A talent who is likely superior to the Brazilian could have been let go by the Lilywhites
Even though it is still early in Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, it appears that the 58-year-old could be the one to bring some stability to the north Londoners after years of turmoil following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in 2019.
After hiring Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Antonio Conte, the Lilywhites had also given the reins to Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason for brief periods last season. Prior to Postecoglou’s appointment in June, the Lilywhites had been through a lot of hiring and firing.
Those at N17 are still waiting to see an end to their long run without silverware, 15 years after their Carling Cup success in 2008. That inability to settle on a permanent presence in the dugout was likely a factor in the club’s on-field woes.
The Premier League team struggled to get the most out of a number of their marquee signings as a result of this unsettling period. For instance, club record holder Tanguy Ndombele only recently completed his third loan move away from the team.
That also seems to have been the case with the signing of Dutch forward Steven Bergwijn. Spurs may have made a mistake by not giving the winger a chance to really shine, despite his impressive rise since leaving last year.
What was Tottenham’s purchase price for Steven Bergwijn?
Daniel Levy and co. purchased the Amsterdam native to assist in supporting Harry Kane and Heung-min Son in the attacking ranks. The 5’10” star had previously impressed during his time with PSV Eindhoven.
Bergwijn was hailed as a “legend” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig for the Eredivisie team. During his time in Holland, he had scored 31 goals and provided 41 assists in 149 games across all competitions, ensuring that he was making his “big move at the right moment,” Kulig said.
The wide receiver was acquired in January 2020 for a reported fee of approximately £27 million during Mourinho’s first window in charge of the club. In the end, this proved to be one of ten additions that the former Chelsea manager would make during his time leading the club:
Even though the Portuguese manager seemed pleased with the signing of the young talent, Mourinho later admitted that the move for the player had actually been the club’s decision rather than his own:
“A good boy, a good professional, and a good player. My club deserves praise for the way they performed.
“When we decided to move during the winter, he wasn’t my first choice at first, and I always tell the truth about this. Nevertheless, a great choice in the end. A player with great potential who can play on both the right and left sides.”
In point of fact, Bergwijn’s debut at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium couldn’t have gone much better as he scored a stunning goal to help secure a memorable 2-0 victory over Manchester City, despite the fact that that was a notable high in an otherwise frustrating period in English football. Bergwijn’s start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium couldn’t have gone much better.
What was Tottenham’s selling price for Bergwijn?
The versatile attacker, who could play in the middle or on the flanks, scored three goals in 14 Premier League games that season, which was a respectable but not particularly impressive return for the January signing.
At the time, there was hope that he would be able to start the season with a full preseason under his belt. However, the following season was not one to remember, and Bergwijn only scored once and had four assists in 21 top-flight games during a season that was disrupted by injuries.
The 29-cap Netherlands international’s life under Santo and Conte in 2021/22 was not much better; he was frequently used as an impact player off the bench, making only four of his 25 league appearances.
Even though he didn’t get a chance to start, the speedster still managed to score three goals, including two memorable goals in extra time in the remarkable 3-2 win over Leicester City in January 2022.
Due to Conte favoring newcomer Dejan Kulusevski as part of the attacking triumvirate, that resulted in his inclusion from the start for the subsequent defeat to Chelsea, which resulted in his final start of the season in the Premier League.
According to pundit Paul Robinson, the Tottenham outcast was able to secure a return to his homeland after signing a £26 million deal with Ajax. This brought an end to a period in which he was arguably “unlucky at Spurs,” as the then-head coach of the national team, Louis van Gaal, publicly stated his desire for Bergwijn to depart last summer.
How much does Bergwijn now cost?
Robinson referred to the 25-year-old as a “top player” prior to his impending move to the Johan Cruyff Arena. However, over the course of the past year or so, the player has gone on to dispel the doubters by scoring 18 goals and registering seven assists in just 49 games for his current team.
Compared to Richarlison, Tottenham’s £60 million acquisition from Everton, who has only scored four goals and provided four assists in 40 games thus far, that record is significantly more impressive.
In a similar vein, the fact that Bergwijn has an impressive average of 5.22 progressive passes and 5.13 progressive passes per 90 as indicators of his direct and creative threat contrasts with the current Tottenham player, who, according to FBref, has an average of just 2.40 for those same metrics, respectively, demonstrates the difference in quality between the two players.
According to CIES Football Observatory, the former Toffees talisman is now valued at just €40 million (£34 million), a significant decrease from what the club paid for him in the summer of 2022.
In contrast, Bergwijn is now valued at €50 million (£43 million) because of his improved performances at Ajax. This suggests that he might have been a player who would have thrived under Postecoglou’s guidance.
Although only 25 of the Dutchman’s 60 Premier League appearances came from the start, some may argue that he had more than enough chances to impress. However, was he truly given a fair shake of the whip?
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