Tottenham are reportedly considering a move to sign Axel Witsel on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund. A player, that Spurs icon Mousa Dembele said playing alongside felt like he was playing for Tottenham – not Belgium.
Witsel, 33, is about to see his Dortmund contract come to an end after four years at the Westfalenstadion. He was just five games shy of clocking up 150 games with the German side, but he is now about to leave on a free.
Tottenham and Manchester United are set to go head to head for a player that is now entering the twilight of his career, as per Der Westen. More likely to be a squad player, there is the lure of the Champions League.
Witsel will know all about Tottenham having played alongside the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Dembele for years – with Belgium. The latter’s comments on Witsel in 2016 will certainly excite Spurs fans.
“It was an interaction, a bit like at Tottenham. Sometimes one went forward, then the other,” Dembele said, on playing with Witsel against Ireland at Euro 2016 – as per HITC. “The balance with Witsel was okay.”
What Dembele said about Tottenham target Witsel
Is it a good move? Well, it depends on Witsel. It depends if he is happy to sit on the bench as cover for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur. If so, then it is a move that suits all parties – Spurs need midfield cover.
Not only does it give Spurs another high-profile option in midfield. It gives them one with bags of experience at the highest level, a player with 120 caps to his name. A winning mentality; three league titles to his name.
On a free, Spurs could do a lot worse than Witsel even with the midfielder now 33.
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