On the 12th of August 2016, Tottenham announced the signing of Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar with Mauricio Pochettino looking for adequate cover for star striker Harry Kane.
Having scored 27 goals in his last season in the Eredivisie, Janssen’s arrival at White Hart Lane was one that brought with it much expectation as it did excitement from Tottenham supporters.
very good signing! Shows passion and commitment already to the club with out playing a game yet. Love him! #WelcomeJanssen
— Lee Simpson (@leesimpson97) July 12, 2016
great stuff now please sign Gotze
— Jack. (@JackKenTHFC) July 12, 2016
Welcome to the Lane. Play with courage, audacity, and self-belief and you will become a legend! Learn to have thick-skin.
— Chris (@_glory1882) July 12, 2016
We’ve Signed a Striker. Would Love To See him Play 4-4-2. #COYS
— Zander (@Zander014) July 12, 2016
I'm beyond excited about this signing! I really hope he'll live up to his potential – if so, I think we're in for a treat!
— Flo (@Flogure) July 12, 2016
welcome Vincent , good luck for next season , a great addition to a younger hungry team
— Adrian! Emotional Intelligence (EQ) (@adrianstixs) July 12, 2016
Janssen, however, failed to deliver, with Kane’s incredible form leaving the Netherlands international having to settle for the odd cameo appearance.
And, when Janssen was presented with opportunities, he was absolutely dreadful.
He finished his first season at White Hart Lane with just two goals in 24 Premier League games, to put things into perspective.
With Janssen having been massively underwhelming in his debut campaign at Tottenham, Pochettino decided to bring in Fernando Llorente from Swansea City last summer, giving Janssen the chance to leave north London for Fenerbahce in search of regular football.
The 24-year-old has since returned to Tottenham — where he has not been issued a squad number for the new season — and is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on a foot injury.
In recent summers, especially before Pochettino’s arrival at the club back in 2014, Tottenham had made some shocking signings.
Recruitment up top, in particular, has proven to be a difficult task for the north London club with Roberto Soldado another centre-forward to have been brought in and struggled.
Janssen, though, could just be the worst piece of business Tottenham have done over the last few years or so.
The former AZ Alkmaar man has not carried any sort of threat in attack, while watching him trying to run onto a through ball with his lack of pace has been painful to watch.
With the way Kane has played since breaking into the first team, opportunities for other strikers were always going to be limited so, when given, they must be taken.
But Janssen, quite simply, was unable to and has now made those Tottenham fans who who were buzzing about his arrival look incredibly foolish.
