As the game continues to evolve, football teams are beginning to realise how beneficial it is to have a left-footed centre-back playing from the start, particularly for teams who prefer to dominate possession and play positive attacking football – because it brings significantly more balance.
The likes of Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City, Presnel Kimpembe of Paris Saint-Germain and Daley Blind of Ajax have become three of the most invaluable central defenders in the world, due to their preferred left foot offering more balance to their respective teams who all enjoy to play out from the back and play in intricate passing patterns.
Jan Vertonghen was a crucial cog in Mauricio Pochettino’s formation during their era together at Spurs, and he also shone in the ball-playing defender role on the left-side of defence, and ever since he starting being deprived of game time and edged out of the team and towards the exit door, the team haven’t looked as stable at the back, nor as comfortable in possession – which maybe largely down to the loss of balance at the back.
https://twitter.com/Worville/status/1404021879908745220?s=20
Pep Guardiola emphasised the importance of having a left-footed centre-back in his Manchester City team earlier this season, saying : “He [Aymeric Laporte] has something we don’t have in the squad because of his left foot.
“Many actions in the build up, we don’t have it. Not because the others are not good but because of the left foot.
“For the way we want to play it’s so important, apart from his mentality and character he has all the attributes and when he’s fit for me he’s the best left-central defender in the world.”
Pep Guardiola:
🗣 “Aymeric Laporte is the best left-footed centre back in the world. He can play with the ball, he anticipates danger and reads the game very well.” pic.twitter.com/krqTnJy5rw
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 30, 2019
TALENT OF THE DAY
Ramon Hendriks
Age: 19
Country: 🇳🇱
Club: NAC Breda (on loan from Feyenoord)
Position: CB/LB
Player role: complete & elegant CB
Strengths: pace, passing, tackling, heading, anticipation
Foot: left
Similar type of player: Jan Vertonghen
Potential: 8/10— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) April 20, 2021
Unfortunately for Spurs, left-footed centre-backs are some of the most in-demand players in the world due to their increasing importance in today’s game, and they’re not too common,
However, there are three players that Spurs could target this summer who could be available for transfer: AZ Alkmaar’s Teun Koopmeiners, Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Ajax’ Lisandro Martinez.
Koopmeiners, a target of Roma, Atalanta and Arsenal, could be available for €20 million but the club would have to move quick – as all three aforementioned clubs are keen on concluding a deal quickly.
Teun Koopmeiners is on his way to Atalanta Bergamo, according to Tuttosport.
A fee of €20 million has reportedly been agreed with AZ Alkmaar. pic.twitter.com/1YpyWoqpvk
— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) June 7, 2021
Torres and Martinez are also attracting heavy interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United, meanwhile another option could be Nathan Ake who is believed to be ready to quit Guardiola’s City side after just one season.