Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer history over the past few seasons has been anything but smooth sailing. Despite spending heavily to strengthen their squad, too many big-money arrivals have failed to live up to expectations.
While the club has certainly landed a few gems, there are far more examples of costly disappointments that have frustrated the fans and management alike. Among those, one name that continues to draw attention for all the wrong reasons is Randal Kolo Muani, who, much like Xavi Simons, is fast becoming one of Tottenham’s most underwhelming signings in recent memory.
For years, Spurs have been searching for the right blend of talent and consistency to propel them into serious title contention. Yet, even with the club’s willingness to spend, their recruitment strategy has often backfired.
The most famous example remains Tanguy Ndombele, who joined in 2019 for a club-record £63 million. The French midfielder arrived with huge potential but never settled, struggling to adapt to the demands of English football before being released in 2024.
Unfortunately, history seems to be repeating itself with some of the more recent arrivals, as Tottenham’s expensive gambles fail to deliver once again.
During the summer transfer window, new manager Thomas Frank made it clear that attacking reinforcements were a top priority. The club missed out on key targets like Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, leaving them to turn to Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a hefty £52 million fee.
The Dutchman’s arrival came with plenty of hype, but his impact has been almost non-existent. After 12 appearances, he has managed just one goal contribution and was even benched against Chelsea before being substituted on and then off again in the same match. It was a clear reflection of how far short he has fallen of expectations.
But as disappointing as Simons has been, Randal Kolo Muani’s struggles are equally alarming. The French forward joined Tottenham on loan from PSG, with Spurs paying £5 million just for the temporary deal.
Given his impressive record at Juventus last season ten goals in twenty-two appearances fans were optimistic he could bring much-needed firepower to the North London club. However, the reality has been far less inspiring.
Kolo Muani has failed to adapt to the intensity and pace of the Premier League. His performance against Chelsea was particularly poor, underlining why Thomas Frank has been hesitant to start him regularly.
In seventy-three minutes on the pitch, the striker managed only sixteen touches, completing just five passes and failing to register a single shot on target. Even more concerning was his complete lack of threat inside the opposition box, highlighting his inability to influence play when it mattered most.
Below is a breakdown of Kolo Muani’s performance in that match, which perfectly encapsulates his difficult start in England:
| Randal Kolo Muani – Stats vs Chelsea | Tally |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 73 |
| Touches | 16 |
| Passes completed | 5 |
| Possession lost | 7 times |
| Shots taken | 0 |
| Dribbles completed | 0 |
| Duels lost | 50% |
| Touches in opposition box | 0 |
These numbers tell their own story. A striker who barely touches the ball, doesn’t take shots, and loses possession almost half the time cannot be expected to carry Tottenham’s attack.
While fans had hoped his pace and movement would offer something different, his confidence seems to have evaporated, leaving him a shadow of the player who impressed in Italy.
Frustration is growing among supporters, who have already seen too many expensive signings fail to justify their price tags.
Kolo Muani and Simons, both viewed as marquee additions, have become symbols of Tottenham’s ongoing transfer woes. Instead of lifting the team’s attacking potential, they have contributed little to an already fragile start to the season.
The Lilywhites’ lack of creativity and cutting edge has left them struggling to find rhythm, losing three of their opening five home league matches.
Even the mood within the squad seems tense. After the loss to Chelsea, players like Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven were seen walking straight off the pitch, ignoring Thomas Frank and the travelling fans. Such scenes only fuel speculation that not everything is right behind the scenes.
Tottenham’s supporters are desperate for the club to return to the top of English football, but continued poor recruitment makes that task even harder.
Players like Kolo Muani and Simons were supposed to bring flair and inspiration; instead, they’ve brought frustration and doubt. They may still have time to turn things around, but unless their performances improve quickly, they risk joining the long list of failed signings that have haunted Spurs’ modern history.
