Tottenham Hotspur became the latest club to be linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans this week.
With Tottenham now established amongst the Premier League’s heavyweights, and gradually threatening to seize that status in Europe also, Spurs fans would be forgiven for going into each transfer window feeling excited about some of the names that they are going to be linked with as most would now be tempted by a move to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Convincing the fans therefore, that they are making a smart move by targeting a player who currently plays for the Premier League’s bottom club has the potential to be a tough ask. But it is seemingly a challenge that faces them this season.
Despite Evans’ side’s form, £3 million would arguably be a bargain for a player who has enjoyed a very good career and should still have a number of years left at the highest level.
It appears inevitable that West Brom are going down, so the report would seemingly suggest that it is likely that Tottenham will make a bid. So what happened to the last three players that Spurs signed from relegated sides and will those deals give the fans hope over any potential move for Evans?
Moussa Sissoko (from Newcastle United)
Sky Sports reported in 2016 that Tottenham paid Newcastle £30 million for Moussa Sissoko. For a long time, it appeared set to be one of the worst pieces of business that the club have done in the last few years with the Frenchman showing the kind of form that left Magpies fans overjoyed when they heard how much he had been sold for. His form has improved a decent amount this season, but he still has some way to go before he wins the majority of the fans over it seems.
Kieran Trippier (from Burnley)
While Sissoko looks set to struggle to ever justify the fee spent on him, Kieran Trippier already looks an absolute steal, with the Daily Mail reporting that Spurs spent £3.5 million on the right-back in 2015, meaning that he cost just over a tenth of Sissoko’s fee. Before this season, he was largely a very good understudy for Kyle Walker, but he has arguably stepped up this year and surely sits above Serge Aurier in the pecking order on current form.
Scott Parker (from West Ham)
If Scott Parker was not in the 2010/11 West Ham squad, the Hammers would have surely been down long before their relegation was confirmed. Parker was exceptional for the Irons and ended up winning the Football Writers’ Player of the Year award despite West Ham finishing bottom of the table. BBC Sport reports that Spurs spent just £5 million on Parker, and while he was only with Tottenham for two seasons, he certainly made himself a favourite amongst the fans and was named the club’s Player of the Year after his first campaign.
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