Where Kulusevski ranks among recent Tottenham signings

While it’s still too early to evaluate what impact Dejan Kulusevski will have on Tottenham in the long term, signing the Swede to a permanent contract represents the best bit of business in recent memory.

As long as Kulu doesn’t unravel and self-destruct like Davinson Sanchez, Tanguy Ndombele, and Giovani Lo Celso, his addition represents the best signing Tottenham has made since Son Heung-min and Toby Alderweireld in 2015-16.

Ok, so Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko, signed in 2016-17, and Pierre Hojbjerg, signed in 2020-21, might have something to say about that claim. You can probably add Lucas Moura (who is in contention largely thanks to one evening in Amsterdam) to that growing list of overlooked, aggrieved former players.

But you get the point.

Signing Kulusevski for €30 million, amounting to €6 million per season over the next five years, is an absolute bargain, a masterstroke of the highest degree. The Swede has all the attributes to dominate the Premier League for years.

Only 23 years old, Kulu has the skill, tenacity, work ethic, physicality, and attitude to thrive in the top flight. He assimilated to the league better than about 90 percent of foreign transfers, bagging five goals and adding eight helpers in his first 18 Premier League appearances.

His offensive contribution per 90 minutes was prolific, even hitting the top 10 assists per 90 minutes.

There is no arguing the tumult he endured during his sophomore season, his first full campaign, at Spurs. But it’s unfair to dish out excessive criticism, particularly considering how most of his teammates performed.

Aside from Harry Kane, of course.

Tottenham supporters, including me, have been highly critical of Daniel Levy in recent seasons. And rightly so. But I have to give credit where it’s due.

Kulusevski only needs an injection of confidence to reach his full potential, returning to the form we saw when he arrived from Juventus in January 2022.

Ange Postecoglou is the perfect manager to wield the needle.

Along with employing an exciting, relentless brand of attacking football, his ability to inspire is the perfect remedy for what ails Kulusevski.

While Tottenham has made a disproportionate amount of poor transfers recently, including Sanchez, Lo Celso, Ndombele, and Serge Aurier, the powers that be deserve credit for locking Kulu in long term.

I’m direly hoping Richarlison is never added to that ignominious list, though he’s not doing himself any favours.

Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur, and hopefully Pedro Porro and Yves Bissouma join Kulusevski as the most promising recent signings.

Hopefully, Kulusevski, like a few others before him, lives up to the lofty hype and expectations.

If he does, he’ll join Sonny, Alderweireld, and, to a lesser extent, Sissoko and Hojbjerg as the club’s best signings in the last eight years.