Tottenham should let Arsenal win transfer battle

Tottenham should never allow Arsenal to win on the pitch, but occasionally it’s in Spurs’ best interest to let them win a transfer battle.

The North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal is one of the most intense battles in all of European football. Frequently, the conflict bleeds into the transfer market as well. Evidently, that’s what is happening right now with Roma midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.

Reports from Italy claim that the Frenchman is anxious to return to the Premier League. He won’t be coming back to play for the likes of Stoke again. Instead, he wants a move to either Tottenham or Arsenal. While he’s still a player capable of giving Mauricio Pochettino’s squad a short-term boost, he’d be a poor piece of long-term business for Spurs.

When you watch N’Zonzi play this year it’s hard not to think of how Mousa Dembele looked on the pitch last season. He’s capable of playing really well for Roma in their most important fixtures, but his legs are clearly starting to betray him. That’s not surprising for a 30-year-old midfielder who’s never been classified as a pacy player.

Roma clearly see this summer as their last chance to receive a significant transfer fee for N’Zonzi. They’re hoping that someone like Tottenham or Arsenal will pay for the player he is right now while ignoring the player he’s likely to become very soon. Simply put, paying the £30 million or more Roma would require for N’Zonzi is just too expensive for a player who’s likely to decline very quickly.

That’s precisely why Spurs should allow Arsenal to “win” the tussle for his services. The current crisis at Unai Emery’s club will require serious cash to be spent when the transfer window opens again. The Gunners could do worse than buying a player like N’Zonzi to stabilize the middle of their formation. He can’t help make Arsenal better for the next decade, but it’s conceivable he can help them get back into Champions League contention next year.

Expect N’Zonzi’s representatives to continue to leak reports of Tottenham’s interest in their client right up until he’s sold to another club. Nothing about his career projection fits into Spurs’ operating philosophy though. They’ll let the Gunners land N’Zonzi if they’re so inclined.