Given the current direction of travel, it may be difficult to imagine why any player would choose Tottenham Hotspur over Premier League leaders Arsenal at this particular moment in time.
But, with Tutto Udinese reporting that both clubs are weighing up potential £12 million bids for Rodrigo Becao, the 26-year-old Brazilian certainly looks better suited to life at one London giant, compared to the other.
Ever since joining Udinese from Bahia back in 2019, Becao has lined up almost exclusively on the right of a back-three. The same formation that Antonio Conte has made his calling card during a decade of top-level management.
Now, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has experimented with a defensive trio of his own at times. The former Manchester City assistant appears to have settled upon a more traditional back four these days, however; Ben White playing wide on the right, and with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba forming a more-than-effective partnership in the centre.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur want Udinese’s Rodrigo Becao
In fact, Arteta has used a three-at-the-back system in only three of Arsenal’s 21 games in all competitions this season. Tottenham, in contrast, have deployed it in every single one of their matches across 2022/23; Ben Davies often slotting in alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero, with Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal (for the most part) operating wide on the touchline.
Becao, stylistically speaking anyway, feels like a square peg in a square hole as far as Tottenham are concerned. Like Romero, Conte’s all-action Argentine, the 6ft 3ins Becao likes to defend aggressively and on the front-foot; winning the ball high up the pitch, and relishing the relative freedom afforded to him by the presence of two other centre-backs covering his forays up the field.
Eric Dier has struggled in that right-sided centre-back system during Romero’s recent absence. But Becao, providing he can emulate Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur while adapting from Serie A to life in London, could prove to be a more reliable understudy for the outstanding but injury-hit Romero.
Becao’s contract expires in less than two years’ time. Udinese, the report adds, are struggling to agree an extension, meaning cut-price offers may be considered in January.
It remains to be seen, however, if £12 million is enough. The Serie A surprise packages holding out for £17 million.
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