It’s an understatement to say that Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the season has been mixed. After three Premier League matches, they’ve drawn against Leicester City, won against Everton, and lost to Newcastle United. Despite a higher expected goals figure in their games against Leicester and Newcastle, the team has struggled with finishing.
Tottenham invested heavily in Dominic Solanke this summer, but a minor injury has kept him out of the last two games. Although Solanke is expected to make a significant impact, he, like most strikers, will be competing for second place in the scoring charts behind the exceptional Erling Haaland. Haaland has been in outstanding form, starting the season with seven goals in four matches, including hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United. His current valuation stands at around €144m (about £121m), reflecting his incredible impact.
Interestingly, Spurs have previously sold a player whose value, when adjusted for today’s market, would exceed Haaland’s current worth. That player is Gareth Bale, who was sold to Real Madrid for £85m in 2013. Adjusted for inflation, Bale’s transfer fee would be approximately £166m today, surpassing Haaland’s current valuation by about £45m.
At the time of his transfer, Bale was coming off a stellar season with 26 goals and ten assists in 44 appearances, and at just 24, he was poised for further growth. His tenure at Real Madrid was highly successful, with Bale winning five Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, and other trophies. He also returned to Tottenham on loan for the 2020/21 season, adding 16 goals and three assists in 34 games.
Bale’s higher adjusted transfer fee compared to Haaland’s reflects his significant contributions and impact at Tottenham, underscoring the massive value he brought to the club.
