Tottenham would benefit from purchasing Ryan Sessegnon this summer, but his acquisition is not a requirement for Spurs this summer.
Ryan Sessegnon appears to be poised to become Tottenham’s third signing of the summer transfer window. The young English starlet doesn’t necessarily fill a need for Mauricio Pochettino, but he still represents a smart purchase for the club.
According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham and Fulham are still locked in discussions about the final terms of the potential move, but a transfer fee of somewhere around £30 million appears to be where things are headed. Some Spurs fans might criticize the club for spending such a substantial fee for a player who struggled in the Premier League last season.
That point of view is certainly understandable. Sessegnon’s star has dimmed considerably to his brilliant campaign in the Championship two years ago. That doesn’t mean he can’t revive his career under Pochettino’s watchful eye.
The real curious aspect of this deal is the fact that Tottenham don’t really need a player like Sessegnon at the moment. Yes, depth is always a welcome feature of any Premier League squad, but it’s not as if Spurs are in dire need of another player on the left side of their formation. Sessegnon’s ability to play anywhere from left back to the attacking midfield adds to his value, but Pochettino’s squad is well stocked on that side of the field.
The proper expectation is for Sessegnon to start his career at Spurs playing in defence. Ben Davies received a new contract from the club this summer so he’s not going anywhere. Rumours have flown around about Danny Rose‘s potential status at Tottenham, but those stories have died down in recent days. It’s very likely that Sessegnon will start his time in North London as his club’s third choice left back.
That should turn out as a blessing in disguise for both the club and player. He’s still a very young player who looked out of his depth at times last season for Fulham. It’s highly unlikely that his injury plagued summer has permitted him to progress significantly. The chances of him being prepared to compete for a Champions League side at the moment are pretty remote.
His natural talent is still readily apparent when watching his game. Pochettino will have lots of time on the practice pitch to mold him into a proper Premier League player. Spurs fans will need to have patience with him if he does end up a Tottenham player within the next week. He represents a rare phenomenon for the club. Ryan Sessegnon is a luxury purchase from a club that isn’t accustomed to such things.