Why Tottenham signed 'risk-taker' Antonin Kinsky, the goalkeeper with better stats than Alisson and David Raya | OneFootball

The data suggests new Spurs signing is a big prospect and well-suited to Ange Postecoglou’s approach

Antonin Kinsky had just clambered out of the sauna on Friday evening when he learned he would be flying to London in the morning to sign for Tottenham.

Kinsky, the 21-year-old goalkeeper who has joined Spurs from Slavia Prague in a deal worth around £12.5million, had been "certain" he would stay at the Czech club this month and the transfer happened so quickly, he nearly left for the UK without a pair of boots or gloves.

"On Friday morning, I was at training, and there was no indication that anything was about to happen," Kinsky told Slavia's website in an emotional goodbye interview. "That evening, I was with friends at the sauna and then had a massage... and that’s when I found out what was happening.

"I realised that if I was flying out in the morning, I’d need gloves and boots. I didn’t have either at home, so I started looking.

Kinsky has joined Spurs from Slavia Prague in a deal worth around £12.5m

THFC

"I drove to Plzen and then to Eden [Fortuna Arena], where I would have gone anyway to say goodbye and take one last look at the stadium."

It was a wrench for Kinsky to leave Slavia after an "incredibly intense" six months as their No1 this season, but he immediately recognised Spurs' interest as the "kind of opportunity that might only come once in a lifetime", describing the transfer as "a dream come true".

Long-term, Kinsky is expected to compete with Guglielmo Vicario to be Ange Postecoglou's No1 and he is available to go straight into the squad for Wednesday's visit of Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

With Vicario sidelined until late February after surgery on a fractured foot, Kinsky will be competing with academy graduate Brandon Austin and Fraser Forster for a place against the Reds, provided the latter recovers from sickness in time to feature.

Spurs have pivoted towards a data-led approach to scouting in recent years, a process accelerated by Johan Lange's appointment as technical director, and the numbers suggest Kinsky, who is nicknamed 'Toni' or 'Tonda', is a big prospect and well-suited to Postecoglou's approach.

He prefers [to take a] riskier solution because he wants to solve the situation in a football way at any cost

Rostislav Horacck, scout

Of all goalkeepers in Europe's top 10 leagues, Kinsky ranks top for save percentage (83.3 per cent), goals conceded per 90 minutes (0.37) and clean sheets (12, joint with Diogo Costa) after setting a new Slavia record of keeping 12 clean sheets in 19 games so far this term, conceding just seven times.

Just as importantly for Spurs, Kinsky's two-footed distribution is impressive and has earned comparisons with Germany's Manuel Neuer.

Across six matches in the Europa League this season, Kinsky averaged an 84.1 per cent success rate and misplaced one short- or medium-length pass of 140.

Forster has made some fine saves since stepping in for Vicario in November but the 36-year-old's footwork has been shaky, and he twice made mistakes leading to goals in the 4-3 win over Manchester United in the previous round of the Carabao Cup.

"He doesn't care which foot he uses to kick the ball. I asked him in training which one he prefers, but he said it doesn't matter. In short, he kicks with both equally," Rostislav Horacck, the scout who spotted Kinsky as an 18-year-old, said of him in October.

"Many times he can do something that would make his job much easier, but he prefers to choose a riskier solution because he wants to solve the situation in a football way at any cost."

Kinsky has inevitably earned comparisons with his compatriot Petr Cech

Getty Images

Kinsky comes from fine footballing stock pedigree and, after starting out as an outfield player, chose to follow his father, the former Czech international Antonin Sr. in becoming a goalkeeper.

"I remember my dad always telling me to keep working hard, stay ready, and never let a chance to fulfil my dreams slip by," he said. "I spoke about it with my dad, who gave his blessing to the transfer, which was important to me."

Kinsky has inevitably earned comparisons with Petr Cech, his compatriot and one of the Premier League's great goalkeepers, and he also arrives in England with the backing of the former Chelsea No1.

"The role in the team should suit him because the coach wants the goalkeepers to play with their feet, which is his great asset," said Cech.

"We spoke about the transfer and I told him my opinion. But I don't think he needed it. He is very lucky to have a great family background.

"He and his dad, Antonin Sr., have a great relationship and it's one of the things that has made him move so fast in his career," he added.