£49.6m wasted: Levy must ruthlessly sell Spurs "horror show" this summer

This summer feels like it will have to be another one of significant change for Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a campaign that seems to go from bad to worse on a near-weekly basis, the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou, and it seems like he is on the precipice of losing his job.

However, it’s not just the staff that could change, as Daniel Levy and Co have to look to bring in some first-team quality players and shift those deemed surplus to requirements.

In fact, there is one player who was signed by Antonio Conte, who has cost the club a significant amount of money over the years and simply has to be sold.

Spurs players who should be moved on

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other members of the squad who should be moved on or sold in the summer, such as Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international kicked off the season by getting banned for using laughing gas, and while he hasn’t done anything like that since, he has been incredibly disappointing when he’s played.

For example, when he started against Fulham before the international break, he was hooked at half-time and earned a 3/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold, who described his display as ‘dreadful’ and ‘panicked’, which is not what you want from your central midfielders.

Another player signed in the same window who has to be sold or simply let go is Richarlison, who cost £60m, earns £90k-per-week and is never fit enough to play for the team.

In the almost three years since he moved to N17, the Brazilian international has made 80 appearances, in which he’s only been able to score 18 goals and provide nine assists.

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Unfortunately, there is yet another Conte signing who should be sold in the summer, someone who can be a serious liability at times.

The Spurs dud who must be sold

So, when it comes down to players who could be described as expensive mistakes, there are, unfortunately, quite a few at Spurs, but in this case, we are talking about Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back joined the club on loan with a £40m obligation to buy in January 2023, and to start with, there was a lot to like about him.

For example, in his first season and a half at the club, the former Sporting CP star racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and ten assists in 54 appearances and looked like he could become the club’s own Trent Alexander Arnold thanks to his ability to whip a ball in.

Unfortunately, this season has seen his output drop to just two goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, and that has shone far more light on his defensive ability, or lack thereof, more accurately.

The Don Benito-born ace is a complete liability at the back, and we have seen that on multiple occasions.

For example, the time Leandro Trossard completely embarrassed him at the Emirates, his abysmal performance at home to Ipswich Town, which journalist Mitch Fretton described as a “horror show,” or his “absolutely terrible” showing at home to Bournemouth, as one podcaster put it.

What makes it all that much worse is the fact that he’s also making £85k-per-week, which means he’s amassed around £9.6m in wages so far, which means he’s cost the club about £49.6m in total.

That breaks down to about £516k-per-appearance, £5.5m-per-goal, £2.9m-per-assist or £1.9m-per-goal involvement, which is hardly value for money.

Ultimately, while Porro showed some initial promise at Spurs, he has since become a total liability in defence, and therefore, the club should look to sell him as soon as possible.

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