Ange could rue selling Spurs flop for just £8.4m, he’s now outscoring Solanke & Johnson
After a challenging start to the season, which saw Tottenham Hotspur drop points against Leicester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle United, the atmosphere around the club has shifted dramatically. Ange Postecoglou’s side has found a resurgence in form, stringing together four consecutive wins, culminating in an emphatic away victory over Manchester United. The team now looks poised to take on any opponent with newfound confidence.
A key part of Tottenham’s turnaround has been the impressive form of Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke, who continue to deliver in front of goal. Both players have contributed significantly to the team’s recent successes, but ironically, a player Tottenham sold in the summer is currently outscoring them. Despite the positive mood at the club, it wasn’t long ago that Johnson faced severe criticism, to the point where he felt compelled to deactivate his Instagram account due to online abuse regarding his perceived lack of form.
This criticism would have overwhelmed many players, but Johnson responded in remarkable fashion. He silenced his critics by delivering on the pitch, scoring in four consecutive matches. His goals haven’t just been in games where Tottenham was already dominant, but in crucial moments—netting the winner against Coventry City, the opener in a hard-fought match against Qarabağ when the team was reduced to ten men, and scoring first at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
In a matter of weeks, Johnson has gone from a player under pressure to one of Tottenham’s most important attacking assets. His performances have arguably made him an even bigger goal threat than Solanke, the club’s £65 million striker. Though Solanke also had a slow start to the season, failing to score in his first three appearances, he has rediscovered his touch. The former Bournemouth forward opened his account against Brentford, added another goal in the Qarabağ fixture, and capped off his resurgence with a strike against Manchester United.
While Johnson and Solanke have both overcome their early struggles to find form, there is one player who is outperforming them both, but he no longer plays for Spurs. That player is Giovani Lo Celso, once considered a flop during his time in North London. Lo Celso joined Tottenham on loan in the summer of 2019, with the move becoming permanent the following year for a total fee of £42.3 million. Though his arrival was met with excitement, the Argentine midfielder ultimately failed to live up to expectations at Spurs.
In total, Lo Celso made just 108 appearances for Tottenham, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists. After struggling for game time, he spent a season and a half on loan at Villarreal before being sold back to his former club, Real Betis, for a reported fee of just £8.4 million. However, since his return to Betis, Lo Celso has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. In just five appearances for the Spanish club, the 28-year-old has already scored five goals, including a brace in his first start against Getafe.
According to FBref, Lo Celso now ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, attempted passes, progressive passes, and tackles. He also ranks in the top 2% for pass completion and in the top 3% for shot-creating actions, showcasing just how impressive his form has been since leaving Tottenham.
Despite his struggles in North London, Lo Celso appears to be thriving in Spain, leading some to wonder whether Tottenham may have given up on him too soon. His uptick in form raises questions about whether he could have thrived under Postecoglou, who has transformed the team’s attack this season. Although selling him was likely the right decision for all parties given his underwhelming time at the club, there may still be a lingering sense of regret that Lo Celso couldn’t have rediscovered this form while wearing a Spurs shirt.