One To Watch: Spurs hope the life of Bry is something special

Harry Kane’s now-concluded transfer saga has dominated the headlines at Tottenham this summer — but one of the club’s incomings might be their best kept secret.

Spurs welcomed Bryan Gil, 20, through the door in a £20million switch from Sevilla, with Erik Lamela going the other way as part of the deal.

Ahead of Spurs' Europa Conference League play-off second leg against Pacos de Ferreira, we turn the spotlight on Gil and assess how the youngster may fare in English football.

One of Spain’s brightest

A measure of how big a coup this signing is for Spurs is the fact that Gil is considered one of Spain’s most exciting prospects, alongside Euro 2020 star Pedri and fellow Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati.

The left-sided midfielder has been thought highly of by many close to Sevilla since joining the club as an 11-year-old. 

But it has been loan spells at Leganes and Eibar where Gil has showcased his ability to the wider audience, scoring four goals and assisting three times in 29 appearances last season in the Basque Country.

Nicknamed 'Little Cruyff', Gil is comfortable in receiving the ball to feet and passing it on but where he differs from many technically-gifted Spaniards is his tendency to carry the ball forward himself.

In LaLiga last term, Only Lionel Messi (247) and Huesca’s Javi Galan (151) attempted more take-ons than Gil’s 121.

Capped by the senior national team three times already, Gil featured in all but one of Spain’s games at Tokyo 2020 as they picked up a silver medal.

After handing Gil his first caps last season, La Roja manager Luis Enrique said: “I like him a lot. From the first talk I have had with him, I see him as very mature and very calm.

“I am now going to discover him in terms of football.”

How did Spurs get him?

So just how did a player born in Catalonia, who fits Barcelona’s style of play perfectly and is nicknamed after one of their greatest ever players, end up in North London?

Well, if Sevilla had had their way, Gil would have been going nowhere after his impressive displays for Eibar.

As recently as February, Sevilla director of football Monchi said: "Bryan will obviously be an important player in the future of Sevilla.

"I'm not surprised by what he's doing. Bryan has a lot of quality and I think he's still growing.”

And while there was definite interest from Barca, their financial situation meant they were unwilling to activate the reported £34m release clause.

That alerted Premier League clubs and, while rivals Arsenal were linked with a move, it was Spurs who won the race for his signature — Lamela being involved in a part-exchange proving a determining factor.

The deal was one 10 years in the making for Spurs director of football Fabio Paratici, who first spotted Gil when he dazzled at a youth tournament when the Italian was still in charge of transfers at Juventus.

Where will he fit in?

Gil will certainly have some competition to force his way into Nuno Espirito Santo’s new-look side, with Spurs boasting some of the Premier League’s best players in attacking areas.

Harry Kane is staying put and Heung-min Son will move back from the central position into Gil’s favoured wide left role in the 4-3-3 formation used by Nuno so far.

With those two nailed on to start when fit, Gil will likely find himself competing with Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura for the final forward spot.

Being able to cut onto his favoured left foot means he could still suit the right flank, but the hope will be that Gil is able to form a fluid attack with Son where they are able to switch sides seamlessly behind frontman Kane.

Moving Son to the right and allowing Gil to link up with good friend and previous team-mate Sergio Reguilon on the left is also a tantalising prospect.

The playmaker’s skillset also makes him more than capable of dropping into midfield.

With Dele Alli currently operating as the box-to-box player alongside the steel of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp, throwing Gil into the equation could provide Spurs with more creativity in games where they are struggling to unlock defences.

More to come

Spurs fans were given their first taste of Gil in in the first leg of their tie with Pacos de Ferreira, showing some bright moments as the left attacker in a 3-4-3 formation, whilst he also shifted to an attacking midfielder during the game.

After the Spaniard’s debut, Nuno said: "I think Bryan started well, but that's my responsibility. 

"I think we still have to find the right position for him and give him exact tasks. In this game, he changed two times his position and it's not the best way to go to improve a player."

While Gil will clearly need time to adjust to his new surroundings, all the signs suggest he is a signing Spurs fans should be very excited about.