‘He told me’ – Alasdair Gold suggests 23-year-old could operate in different position for Spurs

Alasdair Gold has suggested that Dejan Kulusevski could be potentially be used as a midfielder in Ange Postecoglou’s tactical system at Tottenham.

After an outstanding first six months at Tottenham following his switch from Juventus in January of 2021, Kulusevski struggled to replicate the same standard of performance last season.

The Swede has started the new campaign in decent form, having looked quite menacing in the final third but he still has not hit the heights that he previously showed he can.

The 23-year-old netted his first Premier League goal of the season in Tottenham’s 5-2 win at Burnley and now has added competition for his place after the North London club paid £47.5m to land Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest ahead of the summer transfer window closing.

Could Dejan Kulusevski play a midfield role at Tottenham?

While Johnson can operate as a number nine or in the attacking midfield role, he is most comfortable out wide and offers the pace and directness that Kulusevski does not.

Gold has now suggested that the former Juventus man could be used in the middle of the park by Postecoglou.

When asked about Kulusevski operating centrally, the journalist told Football.London Q&A: “I think it’s a possibility certainly. He told me last year that his favourite position is the number 10 role so this would just be a slight adjustment to that.

“I think it’s a role that would suit him quite well as long as he could handle the defensive aspect of the box-to-box type. But having played as a wing-back in the past he might be able to.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think there is any chance that Ange will consider Kulusevski for the Pape Matar Sarr role unless there is an injury crisis. If the Swede is to be used centrally, he would either have to play as the number nine or as the most advanced of the three midfielders where James Maddison operates.