Before a ball was even kicked, Tottenham Hotspur supporters were optimistic about the 2026/27 campaign under Roberto De Zerbi – and who can really blame them?
The hierarchy invested well over £250m into the senior ranks during the summer transfer window to try and avenge the last two years – which saw the club battle relegation.
However, just a couple of months on from the aforementioned window, it’s safe to say one addition has already struggled to deliver the goods for the Lilywhites.
Why Marmoush already looks to be a waste of money for Spurs
After the completion of the midfield overhaul, the Spurs hierarchy turned their attention to improving the options available to De Zerbi within the final third.
One of the additions made in such a department was that of Omar Marmoush, who arrived on loan from Manchester City with an obligation to buy for £60m next summer.
The Egyptian was seen as a transformative addition for the Lilywhites, but his stats from the opening ten games of the campaign showcase his struggles at present.
He’s already racked up nine appearances since his subsequent switch, but only managed to find the net once – and is currently averaging every 659 minutes.
His inability to keep hold of possession has certainly contributed to his struggles, as Marmoush has been dispossessed an average of 2.3 times per 90 to date.
The aforementioned figure is more than 91% of attackers in the Premier League, with the forward undoubtedly struggling with the demands of operating as a centre striker.
Why Spurs’ attacking overhaul was a failure
As part of the summer overhaul in the final third, Spurs added three new players to the senior ranks, with Marmoush just one player to make the move to North London.
However, he’s the only player out of the trio to have registered a single goal or assist in the Premier League, which has often left the Lilywhites looking toothless in front of goal.
Centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke is currently the club’s top scorer and the only player to register more than one goal in England’s top-flight – which really highlights the struggles of the attacking unit.
The Lilywhites also have the fourth-lowest xG of any side in the division, with newly-promoted side Ipswich Town managing to produce more clear-cut chances in front of goal.
|
Lowest xG in the PL (2026/27) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Team |
xG |
xG per game |
|
Coventry City |
8.83 |
0.88 |
|
Hull City |
9.68 |
0.97 |
|
Newcastle United |
10.80 |
1.08 |
|
Tottenham Hotspur |
11.79 |
1.18 |
|
Ipswich Town |
11.99 |
1.20 |
|
Crystal Palace |
13.70 |
1.37 |
|
Chelsea |
13.90 |
1.39 |
|
Brentford |
13.87 |
1.39 |
|
Leeds United |
12.76 |
1.28 |
|
Sunderland |
15.57 |
1.56 |
De Zerbi’s men have only netted 10 goals this term – the third worst of any side in England’s top-flight – which only compounds the struggles of his attacking-minded players at present.
Why Spurs’ big-money flop has been worse than Marmoush
There’s no denying Marmoush is a player who is already under huge pressure to deliver at Spurs given the players who have previously operated in the final third.
The big-money fee is undoubtedly playing on the minds of the supporters, but he will still have time to resurrect his recent slow start to life in North London.
However, the same may not be said about fellow attacker Mykhailo Mudryk, who could well find himself away from the Lilywhites’ senior squad in the near future.
The Ukrainian joined the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea during the recent window in an attempt to add further quality into De Zerbi’s senior squad.
Such a move raised eyebrows across the country and understandably so given the forward missed just shy of two years worth of action due to a failed doping test.
However, the fresh start for the 25-year-old has been yet another disaster, with the loanee unable to showcase his talents to the Spurs faithful after his move.
Mudyrk has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League this campaign, which has seen him feature for a measly total of just 16 minutes for the Lilywhites.
During such a cameo, he only managed to register four touches of the ball, whilst losing possession with 50% of the aforementioned touches – highlighting his lack of impact off the bench.
The winger also failed to complete any of his attempted crosses or dribbles against Nottingham Forest – which only further showcases his lack of quality.
He’s failed to appear in any game since such an outing after suffering an ankle injury and there’s currently no return date being provided for the Ukrainian.
To make matters worse, the Lilywhites are reportedly paying £115k-per-week of the forward’s wages – with the club already forking out over £1m to cover his salary despite his lack of impact.
Mudryk’s injury issues and lack of quality when fully fit have undoubtedly made him a failed addition for Spurs – with the signing pretty much summing up the failures of the attacking overhaul.
There’s no denying Marmoush has also struggled in North London, but the struggles of his teammate in recent months has no doubt made the Chelsea loanee a bigger failure.
