Two centre-backs linked with Tottenham this summer are already producing the numbers Roberto De Zerbi demands from his defenders.
With Cristian Romero expected to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, the club have wasted little time identifying possible replacements. In fact, Spurs have already secured the signing of free agent Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.
Replacing a World Cup winner is never straightforward, though, and Tottenham appear determined not to put all their eggs in one basket. The Lilywhites have also been heavily linked with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, while Manchester City icon John Stones remains another name under consideration.
It is easy to understand why Spurs are prioritising centre-backs, particularly those of Romero’s profile. The Argentine’s expected departure would leave a huge void not only in leadership but also in ball-playing quality.
Fortunately for Spurs, two of their leading targets appear to excel there.
Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke shine in key ball-playing statistic
Very few Premier League centre-backs are as comfortable as Romero when it comes to playing the ball forward, breaking lines with passes and helping their team build attacks from deep areas.
While Romero’s future remains uncertain, the good news for Tottenham supporters is that both Senesi and Van Hecke possess similar qualities.
According to WhoScored, Marcos Senesi ranks first among Premier League centre-backs in the 25/26 season for forward passes, recording an impressive 1,189.
Only Virgil van Dijk separates him from another Tottenham target, with Jan Paul van Hecke sitting third on the list with 958 forward passes.
This trait would be particularly important under De Zerbi, whose system is heavily reliant on defenders who are comfortable progressing possession from the back.
How Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke compare to Cristian Romero
There is no getting away from the fact that Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven were nowhere near the levels they reached during the previous two seasons, when they were widely regarded as one of Europe’s best centre-back partnerships. Last season, however, was too often defined by costly mistakes and defensive lapses.
Looking at the underlying numbers, it becomes easier to understand why Tottenham are exploring alternatives.
Senesi profiles as an aggressive front-foot defender, ranking in the 99.8th percentile for progressive passes and the 97.3rd percentile for possession won. Van Hecke, meanwhile, looks every bit the all-round centre-back, sitting in the 98.7th percentile for progressive passes and the 99.1st percentile for progressive carries, while also posting strong defensive duel numbers.
That is not to say Romero’s strengths should be ignored. The Argentine remains comfortably superior in the air, ranking above Van Hecke’s 41.1 and Senesi’s 9.1.
If Tottenham do move for either defender, improving that aspect of their game could be important to ensuring Spurs do not lose one of Romero’s most valuable qualities while gaining the ball-playing attributes De Zerbi craves.
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