Spanish giants Sevilla have made a late loan offer for Tottenham Hotspur prospect Alejo Velez, and Spurs have reportedly accepted.
According to a report by Tottenham’s club website, Lily White Rose, the club has accepted a loan offer from Sevilla in exchange for guaranteed playing time for Velez. There is no outright transfer clause in the Sevilla offer.
It is seen as an opportunity for Bellerin to develop his skills. There are very few positions he can play outside of the central striker role, as the team’s first-choice striker has already been defined. Prior to the Qatar 2023 Asian Cup, captain Son Heung-min excelled in the center of the park, and now that he’s been sidelined for a while, it’s left the door open for Hicharlison to fill the void.
Bellis has the perfect physical attributes for a center forward. At 6-foot-3, he’s a long striker with great aerial ability. He has also impressed Tottenham with his excellent footwork, which, despite his height, doesn’t disguise his Argentine roots.
However, his weaknesses are his slow running and unreliable passing. Football player analysis platform Fúscore.com evaluated Velíz’s strengths as delivery, finishing, headers, and mid-range shots, but labeled his passing as a weakness.
Of course, Tottenham manager Anzhi Postecoglou favors an attacking pattern that involves wingers on both flanks and an attacking midfield pairing like James Maddison, with the central striker finishing. However, given that maintaining possession is a big part of the tactical framework, Bellis will need to overcome this weakness to some extent.
Since joining Tottenham from CA Rosario Centrale in Argentina last summer, Bellis has had some time to settle in, splitting time between the U-21s and the first team.
After intermittent first-team appearances, he scored his first goal for Tottenham on his Premier League debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 19th round of the Premier League late last year.
Substituted for winger Brennan Johnson in the 25th minute, Bellis finished with a neat right-footed finish from captain Son Heung-min. Although the team lost 2-4, it was a moment that revealed the 20-year-old’s potential.
Bellis suffered a knee injury in the 20th round of the league against AFC Bournemouth on January 1. He came on in the 37th minute as a substitute for Heucharlison, but soon collapsed in pain. The sight of him limping, trying to receive a through ball from his teammate, and breaking down in tears as he fell to the ground moved Spurs fans.
In a recent press conference, Postecoglou addressed Bellis’ injury and said that it could take some time to heal. The 20-year-old’s return to action could be delayed, but Sevilla will be looking to capitalize if the treatment is completed sooner rather than later.
Therefore, Tottenham and Postecoglou must have realized that a loan to Sevilla would be beneficial for Bellis in the long run, and finalized the proposal.
It’s a “win-win” for both club and player, as Bellis is out of a position right now due to injuries and a saturated forward line.
Meanwhile, Sevilla have plenty of options at center back. A total of four center backs are registered with the Sevilla first team. This is due to Sevilla’s tactic of playing two central strikers this season.
Youssef Enneciri, arguably the most key player, was most recently with the Moroccan national team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but Morocco’s shock 0-2 loss to South Africa on March 31 forced them to pack their bags in the round of 16.
He also has several fellow strikers, including Isaac Romero, who was called up from the second team, and Mariano Dias and Rafa Mir, who were free agents from Real Madrid last summer. However, none of these strikers will be too difficult for Bellis to compete with.
It will be interesting to see if Bellis, who showed some promise with a goal in his first season with the club, can take advantage of the opportunity and flourish at Sevilla.