Football News: Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Window Round Up

Image from: themag.co.uk

Outs:

Ryan Mason to Hull City.
Now 25, he had failed to make any real impact on the team at Spurs, so it was a good time to move him on. Despite a lot of hype about his quality, he had never shown any signs of being good enough for Tottenham.

Nacer Chadli to West Bromwich Albion.
A surprise move by the winger, not because he was particularly outstanding, he was always a fringe player, but because he chose to go to the Baggies under Tony Pulis. A very strange choice. Obviously an Pulis-type of player, as he is tall. Not really a Pochettino kind of player though. The right choice to move him on, in my opinion, he does pop up with the odd important goal, but is completely anonymous other than that. Having said that, Spurs could well miss those goals this season, if things do not go well.

Alex Pritchard to Norwich City.
The young attacker never really got a chance to show what he could do, they did well to get a decent fee for him.

DeAndre Yedlin to Newcastle United.
This was a bizarre signing in the first place. Little technical ability, just extremely fast, he was never going to be good enough for Spurs. It was the best move for all parties to move him on.

Federico Fazio to AS Roma (loan).
The defender had never looked like breaking into the team, though it would have been better to sell him, a decent loan fee for him is the next best thing.

Nabil Bentaleb to Schalke 04 (loan).
Still only 21, so time is on his side, but he has never looked like he would grow into a player good enough to hold down a long term place in the Tottenham midfield. This season could be his last chance to show he can be good enough, though it is intended as a move to put him in the shop window for a sale. A good season in the Bundesliga might be enough to see Pochettino give him another chance.

Clinton N'Jie to Olympique Marseille (loan).
The young centre forward struggled to get in the team when there was only Harry Kane to compete with, the arrival of Vincent Janssen has made his chances even less likely to come along. A spell with Marseille could be what he needs to come back and make his mark with Spurs. Though it is more likely it will just be a shop window for his future sale.

In:

Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United.
Personally I am not sure I understand the thinking behind this big money last ditch move by Tottenham to sign the French midfielder. Already well stocked in the position he plays best, attacking midfield, plus his style of play is not suited to the way Pochettino likes to play. It seems a very odd signing, almost a panic buy, at the price paid. If Pochettino can get the best from him, make him use his physical attributes to the full, instead of the half-arsed efforts he made at the Toon, then he will be a good signing. Sissoko has ability, enough that he was seen as the natural successor to Steven Gerrard at one point by Liverpool, it is his application that is the issue. He is reminiscent of Yaya Toure in that regard. Potentially unstoppable, but far too often strolling around the field without breaking sweat. It is up to Pochettino to change that.

Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar.
The young Netherlands striker is exactly what Spurs have been crying out for over the last few seasons, cover for Harry Kane. The only question is whether the 22 year old is good enough to step up to Premier League level from the Eredivisie. Mixed signs so far, but it is early days for him. At least it should allow the manager to give Kane the rest he clearly needs at some point this season.

Victor Wanyama from Southampton.
This is the move I least understand from Spurs' point of view. I just do not see what Pochettino sees in him. Yes he is big, fast and strong and, usually, works hard, but he is a truly dreadful passer, his positional sense is poor and he is simply not as good as the players already at the club. He is really not suited for the style of play the club are trying to play, so it seems a strange move to bring him in.

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou from Olympique Marseille.
It was a long drawn out process to acquire the young winger from the French side, but he is one for the long term, not really this season. This season he is unlikely to have a major impact, as he will only really be used for cover.

Pau Lopez from Espanyol (loan).
The young goalkeeper has really been signed to provide cover while Hugo Lloris is out injured and to allow the club to have a close look at him. It is unlikely he will get any first team football for Spurs.

Overall verdict:

While Tottenham Hotspur have finally fixed one of their longstanding issues, cover for Kane, they did nothing to actually strengthen the first team in my opinion. With the majority of their team being young, it should be improving due to the experience they have gained, but this transfer window did little to strengthen the side itself. For me this was a major missed opportunity, with Champions League football available to tempt better quality players to the team. Once again Spurs have failed to push on when the opportunity has presented itself, it just remains to be seen if it will have the same result as previous years when this has happened. This time they have a better manager than the other times, and a much younger squad that will grow together, so they are better placed to maintain a top four place.

Written by Tris Burke September 16 2016 07:20:24