Spurs star who’s shades of Mousa Dembele should not play for the membership once more

This summer time looks like Tottenham Hotspur’s most necessary for a really very long time.

Whereas the membership endured a torrid Premier League marketing campaign, Ange Postecoglou’s aspect did the unthinkable on the continent and received the Europa League.

With Champions League soccer now secured, Daniel Levy and Co have the possibility to genuinely again the supervisor by bringing in a lot of top-quality gamers within the coming months.

Nonetheless, on prime of getting their incomings proper, the North Londoners must nail their outgoings, which implies transferring on a fan favorite earlier than the tip of his time on the membership goes down an identical path as Mousa Dembélé’s did.

Dembélé’s Spurs profession

In the summertime of 2012, Spurs determined to spend round £15m on a midfielder from Fulham by the identify of Dembélé, and over the following six and a half years, he’d go on to grow to be one of many best gamers within the Premier League.

The Belgian was famend for his silky approach and completely ridiculous skill to by no means lose the ball, whatever the opposition or the stress he was dealing with.

It would sound like hyperbole, however you do not have to take our phrase for it, as his former teammates could not reward him sufficient, with Kyle Walker describing him as “the very best participant I’ve ever seen play soccer” and Eric Dier claiming “he is a monster and he is acquired ballerina ft on the identical time.”

In all, the midfield “genius,” as former boss Mauricio Pochettino labelled him, made 249 appearances for the membership, by which he scored ten objectives and supplied ten assists, however in his later seasons in North London, he started to be suffering from harm, with experiences even claiming he admitted that the bodily calls for of the league have been turning into too pricey.

For instance, regardless that he solely spent half of the 18/19 marketing campaign on the membership earlier than transferring to the Chinese language Tremendous League, the Antwerpen-born star missed a staggering 22 video games via harm, and the season earlier than that, it was 9.

Briefly, there’s a sturdy argument that Dembélé ought to have left Tottenham in the summertime of 2018, as his remaining six months on the membership did not do his standing as an incredible any good, and the identical argument could possibly be made for somebody within the present squad.

The Spurs star who ought to depart this summer time

So, whereas there are a variety of gamers who ought to in all probability be offered or moved on this summer time, the one we’re speaking about may need a real shout for being probably the most fashionable gamers within the membership’s fashionable historical past: Son Heung-min.

Now, earlier than the pitchforks come out, we aren’t making an attempt to disparage the South Korean famous person, as, with out a shadow of a doubt, he is now secured himself the standing of a membership legend, if not a legend of the Premier League on the whole.

Furthermore, he is the primary membership captain to elevate a serious honour for the Lilywhites in 17 years and the primary to steer the membership to a European title in two generations.

But, that, partly, is why he ought to depart the membership this summer time, as he’d be departing on the very best of highs and having achieved one thing genuinely exceptional.

Moreover, whereas he isn’t been horrible this 12 months, there isn’t a denying the truth that he merely is not as devastatingly efficient as he as soon as was.

Now, that is not his fault, as, primarily based on analysis by The Athletic, extensive gamers hit their peak at 26 years outdated and see a steep decline of their skill to beat defenders at 30 years outdated.

In different phrases, with the “unbelievable” worldwide, as dubbed by Postecoglou, set to show 33 in a few months, he is only a sufferer of time.

We will additionally see this decline within the knowledge, as, in response to FBref, he was within the prime 25% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Premier League for profitable take-ons within the 19/20 season however has dropped into the underside 42% this season.

Furthermore, like Dembélé earlier than him, accidents appear to be extra of an issue, as throughout the final three seasons, he has missed 34 video games, whereas throughout the three seasons earlier than that, he missed simply 14 video games.

Finally, Son is an icon for Spurs and the Premier League as an entire, however to make sure he does not depart the membership on a downer, he ought to transfer on this summer time, basking within the glory of European success.

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