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Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images
Champions League Tottenham
Champions League Tottenham
‘I don't think I can play anymore’ – Dejan Kulusevski opens up on Tottenham injury nightmare
‘I don't think I can play anymore’ – Dejan Kulusevski opens up on Tottenham injury nightmare
Tottenham face Arsenal and Man Utd competition as Bournemouth make Kroupi transfer decision
Tottenham face Arsenal and Man Utd competition as Bournemouth make Kroupi transfer decision
Tottenham battling six PL clubs for Sporting Lisbon star as release clause comes to light
Tottenham battling six PL clubs for Sporting Lisbon star as release clause comes to light
Tottenham handed James Maddison injury update ahead of Crystal Palace
Tottenham handed James Maddison injury update ahead of Crystal Palace
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Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
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Photo by Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Geny Catamo
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James Maddison Tottenham
James Maddison Tottenham
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Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
FBL-EUR-C1-TOTTENHAM-REAL MADRID
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Former Fulham defender Paul Konchesky, who also appeared on the podcast, agreed with Sherwood’s assessment. He recalled how difficult Dembele was to dispossess and praised his ability to glide past opponents from central areas.
Sherwood is not the first former player to question how Dembele never ended up at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
In 2024, Antonio Rudiger named the Belgian as one of the most underrated opponents he had faced, praising his strength and technique.
Former Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen also named Dembele as the best player he had played alongside, despite sharing a dressing room with Harry Kane.
Why Tottenham have found Mousa Dembele so difficult to replace
Sherwood’s comments raise an interesting point about Tottenham’s recruitment since Dembele left in 2019. Spurs have spent considerable sums on midfielders over the past seven years, but finding somebody who can influence matches in quite the same way has proved difficult.
Dembele was not a midfielder who regularly contributed goals or assists. His biggest strength was receiving the ball under pressure, holding off opponents and carrying possession into areas where Tottenham could begin to hurt teams.
That made him particularly important in Pochettino’s side. When Spurs were being pressed, Dembele could take the ball in a crowded midfield and find a way out, allowing the team to move forward without resorting to hopeful long passes.
Tanguy Ndombele was one of the players Tottenham signed after Dembele’s departure, arriving from Lyon in 2019 for a club-record fee. He had the technical ability to beat opponents and carry the ball forward, but never established himself as the consistent midfield presence Spurs had hoped for.
Rodrigo Bentancur later brought composure and control to the middle of the pitch, particularly under Antonio Conte. However, his role was different from Dembele’s, while a serious knee injury interrupted his progress.
Tottenham now have two more midfielders who could help address that problem in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
Could Mateus Fernandes finally fill the gap left by Dembele?
Fernandes was arguably Tottenham’s standout performer in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese midfielder impressed with his passing, defensive work and ability to retain possession under pressure.
There are certainly aspects of his game that bring Dembele to mind, particularly his confidence when receiving the ball in tight spaces. However, fans need to not get carried away after one impressive performance which is not enough to suggest Tottenham have finally found a player capable of matching the Belgian’s influence.
Tonali offers something different, with his passing range, positioning and ability to dictate the tempo of a match. Together, the two midfielders could provide Tottenham with greater control, even if neither develops into a direct replacement for Dembele.
Tottenham do not necessarily need to find another player with exactly the same attributes as Dembele, provided Roberto De Zerbi can build a midfield that offers the same level of control, frankly, Dembele was generational and it’s hard to find a player who ticks the same boxes.