Spurs-linked Andre Onana zero to hero in Ajax’s Champions League tie

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Tottenham Hotspur may have had mixed feelings if they watched reported target Andre Onana’s latest performance.

It was reported by Voetbal International towards the end of October that Spurs are interested in making Andre Onana the latest player to join Mauricio Pochettino’s ranks having developed his game at Ajax.

Tottenham’s goalkeeper situation appears to be one that may require attention in the near future. Michel Vorm is out of contract in the summer and some fans seem to be unconvinced that Hugo Lloris is still of the standard that previously made him arguably the best stopper in the Premier League.

Onana appears to be one of the brightest goalkeeper talents in Europe right now. The former Barcelona trainee has conceded just four goals in 11 Eredivisie games this term and has also helped the Dutch side take themselves to the brink of qualification out of their Champions League group.

However, he needed a remarkable stoppage-time save to redeem himself in their latest European tie that almost saw Ajax open the door to Benfica in the group.

Onana made the rash decision to come off his line to try and get to the ball from a long throw-in as their clash on Wednesday reached the half-hour mark.

The 22-year-old got absolutely nowhere near it as it headed across the six-yard box and presented Jonas with the fairly simple task of putting the ball past the defenders on the goalline. What made the goal worse was that it was his decision to try a Cruyff turn in his own six-yard box that forced the stopper to boot the ball out for the throw-in that led to the deadlock being broken.

Onana’s blushes were somewhat spared for that howler as former Southampton ace Dusan Tadic equalised just after the hour-mark. But the goalkeeper would provide a reminder of why he is so highly rated with the last touch of the game.

A Benfica corner resulted in the ball falling to Gabriel near the penalty spot. His thunderous effort looked destined for the bottom corner, but Onana made a remarkable point-blank save to deny the home side a victory that would have taken them to within one point of their opponents heading into the last two games of the group.

It was a save that prompted all of his teammates to rush over to him to celebrate.

And it was a performance that indicated that Onana is still developing and may not be ready to step into Lloris’ shoes yet – if Spurs do have their eye on replacing the Frenchman in the near future – but that he is a player that Tottenham are right to keep their eye on.