Ahead of the summer transfer window, I am composing a series of articles looking at potential transfer targets for the club. In the past, we have managed to identify some players that go on to be heavily linked with the club.
The first position we will look at is right centre-back. It is a position that we need reinforcements in. Fabian Schar has been very good under Eddie Howe, but he needs more competition for his place. Jamaal Lascelles is a leader and useful to have around. The club captain is unlikely to be a first teamer in Eddie Howe’s system. On the left, we have Dan Burn and Sven Botman. It is on the right where we need another capable starter.
I would expect the club to target a quick, mobile centre back, who is comfortable in possession. Schar’s weakness is in the air, therefore, our right centre back signing will need to be better in this department as it is currently one of the deficiencies in our defence.
Our defence has been good in 2022/23, but there is a lack of pace and we are susceptible to pace in behind. Howe does prefer Premier League experience, but this is a position where we need to look abroad. Below, we profile three potential targets.
Tosin Adarabioyo – Fulham
Tosin Aderabioyo is a player I have wanted us to sign for a couple of years. He has all the attributes to be a very good centre back and he has the Premier League experience that Eddie Howe likes. At the age of 25, he still has time to develop and would benefit from working under Howe. Unlike others on this list, he wouldn’t expect to walk into the first team and could take a year to transition into the side ahead of Schar.
At Fulham, he has gained key experience in the Premier League, but he isn’t a player they would class as unsellable. The price also wouldn’t be prohibitive, with a fee of around £20-25m perhaps being enough. For the player he could become, it would be a potential bargain.
Aderabioyo is a centre back that can launch attacks with his passes and ball carrying. He averages 4.07 progressive passes (78th percentile) and 0.88 progressive carries (76th percentile) per ninety minutes. These qualities are important in Howe’s system.
At the back, he reads the game well and isn’t afraid to remove the ball from danger, as shown by his huge average of 6.33 clearances (99th percentile) per ninety minutes. Standing at 6’5”, Aderabioyo is effective in the air, as shown by his 2.48 successful aerial duels per ninety minutes.
Although not known for his pace, the Fulham centre back is certainly more mobile than our current options. It wouldn’t be a ground-breaking signing, but it could perhaps be a smart one.
Maxence Lacroix – Wolfsburg
If Aderabioyo fits the profile of centre back that we will be looking for, then Maxence Lacroix also will, with fbref listing them as similar players. The 23-year-old has plenty of experience in the Bundesliga and he certainly has the physical profile that our defence lacks. The Frenchman is very quick and capable of covering large areas of space.
Lacroix is another defender that likes to build from the back and progress the ball. He averages 4.28 progressive passes (81st percentile) and 0.75 progressive carries (64th percentile). The 23-year-old is confident with the ball and can beat opposition defenders, which is important to beat the press. His pass completion of 87.1% shows that he can be relied on to retain possession.
As an aerial presence, Lacroix is more than capable, with an average of 2.64 successful aerial duels per ninety minutes. An average of 1.34 tackles, 1.59 interceptions, 1.34 blocks and 4.88 clearances show how he is an active defender.
Southampton came close to signing Lacroix earlier this year. This suggests that the price isn’t prohibitive and that the player is open to a Premier League move. Wolfsburg aren’t certainties to be playing in Europe next season, which would increase the chance of Lacroix moving.
At 23, Lacroix could be the perfect signing for us. He’s young and has the physical profile to thrive in Howe’s system. The potential is huge and it would be an exciting capture.
Jean-Clair Todibo – Nice
There have been some minor links to Jean-Clair Todibo, which have been met with enthusiasm on social media. It would be a signing that makes a lot of sense, as he is comfortable in possession having been schooled at Barcelona. His experience in Ligue 1 has improved him as a player and he could be ready to step up to the Premier League.
Nice are a team that have a lot of the ball, so Todibo is used to playing in a possession-dominant team. He averages 69.44 passes per ninety minutes and his completion rate is 88.3%. This shows he can be trusted not to give the ball away.
Like the others discussed, he is very good at progressing the ball into the attacking half. Todibo averages 4.95 progressive passes (91st percentile) and 0.74 progressive carries (64th percentile) per ninety minutes.
Todibo is an aggressive defender, who looks to win the ball through tackling. He averages 2.36 successful tackles (91st percentile) per ninety minutes. The defender has recovery pace and has the ability to make tackles that prevent clear cut chances. This is an attribute we desperately need in our defence.
There are some concerns about his physicality. Todibo only wins 1.17 aerial duels per ninety minutes. This is an area he will need to improve on if we do sign him.
Jake – there are certainly bigger names, but I agree with you – Tosin ticks all the boxes & could be the perfect partner for Botman for years to come.
A wealth of PL experience too, so could hit the ground running.
Stick Tierney in at LB and that would be one hell of a back 5 (Pope, Trippier, Tosin, Botman, Tierney)
Sharpy17(Quote)
Tosini not up to standard .. certainly for European elite games let alone prem .. we need proven experience… not more squad bench warmers
Mike(Quote)