In a remarkable turn of events, Tottenham have missed out on Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati. Despite the Spaniard seemingly looking set to be on his way to Chelsea, Spurs or potentially Liverpool, it is Brighton who have landed a killer blow in this stunning late-window transfer saga.
The 20-year-old will join the Seagulls on a season-long loan with no option or obligation to buy next season as he seeks to get back to the form that made him a natural successor to Lionel Messi’s famous No.10 shirt at Camp Nou. Fati has been ravaged by injuries in the past two years and hasn’t managed to match the initial excitement of his breakthrough as a teenager.
Now, despite the indication that Spurs were well in the driving seat to potentially bring the winger to England on a short-term deal of their own, Roberto De Zerbi’s side have secured an incredible coup, picking up the player ahead of competitors. They will, however, have to pay nearly all of his salary.
Having been valued at over £60milion ($75m) before this season, it’s not quite the try-before-you-buy that had been reported previously.
football.london says: Whisper it quietly, but we think Tottenham have dodged a bullet somewhat. Fati, while immensely talented, is not a certain banker that you want with a short-term loan without much hope of adding the player to the squad.
Unlike with Dejan Kulusevski, whose loan is one of the most successful in recent times across the continent, there are less assurances that Fati can come in and make a true difference to Ange Postecoglou’s side and without the chance of buying him, the deal has not got loads going for it. Sure, Fati could be a great player and maybe he’ll hit the ground running for Brighton but as Postecoglou looks to rebuild a squad, there is not room for needless loans or time to be spent on those who don’t have a future at the club. Even though Brennan Johnson is going to be more expensive than many would like, it is part of Tottenham’s hopeful committment to the player to develop him.
