Solving Pochettino’s Headache: What Should Tottenham Do With This £18.6m Attacker?

Tottenham Hotspur may have enjoyed a wonderful Premier League campaign once again, as they came close to challenging for the title for the second consecutive season. But, in the end, they finished second best behind eventual champions Chelsea.

Despite the disappointment of being so close yet so far, it indicated another huge stride in the right direction for the club as they go about establishing themselves a top club both in England and Europe.

While the season was filled with positives for Mauricio Pochettino and his band of youngsters, there were a few let downs over the course of the campaign. Their journey in Europe was something that left a lot to be desired and the failure of their new arrivals from the summer of 2016 was another aspect that will have hurt.

One of those arrivals who failed to find his feet in England was striker Vincent Janssen. The 22-year old arrived from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a fee reported to be in the range of £18.6 million, following a highly impressive season in the Eredivisie in which he had managed 27 goals, finishing as the top-scorer.

Naturally, his signing was met with a lot of expectations. But following a below par season, there are a lot of questions surrounding his future at the club ahead of the next season. Should Tottenham decide to give him another run in the team? Or send him out on a temporary deal to boost confidence? Or is it time for them to cut their losses and sell him? Let’s analyze;

Janssen found it very hard to get used to the rigours of the Premier League in his first season away from Netherlands and it was there for everyone to see. His struggles seemed never ending as he found it hard to get going. The fact that he had to wait until April this year to score his first goal from open play for the North Londoners highlights the level of his issues adapting to the conditions and the style of play under Pochettino. In the end, he finished with six goals and four assists from 38 games in all competitions.

But throughout this period, his attitude was remarkable. Janssen, to his credit, never showed any signs of frustration and kept working hard each time he got a run out on the pitch. Yes, he has found it tough going to find the back of the net, but he has shown several attributes that do indicate he can come good for Spurs. His link-up play in the final third has been good and his strength and ability to hold on to the ball and bring his teammates into the game is another aspect that has impressed.

Yes, there is a lot of work to be done if he is to become a consistent goalscorer for Tottenham, but the fact that there is plenty of promise and potential in the player is undoubted. It is just a matter of time before Pochettino finds a way to tap into that. Also, the fact that he has already spent a season in England and knows what it is like, will make him better-equipped to tackle his issues better.

There have been several rumours linking him with a move away from the Lilywhites. And with Tottenham themselves keen on bringing in few new faces in the summer, will cast a shadow of doubt over his future. A loan spell too may be on the minds, so as to help him build some confidence, with regular football under his belt. But, Spurs have invested a year in him and his performances close to the end of the last season did give a sign of positivity. So, Pochettino and Tottenham should hold on to him and give him another chance to prove himself in the Premier League.