Signing wingers from Ligue 1 has not so far been productive for Tottenham, as Newcastle learned to their cost.
Tottenham Hotspur may be flying high at the top end of the Premier League table, but had they hit with their summer transfers, it could be even better.
Neither Vincent Janssen nor Georges-Kevin N’Koudou are looking like successful buys so far, with the latter yet to start a Premier League game.
N’Koudou’s lack of game time is concerning for Spurs, especially as there has been no discernible upgrade in terms of impact on last season’s buy, Clinton N’Jie, who has since been sent out on loan.
Tottenham need the 21-year-old to be a success, if purely to prove their transfer policy to be correct.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
As it stands, it appears they are on their way to repeating mistakes made by Newcastle United, who pinned their hopes on stars translating their Ligue 1 form to the Premier League.
In 2014, Newcastle splashed out to sign Remy Cabella from Montpellier. The playmaker was a key part of the French side, scoring 14 goals for them the season before he was sold.
For the Toon it was a different story as he scored only one goal in 31 matches, and failed to settle on Tyneside, and he has since been sold to Marseille.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
The big surprise was Newcastle deciding to double down the following summer and sign Florian Thauvin from Marseille, but this proved even more disastrous.
He was loaned back to the club as early as six months later, and is back playing for them again this season, destined never to wear a Newcastle shirt again.
Newcastle’s Florian Thauvin
Signing Ligue 1 wingers has been no more successful for Tottenham, with Clinton N’Jie failing to score a single goal in 2015/16, and being sent on loan to Marseille this season, which is fast becoming a rehabilitation club for failed Premier League imports.
Tottenham’s Clinton Njie
Liverpool’s Ragnar Klavan in action with Tottenham’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou
N’Koudou scored 11 times for Marseille last season, but has played just 40 minutes of Premier League football.
Tottenham like Newcastle decided to look to France in an attempt to sign a top talent at a cheaper price, but the adaptation period for the players is making it look riskier than it really should be.
So far it seems that Spurs have put themselves in a position where they may have the same mistake as Newcastle, and while they will not be as adversely affected as the Magpies were, in terms of their own objectives, the return is disappointing.
Premier League sides will always look for bargains, but if N’Koudou does not pan out, then he will be the fourth highly rated Ligue 1 winger to flop in the Premier League in three seasons.
This could certainly make English clubs, particularly Spurs and Newcastle, more reluctant this coming summer to make similar moves this summer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
