Despite winning the Europa League last season, Tottenham Hotspur’s decline in the Premier League has been a major concern for the fans and staff behind the scenes.
The Lilywhites ended last campaign in a measly 17th place in England’s top-flight, with their inability to rise up the table carrying over into the current season.
Igor Tudor has been installed as the club’s new manager until the end of June, with the Croatian tasked with leading the side away from the relegation zone.
His side currently sit just four points clear of the drop zone after 27 matches, which could see the Lilywhites’ ever-present Premier League record come under huge threat.
However, if the side are to avoid an embarrassing collapse and drop into the second tier, the former Juventus boss should move away from selecting one player in his starting eleven.
The stats behind Gallagher’s struggles at Spurs
In an attempt to inject a fresh lease of life into the Spurs senior ranks, the hierarchy completed the £34m signing of central midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid.
Such a move was seen as an impressive piece of business at the time, especially after leapfrogging fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the race for his signature.
However, the 26-year-old has already made six league appearances for the Lilywhites, but there’s no denying he’s so far failed to hit the heights many expected in North London.
He’s only managed to come out on top in 16% of the aerial duels he’s contested in England’s top-flight to date, with such a figure ranking him in the bottom 3% of all players in the league.
Gallagher has also been dribbled past 1.5 times per 90 so far this season, more than 91% of other midfielders in the league, which highlights his lack of defensive quality at present.
The aforementioned figures are no doubt a concern to Tudor and the staff in North London, with the side failing to keep a single clean sheet since his £40m transfer in January.
The Spurs star who’s becoming the biggest waste since Richarlison
Spending big on new players hasn’t been alien to Spurs over the last couple of seasons, as seen with the £60m move for Richarlison back in the summer of 2022.
Given the nature of the fee, the move raised eyebrows across the division, with the Brazilian ultimately being unable to hit the heights many once anticipated.
The 28-year-old has only managed to net 28 times in his 122 appearances for the Lilywhites, subsequently registering one goal every four games he’s featured in.
Injuries have also played a part in his struggles in North London, with his move to the club a couple of years ago undoubtedly one that has failed to ignite and now looks a huge waste of money.
However, he’s not alone in struggling at Spurs following a big-money transfer, as seen with Xavi Simons after his own move during the recent summer window.
The Dutchman arrived from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig with huge expectations, especially after the club’s previous hunt to land the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.
The £52m transfer fee seemed to be great business at the time, but it’s safe to say the 22-year-old has failed to match the hype he arrived in North London with.
To date, Simons has only registered seven combined goals and assists in his 32 appearances across all competitions, including just one goal in the Premier League.
However, his underlying stats in recent weeks have also been a cause for concern, as seen with his below-par outing during the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.
He lost 15 duels during the local derby - the most of any player on the pitch - whilst losing 100% of his aerial battles, which often saw him be dominated by the Gunners on home soil.
The youngster also failed to complete any of the four dribbles he attempted, whilst being unable to find a teammate with any of the crosses he made into the 18-yard box.
The aforementioned figures showcase the struggles he endured in and out of possession, with the 22-year-old ultimately way below the levels many expected upon his arrival.
He undoubtedly has time to turn his fortunes around in North London, but like Gallagher, he’s endured a much trickier start to life at Spurs than anyone could have imagined.
Both of them desperately need to find form, and quickly too, with the club’s precarious position in the Premier League becoming more serious after each and every game week.