Left for zero: Spurs must regret losing their own Saka who’s now outperforming Son & Kulu

Tottenham Hotspur have long been known for their ability to identify and nurture young talents. The club’s history is filled with success stories of players who rose through the ranks or joined at a young age before achieving greatness.

Gareth Bale and Harry Kane stand out as prime examples. Bale arrived at Tottenham as a 17-year-old and eventually secured a record-breaking £85 million move to Real Madrid six years later. Kane, who joined Spurs at the age of 11, became a club legend before leaving for £86.4 million last summer at the age of 30.

Even today, the North London club continues to develop exciting prospects. Promising players like Mikey Moore and Lucá Williams-Barnett are seen as potential future stars who could either shine in the first team or, if sold, fetch significant transfer fees.

However, not every talented youngster remains at Tottenham. Over the years, the club has seen players slip through their grasp, only to thrive elsewhere. One such player, who left in 2018, is now outperforming Tottenham’s current stars Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski and has even drawn comparisons to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.

To understand the context of this player’s journey, it’s important to look back at some notable departures from Tottenham during the summer of 2018. That year saw a mix of success stories and less remarkable outcomes for players who left the club.

Among them was Kyle Walker, who joined Manchester City in 2017 after spending eight years at Tottenham. Walker’s move for £50 million, then a record fee for a defender, proved to be a masterstroke for City. At the Etihad, the England international has won six Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups, a UEFA Champions League title, and a FIFA Club World Cup, completing a historic treble along the way.

However, not all departures have been as fruitful. Clinton N’Jie, another player who left Tottenham during that period, has experienced a nomadic career, with stints in France, Russia, Turkey, and Romania.

Currently with FC Rapid in Bucharest, N’Jie has struggled to replicate the form that once made him a prospect at Spurs. In contrast, a young academy product who left in 2018 is now flourishing at a rival club and garnering attention as a top talent.

The player in question is Noni Madueke, who departed Tottenham’s academy in 2018 to join Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. At PSV, Madueke developed into a promising attacker, eventually earning a £29 million transfer to Chelsea in January 2023.

His rise has not gone unnoticed, with statistical comparisons linking him to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. According to FBref, a platform that analyzes player metrics, Saka is listed as one of the ten most comparable players to Madueke over the past year in Europe’s top leagues.

The table above highlights how closely matched Madueke and Saka are in several key performance metrics, including non-penalty goals, shots, and successful take-ons. While Saka’s consistency has made him a standout for Arsenal, Madueke’s numbers suggest he possesses similar potential.

Comparing Madueke to Tottenham’s current forwards further emphasizes the talent they let slip away. With five goals so far this season, Madueke has been outscored only by Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson in Postecoglou’s side. He matches James Maddison’s tally and outperforms Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Timo Werner, and Richarlison. His impressive form has drawn attention and raised questions about Tottenham’s decision to part ways with him.

Of course, no academy system can retain all its talented players. Football’s competitive nature often means that some prospects seek opportunities elsewhere to progress their careers.

However, Madueke’s development and performances this season might leave Tottenham wondering what could have been. While the club continues to nurture other young stars, Madueke’s story serves as a reminder of the challenges in managing talent and the potential rewards of patience and opportunity.

Tottenham’s reputation for producing and developing players remains intact, but stories like Madueke’s departure highlight the fine margins between keeping and losing a future star. As he continues to shine in the Premier League, Tottenham fans might look back and wonder how he slipped through the cracks of their famed academy system.