Tottenham Hotspur dropped points again as they played out a heartbreaking 2-2 draw against Brighton on April 18.
The north London side started well in a game they desperately needed to win. They opened the scoring through Pedro Porro in the 39th minute, but Kaoru Mitoma equalized in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Xavi Simons then scored an exquisite goal in the 77th minute, but Georginio Rutter broke Tottenham’s hearts with a stoppage-time equalizer. The draw kept Spurs in the relegation zone for at least another week, with just five games remaining.
Van Hecke and Verbruggen in the thick of the action
Spurs are gearing up for a big summer transfer window, regardless of the league they end up playing in. They are set to see multiple outgoings and will need replacements for them.
Tottenham have been linked with Jean Paul van Hecke for a potential summer move. They are also interested in Bart Verbruggen, with Guglielmo Vicario expected to depart. Both players were in action against Spurs on Saturday. Let’s take a look at how they went.
Van Hecke
The Netherlands international is known for his ability on the ball and showed that again on Saturday. As per SofaScore, he completed 59/66 passes, including one key pass. Here are his other stats from the game:
- Assists – 1
- Shot – 1
- Tackles won – 1/3
- Clearances – 8
- Interceptions – 3
- Duels won – 9/15
- Recoveries – 6
Also Read: Fabian Hurzeler predicts whether Tottenham can avoid relegation after fighting Brighton display
Van Hecke was largely solid in defense for Brighton. However, he made the mistake that allowed Lucas Bergvall to steal the ball and set up Simons for his goal.
Verbruggen
The Dutch shot-stopper was a bit shaky on the day. There were multiple moments when he was almost closed down by Dominic Solanke or Conor Gallagher while in possession. Here are his stats from the game:
- Passes completed – 25/34
- Clearances – 3
- Saves – 4
Verbruggen was also partially responsible for one of Tottenham’s goals on the night, and he also looked shaky on set pieces.
Brighton pair perfect for Tottenham
First of all, their ability to sign both these players will largely depend on staying in the Premier League. However, if they can, Tottenham should look to sign both Van Hecke and Verbruggen.
Cristian Romero has been linked with a Tottenham exit this summer. Van Hecke would be a perfect replacement for the Argentine in terms of their abilities on the ball. The Dutchman has also made 50 appearances under Roberto De Zerbi and knows his system perfectly.
Verbruggen has also played under the Italian and is among the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world.
Also Read: Revealed: How Manuel Neuer could affect Tottenham’s transfer plans this summer
Even Bayern Munich are looking to sign him to potentially replace Manuel Neuer. Moreover, he has the fourth-highest save percentage in the Premier League this season.
Hence, if Tottenham can stay in the English top-flight, they must look to sign the two Brighton stars.
