Spurs wasted £35.8m on Jose Mourinho flop who earned even more than Solanke today
Over the past five years, Tottenham Hotspur has undergone substantial transformation. With five different managers, a League Cup final loss to Manchester City, and the departure of Harry Kane, their star player, the club has seen significant shifts.
During this period, each manager signed players with varying degrees of success, and José Mourinho made some costly choices, including signing one player on a salary notably higher than standout current performer Dominic Solanke.
Looking back to Mourinho’s 2020 signings, we find a few players whose performances fell short. One such addition was Irish full-back Matt Doherty, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for around £14.7 million.
Despite an impressive previous season with Wolves, where he scored seven goals and provided four assists, Doherty couldn’t replicate that form at Tottenham.
Over two and a half years, he made 71 appearances, scored three goals, and tallied eight assists before his contract was eventually terminated.
Mourinho also recruited Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon for £27 million, following the left-back’s successful loan spell at Sevilla.
However, like Doherty, Reguilon struggled to match his prior form in North London, and after two challenging seasons, he embarked on several loan stints, moving on to Atlético Madrid, Manchester United, and most recently, Brentford.
Among Mourinho’s acquisitions, Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg stands out as the most financially significant. Højbjerg joined Spurs from Southampton for £15 million, a fair price for his services.
However, his £100k-per-week wage, which is £10k more than Solanke currently earns, raised eyebrows. While Højbjerg did contribute with five goals and two assists in 13 appearances, expectations around his performance remained high due to his salary.
Højbjerg, known for his intensity and drive, made 184 appearances, scored 10 goals, and provided 16 assists for Tottenham. Yet, despite his evident dedication, his overall contribution sometimes fell short in a competitive environment where results speak louder than effort.
Last season, Højbjerg tried adapting to manager Ange Postecoglou’s system, but ultimately left for Marseille on a loan with an option to buy.
Financially, Højbjerg’s tenure at Spurs paints an interesting picture. The club’s investment totaled approximately £35.8 million, including his wages, breaking down to £194k per appearance, £3.5 million per goal, £2.2 million per assist, and £1.3 million per goal involvement.
In hindsight, Højbjerg wasn’t an outright failure, especially compared to some of Mourinho’s other signings, but neither was he a resounding success.
His time at Tottenham highlights the club’s financial costs and challenges in finding players who can deliver at a consistently high level in the Premier League.
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