Unimaginable: Spurs must now axe out £165k/w flop who’s said to be Tottenham best signing

It has been almost a year and a half since Ange Postecoglou took charge at Tottenham Hotspur, and the transformation at the club has been remarkable. The Australian manager has reintroduced the kind of attacking and entertaining football that Spurs fans had long missed.

While tangible success remains on the horizon, there is a clear sense of progress and optimism surrounding the club. Postecoglou has also ushered in a wave of talented new players who have quickly established themselves as vital members of the first team.

However, not every signing has proven successful, and one player in particular, who initially seemed like a promising addition, has failed to meet expectations and may no longer fit into the team’s plans.

Before delving into the underperforming signing, it is important to highlight the standout additions Postecoglou has brought to North London.

One of Postecoglou’s best acquisitions has undoubtedly been Micky van de Ven. The Dutch center-back joined Spurs from VfL Wolfsburg for £43 million and has already become one of the team’s most indispensable players.

His exceptional speed, combined with tactical intelligence, has revolutionized Tottenham’s defensive approach. Van de Ven’s incredible sprint speed of 37.38 km/h, recorded against Brentford, made him the fastest player in Premier League history last season.

This pace allows Spurs to play a higher defensive line, as he can recover quickly to thwart counterattacks. Additionally, his ability to carry the ball forward with blistering speed has contributed to the team’s attacking transitions, often creating scoring opportunities for himself or setting up teammates.

Another successful signing is Brennan Johnson, who, after a slow start to the season, has emerged as a key contributor in Tottenham’s attack.

Operating primarily on the right flank, the Welsh winger has delivered nine goals and one assist in 19 appearances, averaging a goal involvement every 1.9 games. His effectiveness has highlighted a glaring issue on the opposite wing, where one of Postecoglou’s other signings has struggled to make an impact.

Timo Werner, brought in initially on a six-month loan from RB Leipzig in January, has failed to live up to expectations. Despite skepticism from fans, Postecoglou expressed confidence in Werner’s potential, describing him as a player who could become “really exciting” once he adapted to Tottenham’s style of play.

However, his performances have fallen short. During his first half-season with the club, Werner managed only two goals and three assists in 14 appearances. While not disastrous, these numbers were far from the level of impact the manager envisioned.

Despite his underwhelming form, Tottenham opted to extend Werner’s stay for another season on a loan deal that includes an £8.5 million purchase option. Unfortunately, his second campaign has been even less productive, with just one goal and two assists in 15 appearances so far.

For a player earning £165,000 per week and expected to provide meaningful contributions either as a starter or backup, this level of performance is inadequate. With Son Heung-min entering the later stages of his career, Tottenham cannot afford to rely on a player who has shown little consistency or attacking threat.

Comparing Werner’s two seasons at Spurs, his goal involvement per match has declined from 0.35 in 2023/24 to 0.20 in 2024/25. These numbers reflect a worrying trend of diminishing returns, making it clear that he is not the solution for the left-wing position.

Moreover, Tottenham has an exciting alternative waiting in the wings. Mikey Moore, a highly promising academy graduate, has the potential to offer far more value as Son’s backup. Once Moore recovers from the illness that has sidelined him this month, giving him more game time could benefit both the player’s development and the team’s long-term success.

While Werner has displayed flashes of brilliance, those moments have been rare and overshadowed by performances lacking creativity and cutting-edge quality. His inability to consistently pose an attacking threat has made him a liability in a system that thrives on dynamic and decisive forward play. Given the circumstances, Postecoglou must minimize Werner’s role for the remainder of the season and avoid triggering the purchase option in his loan deal.

Postecoglou has shown a strong track record in identifying talent and integrating new players effectively into his system. Van de Ven and Johnson are prime examples of his ability to strengthen the squad with impactful signings.

However, the misstep with Werner underscores the importance of moving on from players who fail to meet the team’s evolving needs. By focusing on younger, more promising options like Moore, Tottenham can continue building a squad capable of sustained success.

Ultimately, while Werner’s time at Spurs has had moments of promise, his overall contribution has been underwhelming. Postecoglou must prioritize the club’s future by giving opportunities to players with greater potential and ensuring that every squad member contributes meaningfully to Tottenham’s resurgence. The decision not to retain Werner beyond this season would be a step in the right direction, aligning with the club’s broader ambitions under Postecoglou’s leadership.