If there was one area which Tottenham have had a deficiency, it is the zone behind the striker.
The North London moved quickly to secure Lewis Holtby from Schalke 04 for just under €2 million with only six months left on his contract.
The Germany international has long been on Spurs radar – as well as Liverpool’s - and he brings considerable talents to the role he will be expected to staff.
Although a winger when he first came through at Alemania Aachen, the 22-year-old has played in a more central role since he moved to Schalke in 2009.
Holtby, who has an English father, has excelled as a creator this season, providing seven assists in 18 games for the Bundesliga club, while his pass completion rate stands at 81 per cent from his advanced midfield berth. His form and style of play have drawn comparisons to ex-Tottenham midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart.
In the weeks leading up to Emmanuel Adebayor’s departure for the African Nations Cup, Andre Villas Boas had used the Togolese striker in a front two with Jermain Defoe, with deep-lying playmaker Moussa Dembele partnering either Sandro or Scott Parker in central midfield.
In recent fixtures, Clint Dempsey has been brought into the side to play just off Defoe.
But Holtby’s arrival will give Andre Villas Boas greater flexibility and guile in that area. The German’s early experience as a winger – he can also play in defensive midfield - means he can interchange positions with Gareth Bale or Aaron Lennon, when the widemen cut inside from the flanks.
Assuming Holtby becomes an automatic starter, AVB will most likely play him just ahead of the deep-lying Dembele and the defensive Scott Parker, who replaces the injured Sandro.
