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Rafael van de Vaart says Tottenham summer signing is ‘nothing special’ and cost far too much money
Ahead of the North London derby, Ange Postecoglou will be delighted to welcome back two of his crucial performers at Tottenham Hotspur.
Perhaps it’s slightly odd to label Dominic Solanke as ‘crucial’, given he’s only worn a Tottenham shirt for 90 minutes, but he’s already been sorely missed whilst injured.
Solanke immediately gave Postecoglou’s side a focal point, as would have been intended.
And although Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski have combined well to plug the gap, Spurs will be delighted to have Solanke back fit, whether he starts or not.
Of course, the importance of Micky van de Ven’s return needs no explanation, a player who is perhaps the first name on the team sheet since Postecoglou took charge.
Cristian Romero struggled against Newcastle without his Dutch partner, but the duo will be reunited against Arsenal.
Tottenham told they overpaid to sign Dominic Solanke this summer
Former Tottenham star Rafael van de Vaart, who enjoyed one or two strong moments in the derby himself over the years, has now been speaking to the ahead of the game.
And when discussing the match, Van de Vaart took a moment to reflect on Solanke’s arrival this summer, who he believes cost far too much money.
READ MORE: Harry Redknapp shares his honest Tottenham vs Arsenal North London derby prediction
Van der Vaart explained: “I have a lot of problems with the money these days, especially in England.
“For really, really normal players, you guys pay 50, 60 million pounds. It is unbelievable.
“So when I see a transfer for that money, I already think it is unwise. Because I don’t believe Solanke gets 40 goals. For that money that is what you should be looking for. It is too much for a normal player.
“Players in England playing for smaller teams going to bigger teams for crazy money is not wise. But it is what happens and we have to wait and see how they perform.
“I also know Dominic when he played for Vitesse [on loan from Chelsea], I thought ok, good player but nothing special.”
Solanke fit to face Arsenal in North London derby
Of course, Solanke has come a long way since that loan spell in the 2015/16 season, but Van de Vaart isn’t the first to criticise the fee attached to the deal.
As far as the striker is concerned, he’ll be looking to prove a point in the derby, demonstrating all he can offer in N17, irrespective of how much he cost.
At 27-years-old, Tottenham have bought a striker who should be entering his peak years – explaining why he cost so much.
Fortunately, Tottenham may have found Solanke’s long-term partner, a player who is now thriving out on loan.
Despite the Newcastle disappointment, all is still looking positive for Spurs right now, but Postecoglou will know how much a derby result can swing things either way.