The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder looks past his best.
Tottenham Hotspur fans understandably love Mousa Dembele, but unfortunately for the Belgian international, his form this season has been well below his best and Spurs really need to sign a long-term replacement.
While Eric Dier does the dirty work and Harry Winks is fast becoming the club’s pass-master, Dembele’s faltering form has seen Tottenham suffer without a quality box-to-box midfielder who can compete against – and boss – the best sides in the league.
Dembele used to be that player. However, this season he has struggled and, while that can be blamed partially on an injury suffered earlier in the campaign, the simple fact is Tottenham need a player they can rely on week after week, not one who may or may not return to his best in time.
The Belgian certainly has a role to play in North London, with his experience invaluable and his talent undeniable. The issue comes with consistency and, as Dembele showed against Manchester City, Tottenham are miles behind in that regard.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has proved his worth in the transfer window time and again (although he has also signed some duds along the way) and he needs to get it right when it comes to Dembele’s successor.
The right box-to-box midfielder could transform a Tottenham side that already looks a class act. But ignoring the obvious for too long will only see them falter when they should be challenging more than ever.
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