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Since his arrival from Lincoln, Harry Toffolo has established himself as the first-choice left-back at Huddersfield Town. He has done so on the pitch and off it and for different managers and for the fanbase.
After following the Cowley brothers from Sincil Bank in January 2020, Toffolo emerged as a fan favourite. Signed to initially offer competition to young wing-back, Jaden Brown, Toffolo soon got his chance and quickly established himself as a starter for the club.
Since 2020 a lot in West Yorkshire has changed, the Cowley brothers were replaced by Carlos Corberán, and league goals shifted from retaining the club’s championship position to now fighting for promotion through the play-offs. Yet Toffolo has remained a pivotal part of the squad, with no one putting in a consistent challenge to his place.
The critical thing for Corberán when considering his left-back options has to be their ability to rotate between different systems and Toffolo excels in both of the Spaniard’s formational choices.
This season has seen Toffolo play both LB and LWB, the story has been the same in either position. A pivotal cog to Corberán’s system, that has looked dangerous consistently in either role.
A part of this definitely has to come with the relationship he has with Lewis O’Brien, from the outside looking in, the pair seem inseparable at times and on the pitch, it’s very similar, whilst the pair are able, and often do combine when going forward. O’Brien often covers when Toffolo goes on his darting runs, with a seemingly telekinetic relationship.
Before this season the 26-year-old had virtue for attacking runs into advanced areas on the left flanks, if not even coming central at times and acting as a striker. Which has only become a more prominent part of his game this season.
Before this campaign, Toffolo’s highest returning campaign tally was one of eight, albeit seven seasons ago. This season though this has been smashed out of the park. The Englishman has contributed 14 times in 44 games this season, scoring six and assisting eight times, the highest returns of any defender in the Championship this season.
Off the pitch too, Toffolo is a key figure for the club and really exemplifies the club’s role within the community. He has highlighted this in recent months with the wing-back’s relationship with Huddersfield fan Daryl Hopson, who recently lost his battle with cancer. Throughout Daz’s fight, Toffolo often interacted with him, furthering fans’ favouritism.
As a result, Toffolo is sought after by a number of clubs within the Championship with Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Millwall, and Norwich all being interested in securing the services of the full-back.
With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, Championship and even Premier League clubs should be looking at securing the signature of the 26-year-old.
That being said though, the club has the option to extend the contract for a year and will likely activate said option at the conclusion of this season, at the very least if not even offering an improved new contract to one of their most pivotal players.
Toffolo is one of those players that consistently has been chosen, not just because of his ability on the pitch, but because of his understanding of the club, the fans, and more importantly what it means to both. Huddersfield Town will likely never be the club to throw millions of pounds at a player.
It is clear the club took lessons from their Premier League, more specifically the second season and especially the recruitment that happened in that season. Not just the quality of a player on the pitch, but off it. Toffolo was the first post-Premier League era signing for the club (not counting Isaac Mbenza after the activation of his obligatory buy clause.)
Toffolo has seen multiple managers, and multiple new faces come into the club and leave it too. Whilst his position or role may have changed throughout this time, he has never forgotten what the club means to its fans and that is something that is priceless.
Personalities in football, more than ever have to be considered in the transfer market. Huddersfield Town has proven this point this season. A squad of personalities that understand what the club means to the fans and will do what they can to make those fans proud on and off the pitch, in the training ground and in the community.
Harry Stefano Toffolo, defines this. It, therefore, is vital that the Terriers, try to keep him, regardless of what happens on the 29th of May.
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