Tottenham news: Selling Janssen would be vintage Pochettino
Vincent Janssen’s days at Tottenham seem numbered
When Mauricio Pochettino decides a player isn’t good enough for Tottenham, they don’t stick around very often. That’s precisely why I’m not surprised to see reports popping up that he’ll be unceremoniously sold this summer.
The Mirror claim that Janssen is likely going to be shipped back to Holland this summer. He was a prolific striker for AZ Alkmaar, but things haven’t gone well for him in England. Janssen has yet to score a goal from open play in the Premier League. Four of his five Spurs’ goals have come from the penalty spot.
To say that he hasn’t lived up to expectations would be an understatement. Pochettino brought him in to provide solid cover for Harry Kane, but he just hasn’t produced. His effort level has been sufficient for most of the year, but this is a results based business.
The simple truth is that Pochettino isn’t a sentimental manager. He appreciates players who give their all for the club, but he has very specific ideas about what a player must produce to stay at Tottenham. That’s why it’s easy to see Janssen being jettisoned this summer.
More from Tottenham Hotspur
- Bayern Munich reach agreement for Harry Kane
- Antonio Conte goes scorched earth on Tottenham
- Clement Lenglet set to join Tottenham on loan
- Tottenham set to sign Brazilian Richarlison
- Tottenham Hotspur hold off Arsenal for Champions League spot
In fairness, I still believe Janssen can do a job for the club. It’s unlikely that he’ll ever become a prolific goal scorer off the bench, but his ability to hold the ball up against physical opponents does give the club a legitimate plan B. The question isn’t whether or not Janssen can do “a job” for the club, instead it’s whether or not he can the job Pochettino requires.
The answer to that question at the moment is clearly no. With time ticking down in the season Janssen has precious little time to change his manager’s mind. Harry Kane’s injury absence gives him a glimmer of hope, but he’ll need to go on a goal scoring run to convince Pochettino he should stay a part of his future plans.
Next: Tottenham star is talking his way out of North London
If we’re honest with ourselves his chances are very slim. The good news is that Tottenham shouldn’t be forced to take a significant financial loss once he’s sold. Spurs are still in the process of paying his fee, and can likely sell him back to Holland for a healthy transfer fee. In the end, Janssen will be a relatively inexpensive flop. Mauricio Pochettino’s decisive player evaluations are always going to make that a distinct possibility for Tottenham transfers.