An analysis of the Tottenham loan decisions for the 2022/2023 season

Like many clubs, Tottenham used the loan market to bolster their squad for the 2022/2023 campaign as they look to ensure everyone who buys Spurs tickets gets value for their money.
The Lilywhites had three managers before this season ended and they all had different strategies, which should ideally affect the lineups they used throughout the term.
Spurs have been an underachieving top club in the Premier League for decades and have tried their best to ensure that they change that.
Fans of the London side cannot say the club's current owners have not tried their best to make things better for them, judging by the amount of investment that has been put in.
Spurs started the season with Antonio Conte as manager after he pipped Arsenal to the last Champions League spot on the league table in 2021/2022.
At the time, the Italian had already loaned in some fine players as a part of his drive to make the team stronger.
Everyone expected Tottenham to challenge for the league title by the end of the campaign because of how they finished the last one, but that wasn't to be.
Conte was subsequently fired after he launched an astonishing attack on his players after they dropped points in an important game, and there was no going back to him.
His media clanger happened before an international break, and the Italian never returned from that break, reminding us all of how he was also ousted as the manager of Chelsea.
Conte was replaced by his assistant Cristian Stellini, who lasted just a few games and was swiftly sacked after a change of formation nearly caused Newcastle United to embarrass them in a league match.
Ryan Mason was then given the job on an interim basis, and he finally finished their season with no European football, to make this one of their worst terms in recent memory.
Spurs have a history of underperforming, so their fans will hardly be surprised that they have not made a European place, but how did their loanees perform during the campaign, and which should they keep?
In this article, we look at their loan decisions and see which players have justified why they were signed.
Kulusevski joined Tottenham on an initial 18-month loan deal from Juventus as one of the finest wingers in the Italian top flight, but he was underperforming at Juve.
He was a star player for them between 2020 and 2021 before Max Allegri became the manager of the Old Lady and implemented his more defensive approach to the game.
Things went downhill for Kulusevski since then and the attacker was expected to get back to form in Tottenham when Antonio Conte brought him.
Kulusevski made a good start and ended the second half of the previous season with five goals and eight assists from just 18 league games.
This meant he entered the next term as one of their important players, but he scored just twice and provided seven assists from 30 league games.
Because of his age, the Spurs need to keep Kulusevski permanently, and he is a player the right manager can turn into a superstar.
Spurs signed Porro on loan with an obligation to a permanent transfer in the last winter transfer window.
We all know Conte loves full-backs and he was unhappy with the performance of Emerson Royal, so he moved for Porro.
The Spaniard had a wonderful first half of the season with Sporting Club, but he failed to settle early in London and made a string of mistakes which could be considered one reason Conte eventually lost his job.
Porro provided six assists and scored twice in 14 league games for Sporting Club in the first half of the season.
He made an impression on Conte in the Champions League and the Italian brought him to Tottenham on loan with an obligation to buy.
Although there have been mistakes in his game, at 23, Porro is a good player who will still get better.
Unless Spurs believe they can sign a much better full-back before the next campaign, it would be smart for them to keep Porro.
His half-a-season at the club was not bad, and he certainly has what it takes to get better, so the smart thing is to make the move permanent and develop the player with the rest of the squad in London.
Lenglet moved to London after Xavi Hernandez made it clear he was not in the first-team plans at Barcelona.
Before the ex-midfielder became the club's gaffer, Lenglet was one of the finest centre-backs at Barca, which is why Spurs rushed to add him to their squad as soon as he was available for a transfer.
The centre-back has since delivered some top performances in the Premier League for Spurs, and he looks like a decent Premier League player.
Spurs have plenty of talents in their squad, but Lenglet is one of their best centre-backs and always plays when he is fit.
The Frenchman made 26 league appearances for them in the last campaign and this shows he is one of the players that managers have trusted with game time at the club so far.
Spurs will make a decision on his future like others, but Lenglet has not been overly impressive. If they can get a better player to fill in at his position from the transfer market, it might be a smarter idea than keeping the Barcelona man.
Danjuma's loan move to Tottenham was one of the most dramatic transfers of the January transfer window, and it has been made worse by how little he has been called on to play for the club.
The Villarreal loanee was expected to move to Everton in the transfer window as the Toffees battled with relegation, but Spurs hijacked the move, with Conte convincing him that he would get more game time.
However, the attacker has hardly had any chance to play as he struggles to bench any of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison.
The Netherlands international made just one start for Spurs in the just-concluded season, and he was hooked off after the hour mark.
Individually, it is hard to judge Danjuma because he barely got enough chance to prove what he can do. However, not being able to break into the team ahead of the more established players is a clear sign he is not good enough.
Spurs have shown a willingness to add new players to their squad in the last few seasons, and we expect them to bolster the group again before the start of next season.
However, we can tell that some of these loanees have done well to deserve a permanent move.
Kulusevski and Porro are two players the club should try and keep, except a new permanent manager does not want them in his side.
Son and Kane cannot be relied on to continue dragging the team out of trouble with goals, so we expect Kulusevski to remain as an understudy.
However, Danjuma has not done enough to stay, and the only reason he should remain with them is if they want to give him a second chance with another loan move.
Daniel Levy is an astute businessman and Spurs will soon name a new sporting director, so we expect them to make the smart choices in terms of keeping the players they need and buying those that will complement the options they have now.