Opinion: Why Ferdi Kadioglu would make the perfect Postecoglou full-back

As Ange Postecoglou approaches his second season in charge of Spurs, the club are actively searching for reinforcements to provide competition within the squad.

One area I believe to be of importance is the full-back positions. When Porro is injured the next option in the squad is Royal who looks uncomfortable inverting and is also linked with a move away to AC Milan (Fabrizio Romano).

Of course, the left side isn’t as desperate due to Micky van de Ven proving he can play the inverted full-back role very well, with Dragusin filling in the centre alongside Romero. But why not sign a player who is capable of playing on either side? That player could be Ferdi Kadioglu.

Ferdi Kadioglu Player Profile

Kadioglu currently plays for Fenerbahce in the Turkish League. This season he featured 51 times in all competitions, registering 3 goals and 5 assists. (Transfermarkt) At 24 years old he’s still young and yet to hit his prime years, meaning he could turn into a great player.

Despite playing right-back just 6 times this campaign, the season before he took up the position 19 times. (Transfermarkt) This season he primarily played left-back, emphasising his versatility and ability to play on his weaker foot when called upon.

With a market value of just under £20m and 2 years left on his contract (Transfermarkt) he could be a cheap option going forward whilst not negatively impacting the squad’s overall quality.

Ferdi Kadioglu Strengths

Kadioglu’s main strength is his on-the-ball ability. The Turkish international poses a threat going forward in the middle and attacking thirds of the pitch, which bodes well for Postecoglou’s system that requires his full-backs to push up high when in possession.

Compared to players who play the same position as him, he ranks in the top 1% of players for touches made, standing at over 86 per game. (FBref) He’s also an excellent carrier of the ball, making over 5 progressive carries a game, once again ranking in the top 1% of full-backs. (FBref)

Another strength of his is his tackling ability. Kadioglu averages 3.29 tackles per 90 and wins 2.42 tackles every game. (FBref) When compared to current right-back Pedro Porro, he betters him in both tackles made and tackles won by 0.77 and 0.58. (FBref)

Ferdi Kadlioglu Weaknesses

One standout weakness of Kadioglu’s is his ability in the air, which is something Tottenham have struggled with in the league conceding 14 goals from set pieces last season.

Kadioglu ranks in the bottom 4% for aerials won, working out to just 0.35 a game. (FBref) This could pose a problem when being asked to defend set pieces. However, hopefully with new arrivals coming in the summer who might be stronger in the air, it may not turn out to be a huge problem.

Another area for concern is whether he’d be able to adapt to the league. The Premier League is labelled as one of the most physical leagues in the world, and it’s often expected for players from outside Europe’s top 5 leagues to struggle to keep up with the physicality of the English league.

Whilst this isn’t something that is set in stone, as he might be able to adapt, it’s something the club should definitely consider.

SpursWeb Opinion:

I believe Kadioglu has all the requirements needed to make a suitable full-back for Ange Postecoglou. He’s confident on the ball, has a strong return for goal contributions and is firm in a tackle.

On top of this, he would be able to play on either flank if needed and has even featured in midfield for Fenerbahce. He might be weak in the air, but it would be no different to Pedro Porro who is a fan favourite.