Should Leave With Frank: Tottenham Need to Sell Disastrous Ace After Man City Draw

Tottenham Hotspur brought the Premier League weekend to a close on Sunday night with a dramatic home clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and although defeat looked almost certain for long spells, Spurs’ spirited second-half revival ensured the points were ultimately shared in north London.

City appeared to be cruising after first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and January recruit Antoine Semenyo, but Tottenham showed character after the break to haul themselves back into the contest and deny Guardiola’s title-chasers a valuable victory.

The visitors struck early, taking control just after the ten-minute mark. Bernardo Silva slipped a clever pass into Erling Haaland, and rather than charging towards Guglielmo Vicario’s goal himself, the Norwegian opted for composure. Haaland shifted the ball across to Cherki, who jinked onto his right foot before drilling a low effort into the bottom-left corner beyond Vicario’s reach.

Spurs struggled to settle and were punished again on the stroke of half-time. City’s pressure eventually told, with Semenyo reacting quickest inside the area to bundle home and double the advantage, leaving Tottenham with a mountain to climb at the interval.

There was brief hope when Dominic Solanke looked to have pulled one back after some clever footwork in the City box, but the goal was instead credited as an own goal by Marc Guehi after the ball deflected off the defender and wrong-footed Gianluigi Donnarumma. Still, the strike injected belief into a Tottenham side that had been flat and predictable before the break.

Seventeen minutes later, Spurs were level. Solanke atoned properly this time, producing a moment of improvisation and brilliance by looping a scorpion-style finish over Donnarumma and into the net, sending the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into raptures. The momentum swung firmly towards the hosts, yet despite late pressure from both sides, neither could land a decisive blow as the match ended all square.

Before the comeback, however, Tottenham’s performance had left much to be desired. The Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma midfield pairing lacked urgency and control, often surrendering possession cheaply. Solanke cut an isolated figure up front for long periods, while Vicario struggled to impose himself with authority between the posts.

But the spotlight fell most heavily on Radu Dragusin. The Romanian centre-back, signed from Genoa in January 2024 as a long-term project, has endured a frustrating spell in north London and remains firmly behind Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the pecking order under both Ange Postecoglou and current boss Thomas Frank.

In two years at the club, Dragusin has managed just 39 appearances — totalling 2,610 minutes — largely confined to substitute roles. Having only recently returned from a cruciate ligament injury in December, he had played a mere six minutes of Premier League football prior to City’s visit. Van de Ven’s absence forced Frank’s hand, and Dragusin was handed his first league start in over a year.

The problem was the intensity of City’s attacking trio. Cherki, Haaland and Semenyo relentlessly swarmed the Spurs penalty area, stretching defensive lines and exposing any rust in Dragusin’s game. His timing, positioning and confidence were repeatedly tested by Guardiola’s relentless attacking patterns.

To some extent, the context must be considered. Tottenham were missing 12 players through injury, leaving Frank with just a dozen senior outfield options. Dragusin himself had barely featured competitively for months, and throwing him straight into a match of this magnitude was always going to be risky.

Still, the performance has only fuelled speculation about his future. Roma have been heavily linked with a move for the Romania international, initially exploring a loan deal until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. His agent, Florin Manea, previously told Tele Radio Stereo that he was keen to push a transfer through, although an agreement has yet to be reached between the clubs.

There is a growing feeling among Spurs supporters that Dragusin may benefit from a fresh start. After Sunday’s display, fan reaction online was unforgiving. One supporter wrote: “Dragusin is absolutely atrocious, should never be in the squad again. Get him out on loan and gone in the summer.” Another added: “Drive Dragusin to wherever he wants to go, even with all these injuries.”

Others pointed to his role in City’s goals, with one saying: “That’s Dragusin at fault for both goals. If only he could play like his agent talks.” Another bluntly posted: “Dragusin is god awful,” while a fifth fan remarked: “His agent talks about bigger clubs, yet this is the worst centre-back I’ve seen at Spurs.”

While such reactions may be harsh, they underline the pressure currently surrounding the defender’s situation in north London.

Dragusin’s struggles aside, Tottenham’s bigger picture is clear. With Champions League football not returning until March, Frank’s side must now shift their attention fully to domestic matters. Sitting 14th in the Premier League, Spurs need consistency, stability and points quickly if they are to steer clear of an uncomfortable relegation conversation and begin climbing back toward the top half of the table.

For a club with European ambitions, survival cannot become the storyline — and performances like the first half against City are a reminder of how fragile Spurs still look.