Even signing Aston Villa man on a free would be a waste for Spurs
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Before picking up a shoulder injury in training that has ruled him out until at least Christmas, Fabian Delph was undoubtedly English football’s flavour of the month.
A well-deserved call up to the England squad after showing consistency for Aston Villa over the course of the last two seasons resulted in the former Leeds youth shining at the highest level in Roy Hodgson’s new-look Three Lions.
Those displays, particularly his ruffian, all-action outing against Switzerland, thrust greater attention onto a player that would normally rarely adorn the transfer gossip pages.
His contract was highlighted as an expiring one, with his Villa boss Paul Lambert insisting that the midlands club would be looking at extending the deal as soon as possible to avoid losing Delph on a free. Yet news of such extension is yet to break.
Now a supposed big-name club is preparing to knock at Delph’s door, as it’s reported that Tottenham are willing to tempt the tough-tackler to north London in January before his contract runs out.
The fact is, though, that even waiting to pick up Delph on a free transfer this summer would be a waste, as Spurs simply don’t need him.
Comparing the Bradford-born 24-year-old to Etienne Capoue and Ryan Mason, the 9/1 top-four shots’ regular midfield tandem, Delph doesn’t dwarf them in any category.
The Frenchman has made the fifth-most interceptions in the league this season, while the six tackles Lambert’s man has made pales in comparison to the 18 and 23 that Mason and Capoue have made respectively.
All three men have created the same number of chances, while Delph has made the fewest forward passes of the trio, going a long way to prove that the three-cap international wouldn’t necessarily add anything to the Lilywhites that they aren’t getting already.
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