Tottenham urged to drop Bentancur ahead of Villa visit

Rodrigo Bentancur should be left out of the Tottenham side that faces Aston Villa on Saturday, according to Football Insider. The outlet argues that the midfielder's recent performances have not been good enough to warrant a place in the starting eleven at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The publication points to Bentancur's underlying numbers after Spurs were knocked out of the League Cup, claiming he has registered an expected assists figure of just 0.02 while winning only half of his ground duels. Those statistics, Football Insider suggests, make a strong case for a change in personnel before the 12:30 UK time kick-off.

Aston Villa arrive in north London looking to build on Wednesday night's 3-1 victory over Coventry City in the same competition. Unai Emery's side will be keen to take advantage of any uncertainty in the home ranks after a difficult opening to the league campaign for Spurs.

Football Insider also referenced forward Mathys Tel in its assessment of the squad, though the focus of the argument remained firmly on whether Bentancur retains his spot in midfield. No indication was given as to who might replace him if the manager opts for a reshuffle.

Villa themselves have undergone significant changes since the summer window closed on 1 September, with arrivals such as Leon Goretzka and João Gomes adding fresh options in the centre of the park. That depth will be tested again this weekend against a Tottenham team searching for consistency.