Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs suffered Champions League humiliation while Dael Fry once again stood out for Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough.
Preston North End aren’t Bayern Munich. Alex Neil doesn’t have a Robert Lewandowski, a Philippe Coutinho or a Serge Gnabry.
But that doesn’t change the fact that while Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen collapsed against the rampant Germans, a defender Tottenham reportedly want to sign in January provided a very timely reminder of his undoubted potential.
That’s not to say Dael Fry would have stopped Gnabry in his track as the former Arsenal winger plundered four on a remarkable return to North London. But the England U21 international, who has been linked with a £20 million move to Spurs via TEAMtalk, continues to show that he has a bright future in the game, producing another towering performance well beyond his years as Boro secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Preston on Tuesday night.
Boro coach Jonathan Woodgate, himself a former Tottenham defender, thinks Fry is a ‘special player’. He’s even handed the academy graduate the captain’s armband on occasion. And the 22-year-old repaid his manager’s faith once again in midweek, winning five aerial duels and completing five clearances against the high-flying Lilywhites.
Tottenham obviously think Fry has the potential to be a top class centre-half in the near future and the need for a defensive overhaul was only exacerbated by a humiliating 7-2 defeat at home to a ruthless Bayern in the Champions League.
Alderweireld and Vertonghen are in their 30s now and a partnership that was once the Premier League’s best is starting to erode. The two Belgians are out of contract next summer too and, on the evidence of last night, maybe it’s time to move on.
Signing Fry, who could be sold if Middlesbrough receive an offer of around £20 million, would be a glance towards the future for a team who cannot afford to be stuck in the past.
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