Scout Report: Juan Foyth - the future rock of Tottenham defense
Tottenham left back Danny Rose, recently in one of the most controversial interviews ever, stated the desire of Spurs signing players and not any player, but one you wouldn't have to google to find out about.
But when Tottenham was linked with this young 19-year-old center back from La Plata, Argentina, it surely raised some eyebrows.
Spurs have been known to sign many relatively unknown talents who go under the radar such as Luka Modric, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker (to name a few) who have gone on to be exceptional footballers.
Surely Spurs will hope that Juan Foyth joins the list of these successful finds. But who is Juan Foyth and why is Pochettino interested in signing him?
Background
Juan Foyth, born in La Plata on 12th January 1998., plays for Estudiantes La Plata, a club that plays in the First Division of Argentina.
He only made his debut last year and has had only 7 first-team appearances for Estudiantes. He has also played for Argentina U-20 and was part of the squad which played in the U-20 World Cup which got knocked out in the group stage, but Foyth got good reviews.
Strengths
Juan Foyth is compared to his could-be team mate Toby Alderweirld as he is very good on the ball and his ability to read the game. He can pick out passes like a creative midfielder while bringing the ball out from the back and this is a very big plus point for Spurs, as they build their attacks from the back.
He is known to defend and control his space well and doesn't like to jump to challenges quite often. He tries to emulate his idols, Gerard Pique, and Mats Hummels which shows in his play. He can also play as center-mid or a defensive midfielder.
Weaknesses
There are no glaring weaknesses as of now, well because of the fact that he has had only above 600 minutes of first team action under his belt. His lack of experience can be a negative, but Spurs are not looking for a direct replacement and Foyth won't be put into first team action as soon as he comes into the team.
He will surely grow under the mentorship of one of the best pairs of center backs in the league, Toby Alderweirld, and Jan Vertonghen. It can be noted that his height - 5ft 11inches, can be a problem as it hinders his aerial ability.
What happens next?
If the Spurs do sign Juan Foyth, he will not be thrown into the first team straight away, though he might get some appearances in the cup games. He has also attracted interest from various clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Zenit and obviously Spurs, who are the frontrunners in getting his signature.
(Video Courtesy: DailyFootyScout Youtube Channel)
Bottom Line
With reports of a possible move for Wimmer to Stoke or West Brom and loaning out Cameron Carter-Vickers to Sheffield United, Spurs would need a cover for the Center Back position and Juan Foyth definitely fits the bill.
Pochettino believes that Foyth has the potential to become one of the best defenders in the world and might be a long-term replacement for Toby Alderweirld. He obviously has a long way to go but he already possesses some attributes that Pochettino looks for in his defenders. After having a conversation with Pochettino the 19-year-old's heart is set for a move to Spurs.