Spurs’ new director of football Fabio Paratici has not wasted any time in the transfer market as Tottenham Hotspur may sign up to 5 players this summer, all of whom may slot in the starting XI of the club next season, if not this season itself. The club’s latest activity in the market has been finalizing a deal for 20-year-old Sevilla winger Bryan Gil, who was destined for a move to Barcelona but will now make a move to North London. Sevilla, in return, will receive £21.6 million-plus Erik Lamela, who was entering into the final year of his contract at Tottenham.
The deal suffices both clubs as Tottenham will get an exciting new winger into their ranks, while Sevilla will land an experienced player who can add a lot to their team.
So, who is Bryan Gil?
A youth product of Sevilla, Bryan Gil is one of the most sought-after youngsters currently in world football. A natural talent, Gil went from strength to strength in the Sevilla academy before making his first appearance for the senior team in January 2019 as a 17-year-old, while his first goal (against Rayo Vallecano in the 2019/20 season) made him the first child of the 21st century to score in the Spanish top division.
He made 21 appearances for Sevilla between January 2019 and January 2020, after which he was loaned out to Leganes in a 6-month loan deal as the club felt that the youngster would benefit from consistent game-time and would be able to hone his talent better. Gil developed to a certain extent, and his performances earned him a season-long loan deal last season to Eibar but failed to help the club stave off relegation.
However, Gil did go on to make 29 La Liga appearances as he scored 4 goals and contributed to a further 3 assists. Sevilla were extremely impressed with the player’s performance and also thought about increasing the player’s release clause from €50 million to €100 million this summer but chose not to do so in light of the restrictions on other clubs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the international stage, Gil helped the U-21 Spanish national team reach the U-21 Euros while he has also been named in the Spanish squad for the Tokyo Olympics, which will commence in late July. A next-gen star, Tottenham have bagged a great youngster.
Bryan Gil – Player Profile:
Hungry; Ambitious; Quick learner – Bryan Gil has developed into one of the best youngsters La Liga has to offer in just under 2 years. He has adapted to the Spanish League seamlessly, however, his abilities are perfect for any league in the world, including the Premier League.
Attacking contribution:
Predominantly a left-winger, Gil can play on either side while he has also featured as an attacking midfielder on occasion. A player who comes alive in the final third, Bryan Gil’s underlying numbers were sensational for Eibar last season. The Spaniard completed 14 dribbles that led to a shot last season, more than the likes of some of the best creative wingers last season, namely Federico Chiesa, Mason Mount, Serge Gnabry, and Riyad Mahrez. On average, he had the same number of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes as Riyad Mahrez at 3.87.
An astute passer of the ball, Gil can work his way out of tight spaces, while he can also string a bunch of passes together in nooks and crannies. He completed 157 passes while under pressure last season, while he also provided 110 crosses, more than any other Premier League winger from the Top 6 teams last season. With Harry Kane set to stay at the club as per new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Spurs could use an able crosser of the ball, something they have lacked since the departures of players like Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, and Christian Eriksen over the last 5 years.
Although he does not take a lot of shots, he makes sure to hit the target when he does, evidenced by his 37.5% shots on target per 90 minutes statistic.
Defensive contribution:
Gil is an excellent presser of the ball as he made 423 pressures on an opponent player, out of which Gil’s team received possession back 115 times within 5 seconds of him applying pressure on the opposing player with the ball. These are important statistics for clubs like Tottenham, who like to have all-rounded players in every area on the pitch.
The advantage for Tottenham is also that Gil applies pressure from the front and Spurs have excellent forwards who will make sure to punish the opposition in every chance they get. He is also rarely dribbled past by an opposing player but that is also down to his positioning and his low crouched position when trying to intercept the ball or applying pressure to the opponent.
Scintillating numbers of a scintillating player– Bryan Gil is an incredible talent, and Fabio Paratici has proved his quality as a director of football by nabbing one of the best talents currently existing in world football.
When could Tottenham announce Bryan Gil’s signing?
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham will complete the deal for the youngster in the coming days, and given that personal terms, as well as the transfer fee, has been agreed upon, Spurs could complete the deal by the end of this week.
Tottenham are also close to signing Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini on a loan deal, while they have also enquired about a move for Christian Romero from Atalanta. Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is also a man on the club’s radar as Paratici looks to complete a triple-player raid on Serie A.
