Why Spurs’ new Ivan Perisic already needs to be put up for sale

There was a glimmer of hope against Manchester United last time out. Whether that hope has carried into a Marbella getaway is a question that only Tottenham Hotspur can answer, however.

Whilst they’ve been sunning themselves in southern Spain, fans back in north London have been desperately waiting for their first three points of the campaign with the visit of Coventry City awaiting on Monday. Defeat there would spark the loudest alarm bells yet over Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure.

Some uncomfortable questions have already emerged for the Italian to answer, but the same can be said for ENIC and for Spurs’ recruitment team, who welcomed their new Ivan Perisic in the summer.

Remembering Perisic’s disappointing Spurs career

When history looks back on this current era of Tottenham, it will centre around disappointing recruitment. From the technical area to those on the pitch, it’s hard to point out a signing who has worked over the last five years. It has been a disastrous time for the Lilywhites.

The recruitment team has consistently got things wrong and some of their mistakes have simply arrived courtesy of poor timing. Ivan Perisic is a good example of that.

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This is a player who thrived at Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. It should have been a real coup for Spurs when they signed a player with such experience, particularly considering it was a free.

The issue for Spurs is that they signed the experienced Croatian when he was 33 years old and quickly moving beyond the peak of his powers.

It’s all well and good signing a player who has achieved great things until the only things they can contribute are dressing room stories of old.

In some ways, the Lilywhites were unfortunate. In the season before they signed Perisic, the winger scored 10 goals and assisted another nine for Inter Milan. It’s easy to see why Spurs were lured in.

The bad news for them is that final campaign at Inter was the last of Perisic’s world-class form, as he went on to score just one goal in his first season in England the next year.

No one will and no one can take away how impressive Perisic’s career was, but there’s also no denying that he was past his best at Tottenham.

The north London club haven’t learned from their mistake, either. In fact, they just welcomed a Perisic repeat in the summer transfer window.

Why Tottenham must already sell the new Perisic

There’s a lot to be said about Tottenham’s summer. Perhaps history will reflect better on its impact than in recent weeks.

After all, ENIC certainly spent big and even targeted Premier League stars while doing so. It felt impossible that it would go wrong, but here they are – in the relegation zone after six games.

It’s not necessarily the most expensive arrivals who are facing the most criticism, however. Instead, it’s one who arrived for free in Andy Robertson.

Like Perisic, Spurs signed an experienced star who has plenty of stories to tell about career success. But what they did not sign is a player who is still capable of making a positive impact on the pitch.

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

At 32 years old, Robertson is past his best, and that was evident when he lost his place to Milos Kerkez at Liverpool last season. Spurs simply took the bait of experience and have been made to pay.

The biggest sign of his struggles came against Aston Villa earlier this season, when he bizarrely kept the ball in play for Johan Manzambi to take full advantage and hand his side the lead. Spurs went on to lose that game 3-2.

After just eight games of the new season, Robertson must be shown the exit door as soon as possible after the Lilywhites repeated their Perisic mistake.

As Destiny Udogie showed following a bright performance away at Old Trafford, Spurs should be looking to youth rather than focusing too heavily on experience.

Robertson, like Perisic before him, may well enjoy just a brief stay at N17 in the end.