Manchester United’s enthralling Europa League victory over Barcelona was justification for those who espouse the benefits of Eredivisie imports; Lisandro Martinez colossal at one end, Antony decisive at the other. And lest we forget Tyrell Malacia’s steely contributions in the first leg at the Camp Nou.
It’s fair to say Tottenham Hotspur, however, do not quite have the same relationship with the Dutch top-flight.
Coming up to 27, the kinks in Davinson Sanchez’s game are as evident now as they ever were. That the Colombian centre-half is the only player Tottenham have signed from the Netherlands since Vincent Janssen’s disastrous stint in North London is, perhaps, no coincidence; the former AZ Alkmaar striker undoing much of the confidence Spurs had in a league they once delved into for Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen.
Tottenham’s track record when it comes to signing centre-forwards is not exactly glittering. And can be no doubt that Janssen, scorer of just six goals in 42 games after arriving for an eye-watering £19 million in the summer of 2016, belongs right up there with the Roberto Soldados and the Grzegorz Rasiaks.
If you were to rank Tottenham’s worst pound-for-pound signings of the century, Janssen may have a place on the podium.
Former Tottenham misfit Vincent Janssen could win another Golden Boot
But there was clearly a talent in there somewhere. Janssen won the Eredivisie Golden Boot after netting 27 times in just 34 games for AZ. 31 across all competitions.
Now, Janssen has a long way to go before he’s reaching those heights again. But, at the age of 28 and after three years rebuilding his reputation in Mexico, the Dutch international has returned to European football like a man possessed.
“Vincent is an unnatural striker,” his Royal Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel tells Het Nieuwsblad .
“He can hold up a ball, pass, and shoot with left and right. He heads reasonably well, and he’s strong in duels. I’m glad Vincent is playing with us.”
You can say that again. With 15 goals in 21 Jupiler League starts, Janssen is not only in the running a second Golden Boot of his career – his hopes boosted by Paul Onuachu’s mid-season switch to Southampton – he also has Royal Antwerp dreaming of a top-two finish and Europa League qualification.
“(Becoming the top scorer) is not my priority. Certainly not”, Janssen protests, in conversation with Eleven Sports. “(But) it would be nice. There are still fourteen games.”
After so many difficult years, after all the criticism that came his way during that confidence-sapping Tottenham spell, few would begrudge Janssen his moment in the sun.
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