Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with multiple players from around the English top tier as Daniel Levy looks to compound their squad as Thomas Frank takes charge of the proceedings at Hotspur Way. While the arrival of the Dane head coach has brought a lot of rumours linking the Lilywhites with a move for the Bees players, including Collins, Mbeumo and Norgaard, one move that has gone under the radar is that of Yoane Wissa. But those who know his evolution at Gtech Community Stadium know that he has developed into a pressing forward who possesses positional intelligence while having the capacity to play across the front line.
But while many wouldn’t have an understanding of how good Wissa can become, with Thomas Frank in charge, he would know everything about the capabilities of Wissa, and that is exactly why it makes perfect sense that the North Londoners are being linked to his signatures, given that he understands the Dane’s system and has the capacity to operate in multiple attacking roles at N17.
How can Wissa fit in tactically at Tottenham under Thomas Frank?
Tottenham set their sights on Brentford’s star forward Yoane Wissa, aiming to reunite him with manager Thomas Frank in a bold transfer move.
He can be used as a wide forward in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 where he can either play or operate as a left winger or in an inverted role as a right forward depending on matchups in the game. If he is playing on the left, then the 27-year-old can easily cut inside and play some quick combination passes with Maddison or Bentancur and also overload the channel with Udogie.
If you play him in the right flank, Wissa brings those vertical stretching runs and becomes an outlet in transition, given that he has the ability to also switch flanks mid-phase. The thing is that he maintains width, but he also knows when to make those decoy runs inside to open space for creators.
Thomas Frank used Wissa in a second striker role for a long time at Brentford, so if he brings him to Tottenham, he can use Wissa to play off a central striker like Solanke or Mathys Tel. Here, playing with a more dominant striker, Wissa can act as a channel runner, where he is tasked with dragging centre-backs out to open up spaces centrally. He can also link up with Maddison as the free-roaming 10, and given his off-the-ball capacities and ability to press from the front, he makes him ideal for the second striker/false winger hybrid role, especially if Frank is to carry the structure that he used at Brentford.
You can also use the engine that Wissa possesses in terms of implementing a pressing structure where Frank can maybe make him the pressing leader, especially given how the Lilywhites have lacked a strong presser since Harry Kane’s departure. Moreover, having Wissa also allows Thomas Frank to set a front three press where wide forwards are to collapse onto pivot zones quickly. From how he operated at Brentford, Wissa is also good at delaying the press, enough to time his runs when traps are already set in the midfield.
Why could having Wissa be more valuable than Richarlison?
Tottenham striker Richarlison is nearing full fitness amidst a decisive summer ahead.
Is Wissa better than Richarlison?
The thing is, Wissa is more consistent when it comes to finishing from open play, while Richy is more streaky and heavily reliant on headers at times. And while the latter has a sense of inconsistent spatial discipline, Wissa already knows how pressing triggers operate and the timing of those triggers under Frank.
While Richarlison can play only in the striker role and on the left, his Bees counterpart can feature along the left and right wings alongside his central role.
Moreover, the Brazilian likes to operate in chaos, while Wissa is more system-orientated, given the years he spent with Frank.
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Author Opinion: Wissa is a “Frank-wildcard” Levy shouldn’t overlook
We know that Yoane Wissa is not the most glamorous name that Levy can sign, but he is someone who is immensely functional and a system-perfect forward for what Frank wants to implement at Tottenham. Moreover, he can feature in three different positions without jeopardising your tactical structure, and to Thomas Frank, he provides that continuity alongside greater maturity and tactical organisation and disruptive sharpness in transition.