Does ‘promise’ suggest a change in formation?

Reports claim that Spurs have won the race to sign the Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, after Mauricio Pochettino personally convinced the player to make the move to London.

The Daily Star have stated that Pochettino has promised regular first-team football to Ceballos, who has spoken out regarding his desire to play for a team that can provide him with at least 40 games next season. Ceballos looks set to join on a season long loan, with an option to buy, as Real Madrid clear the decks in anticipation of rebuilding their squad.

The potential signing of Ceballos would see Tottenham further strengthen an area of the side that was a weakness last season. With Tanguy Ndombele having already signed, Ceballos would add real strength in depth to the centre of the Spurs midfield and would possibly open up further tactical options to Pochettino.

With Ceballos and Ndombele both midfielders that operate in the centre of the park rather than further forward and the club already having the likes of Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks within their ranks, Tottenham seem unlikely to use the 4-2-3-1 formation that Pochettino used so often at the start of his reign at Spurs.

Formations that utilise more central midfielders would be more suited to the new-look squad. That could include the three-at-the-back and diamond formations often used by Pochettino, but we also might see a 4-3-3, which would feature Harry Kane and any two from Dele Alli, Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son, in the attacking positions.

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