Since joining Tottenham Hotspur in January, Radu Dragusin has been waiting patiently for his chance to shine. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice center-backs, but the former Genoa star might change that soon.
The 22-year-old defender only made four Premier League starts for the Lilywhites last season, with his late-season involvement mainly due to a lack of left-back options pushing Van de Ven out wide. However, things could change because he’s currently excelling at Euro 2024.
Dragusin’s performance against Ukraine
This week, Dragusin became a hero for Romania with a performance that might make the Australian manager reconsider his selections for next season.
Entering the game against Ukraine as underdogs, Romania secured a 3-0 victory thanks to a resilient performance. Dragusin was central to his nation’s triumph, starting at center half and dominating La Liga’s top scorer, Artem Dovbyk. The Spurs defender made ten clearances and won all three of his duels, putting his body on the line for his country. Romania’s number three also brought composure to the backline, giving the ball away just twice and boasting a pass accuracy of 89%.
If Dragusin continues to perform at this level, his involvement will likely increase significantly next term, unlike one of his Tottenham teammates also in Germany this summer.
Why Tottenham must sell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Since joining the Lilywhites almost four years ago under Jose Mourinho, Denmark international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been a regular figure in midfield. However, under Postecoglou, he has been relegated to a substitute role, with Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr preferred in midfield for most of the season. Despite playing 36 times in the Premier League, the 28-year-old made just eight starts.
Hojbjerg’s lack of defensive solidity and technical class proved detrimental, averaging less than one tackle per game and maintaining a pass accuracy of 89%. His salary at Spurs is notable: according to Capology, Hojbjerg is one of the highest earners in the squad, with only five players earning more. The former Southampton player makes £100k per week, or £5.2m per season, surpassing Dragusin’s £85k per week and £4.42m per year.
Hojbjerg also earns more than key players like Pedro Porro, Van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie, who are crucial to the boss’s style of play. Additionally, he is the second-highest-paid midfielder at the club, only behind James Maddison, and the second-highest-earning Dane in the league, just below Christian Eriksen.
Given his high wages and recent lack of involvement, it’s unsurprising that the “irresponsible” Hojbjerg, as dubbed by journalist Arlo White, is expected to leave Spurs this summer. Clearly, the best solution is for Spurs to prioritize selling Hojbjerg this summer.