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He left in 2023: Spurs academy gem with bags of talent is now outscoring Kulusevski & Son

Tottenham Hotspur’s recent form has been a mixed bag, making them a challenging team to predict. One week, they can produce a stunning performance, dispatching teams with ease, while the next, they may falter unexpectedly.

This unpredictable nature was evident last season, and it has carried over into the current campaign under manager Ange Postecoglou. The team has secured impressive wins against top clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Aston Villa, but they’ve also suffered unexpected defeats, including losses to Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, and Galatasaray.

Despite these inconsistencies, Postecoglou’s Spurs have shown they can score goals, with 23 goals in just 11 games, making them the highest-scoring team in the Premier League so far this season.

The team’s scoring prowess is evident when comparing their performance with the rest of the league. Tottenham leads the Premier League in goals scored, ahead of second-place Manchester City, who have netted 22 goals, and joint third-place teams Brentford and Liverpool, both with 21 goals.

Chelsea and Brighton are further down the table, with 21 and 19 goals, respectively. This attacking ability has been key to Spurs’ ability to stay competitive in the league despite their defensive and consistency issues.

Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min have both contributed to the team’s offensive output, but they are being outscored by a former academy player who left the club just before Postecoglou’s appointment.

Kulusevski has had an interesting season so far. After a somewhat disappointing campaign on the wing last year, Postecoglou made the decision to move the Swedish winger into a more central midfield role.

This tactical shift has allowed Kulusevski to thrive, and in his 17 appearances this season, he has scored twice and provided five assists. Notably, six of these goal involvements have come while playing in the midfield, showing the positive impact the change in position has had on his game.

On the other hand, Son Heung-min’s season has been more frustrating. Injuries and fitness issues have limited the South Korean forward to just 11 appearances so far.

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Despite these challenges, Son’s effectiveness on the pitch remains undeniable. Although some of the speed and agility that once made him a menace to opposing defences seems to have diminished, Son has still managed to score three goals and provide three assists.

This impressive contribution means that despite a dip in his all-around play, Son is still averaging a goal involvement every 1.83 games, which is an impressive stat for a player dealing with injuries.

While Kulusevski and Son have been steady contributors, a former Spurs academy player, Romaine Mundle, is outpacing them in terms of goal contributions this season.

Mundle, a 21-year-old winger who came through the ranks at Tottenham, left the club in 2023 after refusing to sign a new contract. He joined Belgian side Standard Liège but struggled to make an impact, leading to a move to Sunderland in February 2024 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

His time at Sunderland initially mirrored his struggles in Belgium, as he only managed one goal and no assists in 11 appearances during the second half of the 2023/24 season. This left some questioning whether Mundle was ready for the challenge of playing in the Championship.

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However, the 2024/25 season has been a different story for Mundle. In 16 appearances so far, he has scored four goals and provided two assists, significantly improving his output from the previous year. His goal involvement rate has surged to an impressive 0.37 per match, compared to just 0.09 per match last season.

Mundle’s performances have caught the eye of observers, and his market value has skyrocketed, rising from just €300k (around £250k) when he left Tottenham to €2m (approximately £1.6m) today, according to Transfermarkt. His rise has sparked discussions about whether Tottenham made a mistake in letting him go, and many are now wondering what could have been if he had remained at the club.

Given Mundle’s recent form, it’s clear that leaving Spurs was likely a positive move for his development. At Sunderland, he is finally getting the chance to showcase his talents in a competitive league, and his performances have proven that he is capable of making an impact at a higher level.

It would have been intriguing to see how he would have fared under Postecoglou’s stewardship at Spurs, as the Australian manager has shown a keen interest in developing attacking players and providing them with the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.

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Mundle’s rise has raised the question of whether Tottenham overlooked a potentially valuable asset by letting him leave. While Spurs have been successful in their attacking play this season, particularly with the contributions of Kulusevski and Son, Mundle’s progress at Sunderland serves as a reminder that sometimes players may need a change of scenery to fully develop. In the case of Mundle, it seems that moving on from Tottenham was a catalyst for his improvement.

As the season progresses, Tottenham’s attacking capabilities will likely continue to be their strength, even as they work to address defensive issues and consistency. With Kulusevski adapting to a new role in midfield and Son still proving effective despite his injuries, Spurs’ future looks promising in the attacking third.

However, the story of Romaine Mundle serves as a reminder that talent development is a nuanced process, and players sometimes need the right environment to flourish.

In conclusion, Tottenham Hotspur’s offensive firepower this season, led by Kulusevski and Son, has been a bright spot amid their inconsistent form. However, the emergence of Romaine Mundle as a top performer in the Championship raises questions about Tottenham’s youth development strategy and whether they missed an opportunity to nurture a future star.

As Spurs continue their campaign, the lessons learned from Mundle’s departure and subsequent rise may influence how the club approaches its player development and scouting in the future.

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