In a recent post on X, journalist Rudy Galetti mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur are in the running to recruit Lecce defender Tiago Gabriel. It has been claimed that Spurs would have to rival Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Everton in the race to land the Portuguese talent.
Gabriel’s Impressive Form In Italian Football
Gabriel has proven his worth as a decent contributor for Lecce on the defensive end of the field. The 21-year-old has found the back of the net once in 21 matches for the Italian club this season across all fronts.
The Portuguese club has been a solid presence when defending inside his half as he has made 34 tackles, 21 blocks, 19 interceptions and 123 clearances in Serie A. He has even distributed possession relatively well after completing 88.7% of his attempted passes in the Italian first division (stats via fbref.com).
His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2027, which could make it tough for Tottenham Hotspur to sign him on the cheap this year.
Is Gabriel A Decent Fit For Tottenham Hotspur Boss Thomas Frank?
Gabriel is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when needed and is proficient at playing his way out from the back.
Standing at 1.96m, Gabriel can use his strong frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. However, there are some concerns over whether he can cope with the high intensity of the Premier League if Spurs manage to bring him on board this year.
We can expect Gabriel to bring more bite and steel to Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank’s defence. He has what it takes to fight for a regular first-team spot at the North London club in the coming years.
At 21, the future looks quite promising for Gabriel as long as he continues to improve with each season. He will also help the North London club compete across all fronts in the future. However, Frank has to give him some time to adjust to life at Tottenham before he can get the best out of the gifted defender. All in all, Gabriel would be a great fit for Spurs’ needs in the long run.