“A real monster” – Defender’s comments should make Tottenham question €64m signing

In the long list of disappointing signings at Tottenham in recent years, it’s hard to ignore Mohamed Kudus.

The 26-year-old moved to Spurs last summer in a €64m deal that few raised eyebrows over given the player they’d seen previously.

Kudus had undoubtedly been one of the star men at West Ham since 2023, when he joined the Hammers in a €43m deal. 19 goals and 13 assists in 80 games was a testament to that.

He’d been even better at Ajax, who he joined from Nordsjaelland in a €9m deal in 2020. 27 goals and 12 assists followed in the three years with the Dutch club.

All indications with both of those spells was that he could be a star of the following years.

Tottenham struggles

But it’s yet to work out at Tottenham. Three goals and seven assists in 31 games is hardly value for money. In fact, it puts him firmly in the flop category for now.

Injuries have played their part in that, of course. The 25 games he missed last season with a hamstring injury means he’s barely had a chance to make an impression.

But when he has been on the pitch, Kudus is yet to make an impression.

Indeed, he is yet to show any hints of the talent that is undoubtedly there. But it does exist, his previous records show as much.

Ajax praise

Bram van Polen is someone who knows that first hand.

He played against the Tottenham winger when he was shining at Ajax. And he was left very impressed by what he saw.

“I thought Kudus was a real monster. He was just so good. I never liked it when he played out on the left wing,” he said on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat.

“He had everything. I got the feeling that Kudus didn’t even realise himself just how good he was. He was so strong, fast, low to the ground, and incredibly skilful.

“When guys like that got into the zone and the crowd got behind them, you really didn’t want to be facing them.”

The question is whether Tottenham ever get to experience that version of Kudus. At this point, he is yet to justify the big price paid for him. But as Van Polen will attest, talent is clearly not the issue.