Tottenham added to their defensive ranks last Friday afternoon with the purchase of Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest. A long-term target of Andre Villas-Boas, the 23-year-old arrives at the Lane for a fee reported to be in the region of £8.5m and will bolster the Spurs backline after both Steven Caulker and William Gallas departed over the summer.
A highly-rated centre-back, Chiriches has been previously linked with both Barcelona and Milan – as his new manager points out, though, it’s not only his technical qualities that have persuaded Tottenham to splash the cash on the Romanian:
“He is an interesting player that has been followed by lots of teams. He has tremendous qualities coming out with the ball and that’s what we like in our defenders. He is a great leader.”
The History
Having spent a year with Benfica’s youth system in 2007, Chiriches’ senior career kicked off the following season with Romanian lower-league side International Curtea de Arges after injury forced him to return to his native country. After a couple of campaigns, in which he helped his side gain promotion to the top-flight and produced a single goal in 41 appearances, the centre-half moved to Pandurii Târgu Jiu.
Chiriches featured 39 times over a season-and-a-half in his new surrounds before making his way to Steaua Bucharest in the summer of 2011. His time in the Romanian capital proved successful – with 42 league games under his belt, he helped Steaua register a league and cup double last time round.
The Prospects
With Jan Vertonghen pretty much nailed-on for one of the centre-half positions, Chiriches is set to vie with Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul for the remaining spot in the heart of the Tottenham back-four. The latter is working his way back towards full fitness after long-term injuries and looks likely to be eased into contention – having started Villas-Boas’ first game in charge of the north London club in 2012/13, the Frenchman hasn’t featured in the league since due to knee and thigh complaints and clearly won’t be rushed back.
Dawson was on the verge of being sold at the start of last term and although he subsequently convinced his manager he deserved a regular role, it remains to be seen where he stands in the pecking order now. Chiriches’ arrival, allied with Kaboul’s recuperation, surely places question marks over his future game time. The former Forest man has been criticised for his lack of mobility at the back – hardly ideal for Villas-Boas’ penchant for playing a high defensive line and not the most conducive to clean sheet potential from a Fantasy perspective either.
Chiriches, on the other hand, is a far more agile option and in many ways possesses the same defensive qualities as Vertonghen. Back in his homeland, the 23-year-old has often been compared to Steaua’s legendary centre-half Miodrag Belodedici, who has summed up what Tottenham’s new boy will bring to the English top-flight:
“Chiriches is strong, fast and intelligent. He can definitely go very far. There are few footballers who can do what he does in his position, and he is ready to take risks going forward. In my era, coaches wouldn’t let me touch the ball so many times.”
It remains uncertain whether the new boy will be handed an immediate start, though. Looking back to last season, Villas-Boas initially kept faith with Brad Friedel and introduced Hugo Lloris to the first XI via European competition before the latter’s form and suitability to Tottenham’s tactics made his role at the back a formality – the same situation could unfold, allowing Dawson a temporary stay of execution.
Up next, Spurs have a favourable run of fixtures that look set to offer Fantasy managers plenty chances for points at both ends of the pitch. Home games against Norwich, West Ham, Hull and Newcastle, in addition to trips to Cardiff and Villa in the next eight Gameweeks, is one of the kindest runs around; certainly, Chiriches looks one to consider should he be swiftly introduced to first-team proceedings.
Coming in at 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), 6.3 in the Sky Sports game and 3.0 in the Sun Dream Team, the Romanian is slightly more expensive than both Dawson and Kaboul in FPL but is significantly cheaper than the 7.0 priced Vertonghen and could offer us a relatively cheap route into a backline that has conceded just a single goal thus far.
