After years of near-misses with relegation, it was crucial that the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy made big changes during the recent summer transfer window.
It’s safe to say they did exactly that and handed manager Roberto De Zerbi over £250m worth of funds to improve key departments of the senior ranks.
The Lilywhites club-record was broken on two separate occasions, which saw Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali move to North London for a combined £185m.
However, due to the sheer number of additions made, there were always going to be players who lost out, with the manager making the right call to exclude one player from his senior ranks.
Why De Zerbi made the right call axing Richarlison
After the arrivals of Savio, Mykhailo Mudryk and Omar Marmoush in the attacking department, Spurs boss De Zerbi decided that centre-forward Richarlison would have no part to play in 2026/27.
The Brazilian was excluded from the club’s Premier League squad in September and has since been forced to train with the U21 squad after failing to secure a move away from North London.
At the time, some questioned the decision made by the manager, but there’s no denying the ruthless nature was needed if the club were to get out of the rut they found themselves in.
The Brazilian’s stats from last campaign were far from impressive, and it’s clear that he’s a player who is no longer needed for success in England’s top-flight.
The 29-year-old missed the most big chances of any player within the senior squad, whilst also achieving a conversion rate of just 15% in the Premier League.
The latter of the two aforementioned stats saw him rank in the bottom 10% of all strikers in the division, with his wasteful nature undoubtedly costing the Lilywhites in key moments.
Richarlison also managed to complete just 62% of the passes he attempted, which also placed him below 85% of players in the division, with the forward unable to provide the focal point needed.
Why De Zerbi must hand one Spurs did the Richarlison treatment
Richarlison’s case is the most extreme of any member in Spurs’ squad, but there’s no denying there are other players still on the books who desperately need offloading.
The Italian has a clear vision of what’s needed for success in the Premier League, and it’s crucial the board back him if he is to make the club a dominant force.
However, that will mean listening to his decisions and ensuring that other players are allowed to depart to continue the overhaul of the senior squad in the months ahead.
One player who has found himself on the fringes of the senior squad in recent months is defender Ben Davies, with the defender seemingly no longer seen as a crucial squad member.
The Welsh international has spent the last 12 years as a Spurs player, subsequently racking up 366 appearances across all competitions – even scoring on 12 occasions.
However, at 33, there’s no denying he’s no longer the player he once was, with injuries massively disrupting his progress in North London over recent years.
He only managed to make five appearances during the entirety of last season, with only three of which coming in England’s top-flight – one of which was also as a substitute.
The heavy investment this summer has only seen the experienced man fall further down the pecking order, with Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi both now ahead of the Welshman.
Ben Davies – Spurs stats | |
|---|---|
Statistic | Total |
Appearances | 366 |
Goals | 12 |
Assists | 19 |
Yellow cards | 47 |
Red cards | 0 |
Minutes played | 27,419 |
As a result, Davies has been restricted to just two substitute outings this term, with the defender only featuring for 22 minutes in the aforementioned matches.
Even when he has featured this campaign, he’s been unable to deliver the goods – as seen by his measly 33% duel success rate and tally of being dribbled past on three occasions.
He’s become a modern-day legend at Spurs, there is no question, but given his lack of action and £80k-per-week earnings – his time at the club should be coming to an end.
His efforts in North London will forever be appreciated and remembered, but ultimately, he’s a player who will have little say in the club’s future success.
As a result, the club should be looking to move the defender on and allow De Zerbi to have another opportunity to make his mark on the side in the hunt for silverware.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
