Data shows Tottenham midfield has jumped from 17th to fourth-best in Premier League
Data shows that the £185m Tottenham Hotspur invested to improve their midfield is starting to have the desired effect. Just a few weeks ago, Spurs were being criticised for overspending on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but the duo have silenced critics with their recent performances.
It is not a coincidence that Tottenham have started winning matches when the two big summer signings, who cost a combined £185m, have started together in the double pivot. Fernandes has excelled at passing when under pressure, while Tonali's reading of the game and engine have ensured that the Lilywhites have won most second balls.
Mateus Fernandes Tottenham - Premier League (2026 - 2027) Appearances 9 Minutes Played 466 Average Rating 6.64 Goals 0 Assists 0 Passes 387 Key Passes 11 Pass Accuracy (%) 92.00 Yellow Cards 2 Red Cards 0 Stats correct as of 4 November 2026. As per her numbers, the Joao Palhinha-Rodrigo Bentancur pairing ranked 17th in the Premier League across those metrics, while the Tonali and Fernandes pairing ranks fourth.
There has been a remarkable 58 percentile improvement in ball progression and a 42 percentile improvement in creation between the two pairs. Season relative percentile Bentancur - Palhinha (25/26) Tonali - Fernandes (26/27) Change Ball winning 75 66 -8 Retention 49 58 +9 Ball progression 15 73 +58 Creation 13 55 +42 Box threat 59 66 +7 MORE SPURS STORIES She writes on X: "Spurs spent £185m rebuilding the double pivot this summer.
Last season, the position group ranked 17th. This season, the Tonali + Fernandes duo ranks 4th.
From relegation-level to Champions League-level. 4th puts us in serious company.
Only Arsenal, City and Liverpool rank higher as a pair. My models say the midfield now profiles like one of the league's best.
@Gradient_Sports 4th puts us in serious company. Only Arsenal, City and Liverpool rank higher as a pair.
My models say the midfield now profiles like one of the league's best. Tonali Tottenham - Premier League (2026 - 2027) Appearances 9 Minutes Played 789 Average Rating 7.26 Goals 0 Passes 561 Pass Accuracy (%) 90.00 Tackles 22 Interceptions 9 Duels Won 39 Yellow Cards 0 Red Cards 0 Stats correct as of 4 November 2026."