If Julian Nagelsmann is enamoured enough with Tottenham Hotspur to eventually become their next manager, we can foresee him turning Dejan Kulusevski into a genuine world-class player.
While it seems inevitable that Kulusevski could become an elite winger one day, Nagelsmann’s potential arrival could simply fast-track him to reach such status.
How can Nagelsmann make Kulusevski elite at Tottenham?
Perhaps the biggest parallel one can make is by assessing how the German tactician evolved Dani Olmo’s game at RB Leipzig.
Turning Olmo into a half-space No.10, Nagelsmann took the Spaniard’s strengths coming from wider to central zones, which led to an upturn in his output almost immediately (5 goals & 10 assists via Transfermarkt in his debut season in the Bundesliga).
Considering Dejan Kulusevski possesses a much higher ceiling as an inverted winger, Julian Nagelsmann could work similar wonders with him at Tottenham.
While the 21-year-old is adept at providing width, his best work happens when he drives into the middle of the park.
It is likely that Nagelsmann will recognise this strength that Kulusevski possesses if he becomes Tottenham boss, and allow him to develop into much more of a central creator.
Currently, the youngster’s ultimate mode of creation is his signature whipped cross from the right-hand side, which is potent enough a weapon to draw comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne’s sublime crossing.
But as was the case with Dani Olmo where either Nordi Mukiele or Angelino would hold the width for him, based on whichever flank he occupied, the same could the case with the Swede, especially given that Pedro Porro is likely to thrive as a wing-back under the ex-Bayern coach.
As Nagelsmann likely spots how Porro could aid Kulusevski at Tottenham, he could allow the latter to spread his wings as a creator.
Despite how talented the former Juventus wideman is, his game is slightly limited, as the manner in which he creates and his actual role does not show always display the full range of his talents.
With Kulusevski being an expert ball-carrier, a machine in transition and a huge threat from central areas, he is De Bruyne-esque in more ways than just his crossing ability, which Nagelsmann could perhaps unleash at Tottenham.
Considering there is an argument for the N17 starlet to already be Spurs’ best creator, he would well and truly be given the keys in an adapted tactical setup, whilst occupying zones that maximise his potential, making him a truly elite player.
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