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Tottenham Hotspur are looking to close some deals during the January transfer window. Despite their victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this weekend, they remain in the bottom half of the table. Premier League11th at mid-season.
There is a lot of work to Thomas Franck to go, plenty of holes to fill, but Tottenham are building something on the foundations of last season’s Europa League victory, and a well-used winter market could help accelerate the manager’s vision.
The Lewis family will support the boss. Funds were provided; expect a new face or two.
There’s no doubt that Tottenham need a new central midfielder, but there has been some movement Brennan Johnson the arrival of a new offensive recruit could be first on the list of priorities of the club’s co-sports directors.
Spurs prepare replacement for Brennan Johnson
As the new year approached, it emerged that Tottenham had reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for Johnson’s transfer, worth £35 million.
Johnson has played a sporadic role this season, with his creative and physical parameters leaving much to be desired. It was only at the end of last season that the Wales international scored the winning goal in the Europa League final, his 19th of the season, but football moves quickly.
So quickly, in fact, that the north Londoners have already booked a replacement, with the Daily Mail revealing that Spurs are interested in Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco.
Akliouche, 23, has been excellent for his French employers since graduating from their highly regarded academy, and at £40million he would be more affordable for Tottenham than someone like Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, rated at £65million, who is heading to Manchester City.
Why Akliouche would be an upgrade from Johnson
Akliouche has become one of the most important members of Monaco’s senior team, making 22 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
But he’s not a player defined by data. He is elegant and quick, dangerous out wide or from a central midfield position. According to Sofascore, he created seven big chances in just 14 league matches in 2025/26, with his athleticism underlined by an average of 5.3 ball recoveries per game.
A ball recovery is defined by the number of lost balls recovered by a player.
Data isn’t everything, but as the stats will tell you below, Akliouche is a good playmaker and he likes to dribble with the ball himself, although he leaves something to be desired in front of goal and when hitting the keeper.
|
Akliouche vs Johnson (last 12 months) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (by 90) |
||
|
Goals scored |
0.16 |
0.39 |
|
Aids |
0.30 |
0.04 |
|
Shots taken |
2.25 |
1.08 |
|
Plan Creation Actions |
4.13 |
1.59 |
|
Touch (with pen) |
5.07 |
2.75 |
|
Success (%) |
82.9 |
67.4 |
|
Progressive passes |
5.77 |
2.19 |
|
Progressive ports |
3.81 |
1.98 |
|
Successful positions taken |
1.53 |
0.73 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4.89 |
2.62 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
2.31 |
1.72 |
|
Data via FBref |
||
Johnson may have a clear advantage on the scoring front, but he proves to be something of a one-trick pony, otherwise offering very little.
Given that a lack of spark and creativity has been one of Tottenham’s most damaging flaws this season, the decision to exclude him is understandable, especially now that Akliouche is in the crosshairs of the ENIC group.
A true artist at the moment, talent scout Jacek Kulig also noticed that Akliouche had “a golden left foot“, with precise and inventive passing highlighted every time he steps onto the pitch.
He is a versatile winger of “ridiculous” technical quality, as said analyst Ben Mattinsonand while he’s not a shoot-first wide player, Tottenham have struggled on the play front, and he would be perfect.
A golden left foot and tailor-made skills for Frank’s team at Tottenham. The shoe could fit very well.
