Tottenham now lead the race to sign Midfielder Alex Song before the transfer window closes on Sunday. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been in the market for a midfielder all summer long and had hoped to sign Morgan Schneiderlin from his former club Southampton, until talks reportedly broke down for a number of seasons. This summer has already seen Adam Lallana, Ricky Lambert, Dejan Lovren (all Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United) and Calum Chambers (Arsenal) be sold as a part of summer exodus from Southampton.
However, the Saints seem unwilling to let any others leave the club unless they make more signings, themselves. And after Spurs rejected a bid for Midfielder Andros Townsend, it was reported that talks broke down between the two clubs. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has now switched his sights to Barcelona outcast and former Arsenal standout, Alex Song in a bid to strengthen his midfield before the transfer deadline this Sunday. Alex Song is keen on a return to the Premier League, after being left out of Barcelona’s season opener this past weekend against Elche.
“If I leave Barcelona, it will be to return to the Premier League. I will return to England one day, that’s for sure,” Song said in a recent interview.
That return may come as soon as this weekend. Though it has been reported throughout the summer that teams, including Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, were after Song, Spurs are in poll position. They currently have the most money left to offer after Everton and United have made big signings in recent days. They also offer a chance for Song to return to London, where he played from 2005-2012 with Arsenal, who may well bid for the midfielder themselves. However, Arsenal is reportedly more focused on signing a striker to replace the injured Olivier Giroud, rather than spending on Song.
Song would surely be a welcome signing at Spurs, who are looking for more strength in the holding midfield position. Currently, Etienne Capoue is their only defensive midfield option, with Paulinho not quite returned to fitness after essentially two years of non-stop football and Andros Townsend seemingly not part of Pochettino’s plan. Furthermore, Song’s strength and agility makes him a perfect player for Pochettino’s high pressing style of play.
The high-pressing Spurs have started the campaign strongly and an additional able body in midfield could do wonders for them over the course of the season, as they push for a Champions League place. After finishing 6th last year, Pochettino was hired to bring a unity to the team that former boss and Premier League flop Andre Villas-Boas failed to provide. After two wins to start the new campaign, the team’s confidence is high once again. Pochettino has thus far focused his summer spending on defenders, bringing in Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Deandre Yedlin and Federico Fazio.
Song would be the lone signing in midfield, but that is not a bad thing, considering the instability that came with five new midfield signings from last summer. Now, the likes of Erik Lamela, Christian Erikson and Nacer Chadli have a year of Premier League experience and familiarity, a quality that should not be over looked.
Song brings more Premier League experience and fits well into a lineup lacking defensive midfield options. At a reported price of just 8 million pounds, half of what Barcelona paid for him just two years ago, he could be a real coup.
