Given the current state of affairs, it may be difficult to understand why any player would choose Tottenham Hotspur over Premier League leaders Arsenal at this time.
However, with Tutto Udinese reporting that both clubs are considering £12 million bids for Rodrigo Becao, the 26-year-old Brazilian appears to be better suited to life at one London giant over the other.
Beca has almost exclusively lined up on the right of a back three since joining Udinese from Bahia in 2019. The same formation that Antonio Conte has used for the past decade of top-level management.
Now, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has experimented with a defensive trio of his own at times. The former Manchester City assistant appears to have settled upon a more traditional back four these days, however; Ben White playing wide on the right, and Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba forming a more-than-effective partnership in the center.
ARSENAL AND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WANT UDINESE’S RODRIGO BECAUSE
In fact, Arteta has used a three-at-the-back system in only three of Arsenal’s 21 games in all competitions this season. Tottenham, in contrast, has deployed it in every single one of their matches across 2022/23; Ben Davies often slotting in alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero, with Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal (for the most part) operating wide on the touchline.
Because, stylistically speaking anyway, feels like a square peg in a square hole as far as Tottenham is concerned. Like Romero, Conte’s all-action Argentine, the 6ft 3ins Becao likes to defend aggressively and on the front foot; winning the ball high up the pitch, and relishing the relative freedom afforded to him by the presence of two other center-backs covering his forays up the field.
Eric Dier has struggled in that right-sided center-back system during Romero’s recent absence. But Becca, providing he can emulate Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur while adapting from Serie A to live in London, could prove to be a more reliable understudy for the outstanding but injury-hit Romero.
Because the contract expires in less than two years’ time. Udinese, the report adds, are struggling to agree on an extension, meaning cut-price offers may be considered in January.
It remains to be seen, however, if £12 million is enough. The Serie A surprise packages holding out for £17 million.
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