One of the measures of Tottenham Hotspur’s progress under manager Mauricio Pochettino is that two years into his reign, we more or less know what they are.
After a first season spent sorting through the squad he inherited, the second saw the team put Pochettino’s footballing ideals more firmly into practice. Tottenham aspired to be insistent in and out of possession, adventurous in front of the opposition’s goal and formidable protecting its own.
At 19 years old, the Anderlecht midfielder also would be a player signed with more than just year three of Pochettino’s tenure in mind.
Tielemans has been linked with Spurs throughout 2016.
In February, the Sun’s Duncan Wright talked of a battle with Atletico Madrid for the talented teenager. In March the Daily Star’s Paul Brown had the Spaniards’ interest spurring the north Londoners to make a move; later in the month the Mirror’s John Cross suggested fellow Premier League clubs also were in the hunt.
Relatively quiet on the rumour front in the months since, Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas recently suggested Tielemans is still on Spurs’ radar.
Pochettino and his staff got a close look at him when Anderlecht faced their team in last season’s Europa League group stage.
After a bright start out in Belgium, Spurs’ performance dipped considerably as Anderlecht efficiently outclassed them, winning 2-1. A couple of weeks later, the Premier League outfit were much improved but still had to work hard to see their opponents off, a long-range Mousa Dembele effort eventually sealing their own 2-1 victory.
Pochettino will have already identified Tielemans in the course of his preparations for the matches. If he had not already noted him as someone who could be part of Spurs’ transfer strategy, the Belgium youth international’s performances will at the very least have piqued his interest.
Tielemans played the whole night at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium and another 69 minutes at White Hart Lane. Considering they were two of the bigger tests of his fledgling career, he did enough to suggest the high hopes in his future are not misplaced.
The scope of his passing is a big part of his game, and it was on show on both occasions. In the first game, he completed 100 per cent, per Squawka, popping up across the breadth of the pitch to both sensibly maintain possession and advance it more threateningly.
The numbers dipped slightly out in England, 94 per cent this time, but Tielemans was still valuable in a more than competitive effort from the Belgians. He found room up against the likes of midfield counterparts Eric Dier and Ryan Mason and again demonstrated his fine technique in closer combinations as well as looking longer.
Ensuring he has such opportunities is no accident.
Tielemans makes space for himself and others with positive runs, understanding that even if he does not receive the ball, he could distract an opponent long enough to help open things up for a team-mate. Usually they know the team is better off when he does get it, though.
Also helping him is his calmness when closed down individually. The almost ungainly way he skilfully turns and dribbles out of danger may remind Spurs fans of their old midfielder, the current Real Madrid man Luka Modric.
The La Liga side are another club said to have registered interest in Tielemans this year—a link Bleacher Report’s Tim Collins examined back in spring.
Some of Europe’s bigger clubs possibly taking notice would not be a surprise. The player has continued to go from strength to strength since those encounters with Spurs.
Goals are looking like becoming an increasing part of Tielemans’ repertoire. After netting twice in his breakthrough campaign of 2013-14, he has followed that up with six apiece in the two seasons since. He is not afraid to try his luck from long range.
The prospect of Tielemans finding his feet as an even more expansive playmaker, using that sense for the best positions in the final third too, is an exciting one. Though not anything special defensively, he is willing enough to pitch in here, and it is easy to see him excelling as a more traditional all-rounder, too.
Despite the supposed interest of Spurs and others, for now Tielemans’ immediate future looks like it will rightly be at the club who have nurtured him up until now.
Not long after that early year speculation, his agent Christophe Henrotay told Goal.com’s Nizaar Kinsella his client was happy with his current situation.
“He is not desperate and is patient for the next step,” Henrotay said of Tielemans, who played in Anderlecht’s 2-1 season-opening win over Mouscron-Peruwelz on Saturday. “He is very mature for his age and if he moves it will be for the right reasons.”
If Tottenham are that keen, they will wait for the player to get to a point he believes he can more convincingly deal with a move abroad.
Pochettino said last week he is anticipating “some activity” in the transfer market from Spurs, per Sky Sports’ Ed Hutson. As things stand, it is unlikely the Argentinian would be able to offer the beneficial almost-guaranteed minutes Tielemans will get from his long-time employers anyway.
The main components of last season’s midfield remain intact.
Dembele was excellent as Spurs’ midfield dynamo. Almost impossible to move off the ball and as productive as he has ever been bringing it forward, the energy he brought in all thirds proved integral to the team at its best.
Further back Dier was deployed in protection of the defence (as well as an auxiliary centre-back), his experience as a defender standing him in good stead anticipating opponents’ intentions. Having impressed as one of England’s only purposeful passers in their disappointing European Championship campaign, he may well get the opportunity to showcase this side more frequently with Spurs.
Usually beyond them was Dele Alli, like Tielemans one of Europe’s most promising youngsters. One of Spurs’ most effective players in enemy territory, he was also a strong contributor to the less glamorous aspects of midfield play.
Even with Nabil Bentaleb now surplus to requirements following a disastrous 2015-16, there is still strength beyond last season’s first-choice men.
Victor Wanyama has made the move from Southampton to again team up with Pochettino. A proven Premier League performer, he will compete with and provide cover for Dembele and Dier.
Tom Carroll and Ryan Mason have work to do to become more than bit-part players. Their manager appears to retain faith they can do a job for him, though, and at least one of them should be kept around to ensure there is depth.
Harry Winks will be one to watch this season. A fixture around the first team last season, the 20-year-old’s pre-season performances have demonstrated a midfielder growing in confidence.
He is the kind of pass-oriented player who will make up the deficit left by Bentaleb. Although yet to be tested in the Premier League, Pochettino’s belief in trying young players will likely afford that opportunity.
Signing someone like Tielemans would restrict those chances.
The point may come when Tottenham need to look elsewhere again to reinforce its midfield, and if the Belgian is available, he would be a fine acquisition. For now Pochettino may be satisfied to stick with what he has got.
