When Harry Kane made his departure from Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich during the summer, many anticipated a downward spiral for the club within the Premier League hierarchy.
Questions loomed large: Who would shoulder the scoring burden? Who would be the creative force? After all, Harry Kane was the pulse of the team, right?
However, Ange Postecoglou, with support from his players, swiftly silenced these doubts, steering Tottenham to a commendable six-point proximity behind league leaders Liverpool as the season reaches its midway mark.
At the epicenter of Spurs’ revival sits Dejan Kulusevski, a pivotal force in the team’s formidable resurgence. Initially secured on a loan agreement from Juventus during Antonio Conte’s tenure, the 23-year-old’s impact propelled Tottenham to permanently acquire him for a fee of £25 million.
In a striking turn of events, despite the sensational initiation of Harry Kane’s £100 million transfer to Bayern Munich, it is now Kulusevski who commands a higher market valuation between the two.
The CIES Football Observatory’s latest rundown unveils the ‘highest estimated transfer value’ of 100 players worldwide. While it comes as no shock that Real Madrid and England prodigy Jude Bellingham claims the apex, one can spot Kulusevski ahead of notable figures including his former teammate Harry Kane, Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
The valuation assigned by CIES positions Kulusevski at 100.4 Euros, equating to a staggering £86.6 million, eclipsing Kane’s valuation of 95 million Euros, equivalent to £82.45 million.
Kulusevski’s ascent at Spurs is a storyline that shouldn’t be understated. Upon his arrival from Turin, he encountered a challenging spell, struggling to find his footing. Yet, within a brief span of transitioning to Hotspur Way, he played an instrumental role in rejuvenating a then-embattled Spurs outfit, ultimately aiding the team to secure Champions League football, edging out local rivals Arsenal.
Though a brief setback ensued, Kulusevski has resurged, demonstrating his prowess with five goals and two assists this season. His impact resonates not just as a standout talent within the Premier League but as an unsung hero within the captivating narrative of this Tottenham side’s resurgence.