Postecoglou rue selling Spurs flop for just £8.4M, who he’s now outscoring Solanke & Johnson
After a rocky start to the season, with points dropped against Leicester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur now exudes a newfound positivity.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have turned their form around with four consecutive wins, including a commanding away victory over Manchester United.
This resurgence has instilled confidence that they can compete against any opponent. Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke have been instrumental in Tottenham’s recent success, consistently delivering in front of goal, although they are being outscored by a player Spurs sold for a minimal fee in the summer.
Johnson and Solanke have become key figures in Tottenham’s attack. However, just a few weeks ago, the mood around Johnson was very different.
The Welshman felt compelled to deactivate his Instagram account due to online abuse about his form. Despite this adversity, Johnson has demonstrated resilience, silencing his critics with four goals in consecutive games.
His contributions have been crucial, netting game-changing goals such as the winner against Coventry City, the opener against Qarabağ with Spurs down to ten men, and the first goal at Old Trafford.
Johnson has rapidly emerged as one of the team’s most important players, even rivaling Solanke, who cost the club £65 million.
Solanke, while starting the season slowly, has also hit his stride in recent weeks. After failing to score in his first three appearances, the striker opened his account with goals against Brentford, Qarabağ, and Manchester United.
Together, Johnson and Solanke have reignited Tottenham’s offensive threat, but their combined efforts are still overshadowed by a player Spurs sold over the summer.
Giovani Lo Celso, a former Tottenham player, has been enjoying a renaissance since his move back to Real Betis. Originally joining Spurs on loan in 2019 and completing a permanent transfer for around £42.3 million, Lo Celso never fully lived up to expectations in North London.
Over his time at Tottenham, he made just 108 appearances, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists, before spending a season and a half on loan at Villarreal.
After only playing 597 minutes last season, the Argentine was sold to Real Betis for a reported £8.4 million, a fraction of his original cost.
Since rejoining Betis, Lo Celso has rediscovered his form. In just five appearances, he has scored five goals, including a brace in his first start against Getafe.
His resurgence has seen him achieve remarkable underlying stats, placing him among the top performers in Europe’s top leagues.
According to FBref, Lo Celso ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals, passes attempted, progressive passes, and tackles. He also ranks in the top 2% for pass completion and the top 6% for expected assists per 90 minutes.
Lo Celso’s impressive stats highlight the player he could have been for Spurs, raising the question of whether Tottenham let him go too soon.
However, given his lack of impact last season, it is likely that the move was best for both parties. While Postecoglou may be left wondering why Lo Celso didn’t exhibit this form in North London, the sale appears to have benefited the player and his new club.
To better understand the contributions of these key players, the table below compares Lo Celso’s performance this season with Johnson and Solanke.
| Player | Lo Celso | Johnson | Solanke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Minutes | 361′ | 544′ | 505′ |
| Goals | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 1 | 0.50 | 0.66 |
| Minutes per Goal Involvement | 72.2′ | 136′ | 126.25′ |
As Tottenham continues its upward trajectory, Johnson and Solanke will play crucial roles in the club’s ambitions this season. However, Lo Celso’s outstanding performances at Real Betis serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football transfers, where a player’s potential may not always be realized until after they leave.
Read Also: £100k/week Arsenal star now ready to make Tottenham switch