Tottenham: Johnny Cardoso, Archie Gray and how Spurs hope to reshape their midfield | OneFootball

Spurs midfield set for major shake-up ahead of next season

Archie Gray, Johnny Cardoso and Lucas Bergvall

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And the hope for Spurs is that the England Under-21 international can develop into a leading midfield player, be it as a holding player, where he lined-up at Craven Cottage, or in a more advanced role.

Spurs have suffered fewer serious injuries to their midfield than other positions this season but, perhaps partly as a result, the area increasingly feels like Postecoglou's biggest conundrum.

Archie Gray finally got a start in midfield before the international break against Fulham

Getty Images

Before Gray got his chance, Postecoglou mixed and matched between six players for three roles; Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski all coming in and out of the team, depending on form, fitness and the occasion.

With Gray now in the running, too, forecasting which three midfielders will start next month's Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt, on which Tottenham's season depends entirely, feels almost impossible as it stands.

Postecoglou faces a particular headache at No6, where Bissouma has been substituted at half-time in three of his last five starts, including at Fulham, and Bentancur has not wholly convinced, despite starting 12 of the last 13 games.

In fact, Bergvall has arguably been Spurs' most impressive recent performer at the base of midfield, excelling in the Europa League decider against AZ Alkmaar when Bentancur was suspended.

There is a view, though, that the Swede and Gray are both better suited to box-to-box roles long-term, and with Bissouma and Bentancur facing uncertain Spurs futures (the club would like the tie the latter to a new deal but he is attracting interest from Atletico Madrid), recruiting a new No6 may become a priority for Spurs in the summer.

The club already have a contingency plan in the position in the form of Real Betis' Johnny Cardoso, having leveraged the sale of Giovani Lo Celso to the Spanish club last summer to include an option to buy the USA international in the coming transfer window.

Spurs have agreed a deal in the region of £21m for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso

AFP via Getty Images

It is thought Spurs have agreed deal in the region of £21million for Cardoso, which can be triggered during a two-week period during the transfer window.

Cardoso appears more of a traditional holding player than any of Spurs' current options at No6 (with the possible exception of the inconsistent Bissouma), stronger without the ball than in possession.

He has caught the eye in a double pivot at the base of Betis' midfield this season, primarily as a ball-winner, and could add qualities which are currently lacking in Postecoglou's squad.

While Gray, Bergvall and the energetic Sarr, 22, suggest Spurs midfield has a bright future, there is an element missing, a shortage of muscle and perhaps an instinct for danger - which Cardoso or another specialist holding player may help to alleviate.

A wider question is whether Postecoglou's preference for playing two forward-thinking No8s ahead of a 'single pivot' makes the No6 role in the Australian's set-up simply too exacting for the majority players, outside of the likes of Ballon d'Or holder Rodri and Arsenal's Declan Rice.

Would Cardoso, who is still just 23, or another new signing struggle for consistency in the same way as Bissouma and Bentancur, unless Spurs change the system? Or does Postgecoglou simply have holding players ill-suited to his approach?

With the Frankfurt tie looming into view and Spurs' priority for the rest of the season crystal clear, Postecoglou's favoured midfield three should become apparent by the middle of next month.

Longer-term, however, change is surely coming to Spurs midfield, be it in the form of Cardoso or another new signing.