Tottenham Hotspur are keen on Germany international Florian Neuhaus, with a £36 million release clause in his Borussia Monchengladbach contract due to come into effect over the summer, according to Sport1.
Even in an era of stats and spreadsheets, the ‘eye test’ still has an important part to play in scouting the next generation of superstars.
And, as anyone who has watched Neuhaus strut his stuff in the Bundesliga will tell you, the Bavaria-born 23-year-old is one truly special talent.
A tally of five goals and six assists across 2020/21 only tells you so much about his potential.
The numbers do not do justice to the way Neuhaus scythes through defences with pin-point through-balls, the way he rides a challenge without losing balance, the way he waltzes past ankle-scraping challenges like Fred Astaire on ice skates.
Neuhaus is the sort of footballer who puts the ‘Beautiful’ in the beautiful game. And, with the summer window just a few months ago, Dayot Upamecano may no longer be the owner of the most famous release-clause in Germany.
Because, according to Sport1, Tottenham have joined Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich (the club his father supports) in the race for a stylish attacking midfielder who made his Germany debut in October and scored a stunning winner against Hansi Flick’s European Champions a few weeks ago.
Neuhaus would undoubtedly represent a superb addition to a Tottenham side who have dropped too many points against lower-level Premier League teams, perhaps forming a more attack-minded and creative midfield trio with Tanguy Ndombele in a deeper role.
“My uncle was a (Werder) Bremen fan, I had a Bremen poster on my wall of Mesut Özil. I love watching Özil and Toni Kroos play,” Neuhaus told the Bundesliga’s website.
Tottenham fans will be hoping there is a limit to how much he’s learned from the ex-Arsenal misfit.
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