Tottenham Hotspur star Lucas Moura has looked rejuvenated in a new role in recent weeks.
The Brazilian winger has excelled as a no.10 over the course of Spurs’ last few matches, both in the Premier League and Europa League.
Indeed, Moura has contributed three goals and three assists in his last eight starts in the position which accounts for nearly 40% of his total goal contributions for the season, via Transfermarkt.
Considering the other 60% have come from 35 appearances, the switch certainly appears to have paid dividends thus far.
Therefore, it may come as a surprise to read the latest claim dropped by local reporter Alasdair Gold this week. He suggests that Spurs could be willing to cash in on him this summer.
Would you cash in on Moura this summer?
Yes!
No way!
According to football.london, the Lilywhites have previously rejected big-money advances for the 28-year-old in the past, but given his inconsistencies, an attractive offer could tempt them into a sale.
Gold lists Moura as one of ten players that the north Londoners could look to sell in the summer, he said: ‘Tottenham’s problem has often been recognising the right time to sell players and a bid for the Brazilian might make them consider whether this summer is that moment.’
However, there’s certainly a method behind the madness.
As it’s claimed above, the former PSG star has struggled for consistency over the course of his Spurs career. From 150 appearances, Moura has only provided 32 goals and 18 assists, that’s one goal contribution every three matches, as per Transfermarkt.
That suggests his current run of form is way above his usual rate and could merely be a purple patch. As a no.10 this season, Moura is directly contributing towards one goal every 1.3 games.
At some point, he’s likely to revert back to type, which is why Daniel Levy should absolutely entertain any bid for him in the summer.
Although teammate Eric Dier has previously acknowledged his work-rate in training, telling the Premier League’s official YouTube channel: “There’s no-one worse to train against than Lucas Moura. He’s a nightmare. He’s so fast, so sharp.”
CIES Football Observatory currently value Moura at €30m (£26m), which isn’t much of an increase on the £25m they paid for him in January 2018 – three years later, his value has only gone up a mere £1m.
Given his age, and those aforementioned struggles, that number is going to go down, so Levy may not get a better opportunity to cash in than at the end of the current season.
It would be a shrewd move from the Tottenham chairman as it could allow Mourinho to bolster other areas of his squad – he won’t be short of options out wide, with Steven Bergwijn a likely successor.
AND in other news, Spurs could seal an absolute bargain in “very dangerous” £28.8m-rated dynamo…