“‘He’s overpaid and needs to be let go’—Ange Postecoglou urged to remove a player from the club who earns more than Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven. Fans have overhyped him.”
Tottenham Hotspur have had a mixed start to their season, which isn’t surprising given their performances last year. Ange Postecoglou’s team secured just one win from their first four matches, but a late comeback against Coventry City in the League Cup may have provided the momentum they needed. After falling behind early against Brentford, Spurs rallied to a well-deserved 3-1 victory.
Despite these signs of improvement, some players in the squad still appear inadequate, particularly one who earns more than both Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven.
**Johnson and Van de Ven’s Salaries at Spurs**
Tottenham acquired Johnson from Nottingham Forest for around £47.5 million last summer. Though he took some time to adapt, he finished the last season with five goals and ten assists in 34 appearances. This season has seen similar challenges, but the Welshman has scored twice in six matches. While not in top form, Johnson has the support of his manager and can still influence games, making his £70k-per-week salary justifiable.
Van de Ven, earning £50k per week, has also proven his worth. Despite missing several games last season due to hamstring issues, his remarkable speed is vital to Postecoglou’s system. He set a sprint speed record of 37.38 km/h last season, which allows for a high defensive line, knowing he can recover from any errors.
While both players serve different roles, they deserve their wages—unlike one of their teammates.
**Fraser Forster’s Salary at Spurs**
The player in question is backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Joining the club on a free transfer in June 2022, Forster has played around 22 times in two years. However, his performance against Coventry highlighted that he may not be at the required level to replace Guglielmo Vicario. He struggled with ball distribution and was rated a mere 3/10 by Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.
Notably, aside from Stefan Ortega at Manchester City, Forster is the highest-paid backup keeper among the ‘big six,’ with a weekly salary of £75k—a figure that seems excessive.
Ultimately, while Forster may be suitable for a lower-tier Premier League team, he doesn’t meet the standards of Tottenham, and Postecoglou should consider replacing him as soon as possible.
