£7.1M wasted: Ange must axe out Spurs flop who earns more than Van de Ven & Kulu combined

Tottenham Hotspur has been undergoing a significant squad rebuild since Harry Kane’s departure and Ange Postecoglou’s arrival.

Key players like Giovani Lo Celso, Emerson Royal, and Harry Winks have left, while new talents such as James Maddison, Archie Gray, and Micky Van de Ven have joined.

Despite the fresh additions and the promise they bring, there are still players in the squad whose performance and contribution do not justify their salaries.

In particular, one player earns more than both Van de Ven and Dejan Kulusevski combined, yet provides significantly less value on the pitch.

Dejan Kulusevski, who officially joined Spurs from Juventus for £25 million after a successful loan spell, is one of the team’s most technically skilled players.

Despite occasional inconsistency, the Swedish international has made 101 appearances since joining in January 2022, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists.

This results in an average of one goal involvement every 2.80 games, and he has been a standout performer in recent matches.

Kulusevski’s importance to the squad is reflected in his salary, as he earns £110,000 per week, totaling £8.5 million annually, making him the fifth-highest earner at the club.

In contrast, Micky Van de Ven, another pivotal player for Tottenham, earns significantly less despite his crucial role in Postecoglou’s system.

Van de Ven joined from Wolfsburg for £34 million and quickly became an integral part of Tottenham’s defensive setup.

His speed allowhttps://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dejan-kulusevski/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/431755s him to maintain a high defensive line and cover dangerous situations, fitting perfectly into Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking style.

Despite his importance, the Dutchman earns only £50,000 per week, or £2.6 million annually. Given his contributions, this wage seems modest, and it’s likely that his salary will increase in the coming seasons to reflect his growing importance.

In comparison, Timo Werner, who is currently on loan at Tottenham, is earning an exorbitant salary that far outweighs his contributions to the team.

Werner initially joined the club on a six-month loan in January, with the loan fee and wages totaling £4.3 million.

His performance during that period was underwhelming, and despite this, Tottenham extended his loan for the current season, agreeing to pay his full wages and including an £8.5 million option to buy.

Werner earns a staggering £165,000 per week, a figure that eclipses the salaries of Van de Ven and Kulusevski combined. His performance, however, has not justified this expense.

Werner has made 18 appearances for Spurs, scoring just two goals and providing three assists. When broken down, the financials of this deal reveal a poor return on investment for Tottenham.

The club has spent £7.1 million on Werner, including wages and fees. This means that each appearance has cost Tottenham £394,000, each goal has cost £3.56 million, and each assist has cost £2.36 million. The total cost per goal involvement is an eye-watering £1.42 million.

These figures highlight how much Tottenham has spent on Werner relative to his actual contributions. Despite his experience and pedigree, Werner has struggled to make an impact at Spurs, and his performance against Coventry City, where he failed to register a single shot and received a dismal 2/10 rating, is emblematic of his disappointing spell at the club.

With such a high wage, it’s difficult to justify his place in the squad, especially when other key players earn significantly less while contributing far more.

Ultimately, Werner’s tenure at Tottenham serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of overpaying for underperformance.

Given the high cost of keeping him on the books, Postecoglou should consider removing him from the starting lineup.

The club should also avoid triggering the option to buy, as the financial burden of Werner’s wages and the minimal return on investment make it clear that his time at Spurs should come to an end.

With promising players like Kulusevski and Van de Ven offering much more value, Tottenham should focus on nurturing their talent and building a more financially sustainable squad for the future.

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