It’s fair to say that the early promise that Vincent Janssen showed in his first couple of games for Tottenham Hotspur has not materialised into a striker that is pushing Harry Kane for a first-team place.
We said, ‘once he scores a few he will be top class’ – we are still waiting.
Janssen’s agent has revealed that Turkish side Galatasaray wanted to take the Netherlands international on loan for the rest of the season, but their January approach was knocked back by all parties.
While Mauricio Pochettino was never going to let one of the two recognised number nines at the club leave mid-season, the striker’s desire to stay and fight for his place is a good sign.
Janssen’s hold-up play, work-rate and movement off the ball are good and it is true that the former AZ Alkmaar man has failed to build momentum due to not playing a consistent run of games.
However, any comparisons with a certain Roberto Soldado are premature and unfounded.
The Spaniard seemingly lack the heart to rectify his tough situation at White Hart Lane and did not adapt to the English game – the same cannot be said of Janssen.
All the raw ingredients of an excellent player are there and in time there is nothing stopping him being a lethal Premier League marksman.
Spurs fans deserve to give Janssen time and more of a chance – let’s face it, whoever was signed as Harry Kane’s back-up was never going to be given much time on the pitch in the Premier League to impress.
A more likeable and accurate comparison than that of Soldado will hopefully be to Erik Lamela.
The Argentine struggled in his first 12 months at White Hart Lane but the creative attacker has turned the tide through hard work to become an important player for Tottenham. Janssen can too.