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Time’s up: Spurs can finally axe Dragusin by signing “immense” £68m star
Tottenham’s collapse in their recent match exposed a number of underperforming players, but one individual stood out for all the wrong reasons: Radu Dragusin. The Romanian centre-back, who has struggled to find consistent form this season, has become a growing liability for Spurs.
Dragusin’s Struggles Continue
Dragusin, arguably the worst performer on the pitch in Tottenham’s latest defeat, has not just had one bad outing this year. The 22-year-old has made nine appearances this season, with his performance showing some promise against Aston Villa and Manchester City. However, in most games, he has looked out of his depth defensively.
For instance, Spurs writer Alasdair Gold gave Dragusin a dismal 3/10 for his showing in the loss to Ipswich, another 3/10 for his performance against Galatasaray, and a modest 6/10 for his appearance against Coventry City. He also started in Tottenham’s defeat to Newcastle earlier in the season and was sent off in their clash with Qarabağ, only for his teammates to bail him out with a win.
Additionally, his statistics reveal a worrying trend. According to FBref, Dragusin ranks only in the top 41% of centre-backs across Europe’s top leagues for blocks, the top 43% for clearances, and the top 45% for interceptions. His passing and tackling stats are particularly concerning, with the defender ranking in the bottom 42% for passes completed and a poor 13% for tackles won per 90 minutes.
Spurs Eyeing a Dream Upgrade
Given Dragusin’s struggles, Tottenham is reportedly looking to upgrade their defence, with Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande emerging as a potential target. According to a report from The Boot Room, Spurs are keen to bring in the 20-year-old as a long-term replacement for Cristian Romero, should the Argentine leave the club. However, with interest from top clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, Tottenham may need to act quickly.
The move would be a costly one, as Diomande has a release clause of £68 million, but the investment could pay off in the long run. The Ivorian has already made 69 appearances for Sporting and played a key role in their league title triumph last season. At 6’3” and dubbed a “leader” by Portuguese football experts, Diomande is also a crucial part of the Côte d’Ivoire national team, contributing to their Africa Cup of Nations victory earlier this year.
Diomande vs. Dragusin
When comparing Diomande’s numbers to Dragusin’s, the difference is stark. Diomande excels in almost every area: his passing accuracy, shot-creating actions, tackles won, interceptions, ball recoveries, and aerial duels won all significantly outperform Dragusin’s stats. While Dragusin occasionally shows promise, it’s clear that Diomande is operating at a much higher level.
Conclusion
Dragusin’s performances have shown flashes of potential, but it’s evident that he’s not yet at the level required by Tottenham or under manager Ange Postecoglou. To strengthen their defence and build for the future, Spurs should seriously pursue Diomande in 2025 before other top clubs beat them to the punch.
