If any moment summed up Alexander Sorloth’s season, it occurred during the first half of Real Sociedad’s 0-0 draw with Sevilla this weekend.
With the goal at his mercy, the former Crystal Palace striker lashed a left-footed effort towards the back of the Sevilla net. It looked all-but certain to nestle in the corner. Until, that is, an unfortunate Sociedad team-mate, sprawling on the turf, deflected Sorloth’s effort up and over the crossbar.
The summer signing has just one La Liga goal in 24 games. One La Liga goal in 1,000 minutes of action. His last strike came all the way back in October, against Atletico Madrid.
With luck like this, Sorloth would be forgiven for wondering if the drought is ever going to end.
Why did Tottenham want him?
He’s had a strange career, Sorloth.
The Norway international earned a £9 million to Crystal Palace on the back of a prolific spell at Midtjylland. But it’s safe to say he won’t be remembered all that fondly by anyone at Selhurst Park, failing to find the net in 16 Premier League games.
Then came a pair of loan spells. A pair of very different loan spells. Forgettable at Gent, formidable in Turkey.
Sorloth’s 33 goals at Trabzonspor paved the way for an £18 million move to RB Leipzig. That is, only after Tottenham Hotspur had expressed an interest in offering the former Selhurst Park benchwarmer a second stab at the English game (Fanatik).
“We are talking with Leipzig and Tottenham, ourselves and Crystal Palace,” Trabzonspor president Ahmet Agaoglu said back in the summer of 2021.
Sorloth’s form since that prolific Super Lig spell doesn’t exactly paint the picture of a man who’d have had Harry Kane sweating for his place in the Spurs’ XI.
Can Sorloth save his La Liga career?
Dumped by Leipzig after just one, ill-fated spell in Germany – the somewhat cumbersome Sorloth never looked a natural fit for Julian Nagelsmann’s high-octane style. And, since moving to Spain – the eighth different country he’s played in since 2015 – Sorloth has looked more like the man who lumbered around Selhurst Park rather than the one who turned Trabzonspor into a title-chasing force.
Don’t be surprised if this most nomadic of centre-forwards is packing his bags once again in the summer. Especially after Besiktas made their interest known.
“Who does not want Sorloth? He is on our list, he’s a name that interests us,” admits Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci (Ajansspor).
“He has a contract with Leipzig and he will be very difficult to get. But we are willing to make all kinds of sacrifices.”
Would anyone really be surprised if Sorloth returns to Turkey and breaks the 30-goal barrier again? That’s just the way of it. Feast and famine, in a never-ending cycle.
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