double figures in three of the last four seasons. Throughout that time, he’s also produced 42 assists. In fact, no one in Serie A averaged more expected assists per 90 minutes last term than Malinovskyi (FBREF).
“He has been extraordinary for us,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told The Standard.
Malinovskyi reportedly told Atalanta that his heart was set on Tottenham towards the end of the summer window. Now, they need him as much as he needs them.
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