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‘On the bench at Tottenham’: Coach is glad £32m star didn’t join Spurs

Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images
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Wout Weghorst
Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur would be the wrong fit for Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst, former coach Anton Wennemers told Voetbal Primeur.

It feels almost surreal to suggest that one of the continent’s most in-form centre-forwards may end up watching the upcoming European Championships from the comfort of his sofa.

But that appears to be the harsh reality facing Weghorst, despite an impressive tally of 21 goals in 32 games this season.

The former AZ Alkmaar talisman was left out of Frank de Boer’s squad in November and, with Luuk de Jong, Donyell Malen and co ahead of him in the pecking order, Weghorst appears to be on the outside looking in with just three months to go before the Euros kick off.

At this stage, there is an argument to be made that the 6ft 6ins giant would have boosted his international prospects with a move to one of the Premier League’s bona fide big-hitters.

But, with Harry Kane firmly established as Jose Mourinho’s main man at Tottenham, Wennemers feels that Spurs and Weghorst are simply a bad fit.

“I did not expect that he would become this good. He has learned an awful lot”, said Wennemers, who worked with a young Weghorst at DETO Twenterand, highlighting Donny Van de Beek’s struggles at Manchester United.

Donny van de Beek
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

“I have yet to see whether he will make it against the physically strong defenders in England. But Ruud van Nistelrooy did it. Weghorst has to choose the right club.

“Just look at Donny Van de Beek. (Weghorst) had almost ended up sitting on the bench at Tottenham.”

Speaking to De Telegraaf in December, the £32 million targetman admitted that Spurs were ‘serious’ about luring him to North London.

But if a tally of 16 goals in 25 Bundesliga matches with Wolfsburg is not enough to earn Weghorst a place in Holland’s squad, it is hard to see how the odd Europa League cameo at Spurs would have aided his ambitions.

(BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Wout Weghorst of VfL Wolfsburg Looks on during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfL Wolfsburg at PreZero-Arena on February 15, 2020 in Sinsheim,… (DeFodi Images/Getty Images)