He needs to leave: £15m Spurs flop is now fast becoming as big a liability as Bissouma

Tottenham Hotspur’s turbulent campaign cannot be pinned solely on the short and ill-fated reign of Thomas Frank. While his eight-month stint in the dugout will hardly be remembered fondly, the roots of the club’s decline stretch much further back. Long before Frank succeeded Ange Postecoglou, recruitment missteps and questionable squad planning had already eroded the foundations of the team.

Across the pitch, there are clear areas that demand improvement, but nowhere has the drop-off been more alarming than in midfield. Once viewed as the engine room capable of driving Spurs forward, it has instead become a major weakness — one that could ultimately define their disappointing season.

A Midfield in Disarray

Change appears inevitable. This summer could signal the end for several familiar faces. Yves Bissouma is approaching the expiration of his contract, and there is little expectation that he will be handed an extension. His performances have failed to justify long-term faith, and his influence has waned significantly.

He is not alone in facing scrutiny. Rodrigo Bentancur, currently sidelined through injury, has also endured a difficult campaign. Once regarded as a composed and reliable presence, Bentancur struggled to steady the ship during Frank’s troubled tenure. Analyst Raj Chohan even went as far as branding him a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club,” a damning assessment that reflects just how far standards have slipped.

Even the addition of Joao Palhinha has not provided the balance Spurs desperately needed. An elite ball-winner and relentless competitor in duels, Palhinha excels defensively but lacks the creative spark of someone like Christian Eriksen in his prime. Without technically gifted, progressive passers around him, Tottenham’s midfield has looked functional at best and painfully blunt at worst.

Creativity, of course, does not reside solely in central areas, but the lack of invention in midfield has filtered into the wider attacking structure. Spurs’ play has often appeared predictable and sterile, with transitions lacking fluidity and incision. The ripple effect has been devastating, dragging the team down the table and draining confidence from the squad.

Pape Matar Sarr’s Stagnation

Among those under the microscope is Pape Matar Sarr. Still only 23, Sarr once embodied the future of Tottenham’s midfield. When he signed for £15 million and began to establish himself during the 2023/24 campaign, he looked like a dynamic, modern midfielder with boundless energy and technical promise. Journalist Antonio Mango even described his natural ability as “frightening.”

But promise has not translated into consistent performance this season.

After home defeats — including a sobering loss to Newcastle United — Sarr has often cut a dejected figure, the weight of expectation seemingly heavy on his shoulders. The arrival of Igor Tudor has only intensified the scrutiny, highlighting just how far some individuals have drifted from the standards required at this level.

Statistically, Sarr’s numbers tell a concerning story. An 86% pass completion rate in the Premier League might appear respectable on the surface, but context is crucial. He is averaging just 0.3 chances created per game and winning only 44% of his duels. Those figures represent a regression from the assertive, progressive midfielder Spurs supporters believed they were nurturing.

The Athletic’s JJ Bull was blunt in his post-match assessment following the heavy defeat to Arsenal, describing Sarr as “a big problem under Frank.” More concerning, however, is the sense that his struggles extend beyond tactical confusion. Questionable decision-making, hesitancy in possession, and a failure to exploit intelligent movement have crept into his game.

Sarr undeniably possesses elite physical tools. His stamina is remarkable, his mobility impressive, and his all-round profile suggests he should thrive in England’s top flight. Yet the pieces have not clicked into place. There is a growing fear that he could follow the trajectory of Bissouma — a player once brimming with potential who ultimately failed to fully realise it in north London.

A Defining Period Ahead

For Tottenham, this situation paints a grim picture. A club once renowned for developing dynamic midfielders now finds itself searching for solutions in an area that should have been a position of strength.

Still, there is little choice but to push forward with the current group until the summer window provides an opportunity for restructuring. Tudor must find a way to extract cohesion, clarity, and confidence from a midfield that has lost its identity. Without improvement in the centre of the park, any hopes of a late-season revival may quickly evaporate.

The uncertainty looming over the transfer window only heightens the stakes. Spurs stand at a crossroads: continue down a path of underachievement or use this period as a painful but necessary reset. Whether Sarr and his teammates can rediscover their trajectory may well determine which direction the club takes next.