Who is Sergio Reguilon? Strengths and weaknesses of Tottenham's new left-back
Chelsea were linked with a move before they secured the services of Ben Chilwell. Manchester United believed they were close to a deal for the Spaniard. However, it's Tottenham who eventually won the race to land Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid. The left-back joins on the back of an impressive loan stint with Sevilla, where his performances landed him a spot in the WhoScored 2019/20 LaLiga team of the season.
Now, Spurs will benefit from the capture of one of the most coveted full-backs in Spain and one who'll look to prove Real Madrid they were wrong to cash in on the 23-year-old. Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane has never rated Reguilon and the arrival of Ferland Mendy last summer highlighted that the youngster needed to leave the Spanish capital in order to garner regular first team action.
Under the watchful eye of former Spain and Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui with Sevilla, Reguilon made 29 league starts and played a key role in their Europa League success as the left-back thrived, which heightened interest in his services from England. And while Spurs were never in the market for a new left-back this summer, with Jose Mourinho a fan of Ben Davies, when it became clear Reguilon was available, the north London side made their move, trumping United to the Spain international's services.
In the process, Spurs will be landing an accomplished attacking full-back that offers more of an offensive threat than Davies and suggests a tinkering to Mourinho's gameplan. Reguilon registered four assists in LaLiga last season, while Davies has failed to register a league assist since the start of the 2018/19 campaign.
It's the attacking output to Reguilon's game that has seen him become a household name in Europe as he grabbed the chance to showcase his talents with both hands. Indeed, he completed 49 successful dribbles in LaLiga last season, only two full-backs completed more. By comparison, Davies has completed 45 dribbles in the Premier League since signing for Spurs from Swansea... back in 2014.
What's more, Reguilon made 41 key passes in Spain's top tier last season, more than Davies has managed since the start of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign (26). These stats, though, merely reinforce the different approach between the two full-backs, with Davies widely considered a more defensive left-back, whereas Reguilon has famed for his attacking quality.
And with Reguilon expected to join as first choice left-back, it indicates that Mourinho is prepared to abandon the system that sees one full-back push on, in this case it was Serge Aurier last season and is now Matt Doherty, and the other tuck in to form a three-man defence, nominally Davies. Reguilon's arrival does also afford Mourinho the ideal flexability that would allow the Spurs boss to deploy a three-man defence.
Mourinho looked to do so on occasion last season, to mixed effect, yet with two attacking wing-backs in Reguilon and Doherty, the Spurs boss may to tempted to bring the system back this season.
Spurs have done well to secure Reguilon's services from under the nose of United and while the deal comes with its concessions, with Spurs agreeing to allow a buyback clause in the deal and a clause that allows them the chance to match any future bid the north London side accepted for Reguilon, to sign a full-back of his calibre for around €30m is a coup for Mourinho's side.
