The agent of Tottenham Hotspur left-back Destiny Udogue believes his transfer fee was a bargain, especially when compared to the staggering sum Premier League rivals Chelsea paid for Marc Cucurella.
Just one year after moving to Stamford Bridge for an initial fee of £56 million, Cucurella was mere hours away from leaving on loan. Manchester United had almost wrapped up a short-term deal for the poodle-haired Spaniard before turning to Sergio Reguilon instead, leaving Cucurella somewhat awkwardly lingering around the fringes of the Chelsea squad like a nervous teenager at a school dance.
Destiny Udogie, in contrast, is already one of the first names on Ange Postecoglou’s team sheet – and one of the most in-form full-backs in the Premier League – despite setting Tottenham Hotspur back £35 million less than the fee Chelsea paid for Cucurella.
And Spurs, Udogie’s agent argues, are reaping the rewards for their ‘talent ID’ and their willingness to look outside the borders of English football. Thus, dodging the so-called ‘Premier League premium’.
Destiny Udogie a bargain buy for Tottenham Hotspur
“It is certainly a shame that the big Italian teams did not make the investment that Tottenham made early, and that young people of this level have to find space and glory outside Italy”, Stefano Antonelli tells Gianluca di Marzio.
“We are happy with everything that is happening, and Destiny is very happy to be at Tottenham. Surely the one who had the intuition, and demonstrated once again that he is a winner, is (former Spurs director) Fabio Paratici who, even in a moment in which there were (Ryan) Sessegnon, Reguilon and (Ivan) Perisic, thought it appropriate to make an investment for Tottenham, which is one of the top five or six teams in the Premier League..
“The Premier League, as we know, is an extreme economic world. And signing two starters for so little (Udogie and fellow Serie A import Guglielmo Vicario) is almost a unique case.
“Everything that happens in the Premier League is (usually) above 25 or 30 million euros. Chelsea signed Cucurella, for example.”
Spurs best start in 58 years
Both Udogie and Vicario, who set Spurs back less put together than the fee Chelsea paid for Cucurella, have grown in confidence and poise for a Tottenham side enjoying their best start to a season since 1965.
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