'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABv/aAAgBAQAAAAAq5//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/2gAIAQIQAAAAG//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMQAAAAf//EAB4QAAICAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEAgMFEgAGFEJS/9oACAEBAAE/AOkzVY7Mkokgshchi7I0s0g7zO9c4zt+yDM8OExJJNqls7PafkzGx5//xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADBBH/2gAIAQIBAT8A03Op4DP/xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARH/2gAIAQMBAT8ArP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The wait for a major trophy continues at Tottenham Hotspur, who last lifted a piece of silverware in 2008 when they won the League Cup. Since then, managers have come and gone but their attempts to help the club win a trophy have been in complete vain.
This is not to dismiss the hard work they have done, but ultimately, they haven't had anything to show for. They came very close to losing their superstar Harry Kane, arguably the most important player at the club in their recent past, last summer. Manchester City were quite close to sealing a deal for him.
Tottenham Hotspur have had their share of disappointment in big signings
The north London club's dry spell has really tested the England international's patience and he could soon be on his way out if no signs of progress emerge. Speaking of star players, one of the reasons for the north London club's long wait for titles has been the number of flops they have signed at the club.
Many players who had shown great promise were signed by the club to help them move closer towards their ambition. But eventually, they failed to honor the badge and produce what was expected of them. Here is a look at five of the biggest flops in Tottenham Hotspur history.
#5 Helder Postiga
When a technically gifted player like Glenn Hoddle suggests that fans are going to enjoy and be entertained by a player, he must really rate that player highly. Hoddle was the manager of Tottenham Hotspur from 2001 to 2003, a club he also represented in his time as a player.
The former England international was impressed by Helder Postiga who, with his burgeoning reputation, garnered many suitors in Europe. The Lilywhites paid £9 million, a fairly significant amount in 2001 and signed the Portuguese from FC Porto.
But his stock really took a bad hit during that spell and he was no longer the exciting prospect from Portugal. Postiga could only manage two goals in 23 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, although both those goals contributed to a winning cause.
Fans were left scratching their heads, having no idea how they managed to sign such a dud. Perhaps it's reasonable to say that they stopped judging players based on Hoddle's assessment afterwards.
#4 David Bentley
Arsenal fans must sometimes feel like they dodged a bullet letting go of David Bentley at the right time. The wide midfielder was earmarked as one to watch out for in the future but there were doubts whether he was completely devoted towards making it to the top level.
He made nine appearances for Arsenal, of which only one came in the Premier League and scored his only goal for the Gunners in an FA Cup tie. He was sold to Blackburn Rovers in 2006 where he found his feet and proved to be a real bargain at just €1.75 million. Bentley wasn't as much of a scorer as he was a provider.
On the right flank, he had the knack of finding players in the box and hurling effective crosses. This led to him registering an impressive assists tally of 10 and 11 respectively in two PL seasons along with four and six goals in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons respectively.
This prompted Tottenham Hotspur to fork out £19.80 million in 2008 and sign the former Arsenal academy graduate. He was being compared to David Beckham, not only because of the initials but because his first touch was sharp. His ball control was also impressive and he could deliver some seriously good passes.
But in his five years at the north London club, his moments of brilliance were rare and he was no longer creating decisive chances for the forwards to finish. His overall impact and ability to influence the game was fading. Tottenham Hotspur soon ran out of patience with him after he was involved in a drink and drive accident.
Bentley went on multiple loan spells at several English clubs and also to relegation battling Russian club Rostov. He finally retired from football in 2013, aged just 29 and confessed that he had fallen out of love with the sport.
#3 Federico Fazio
Most Serie A and La Liga fans would know Federico Fazio as a successful defender, but the same could not be said about the Tottenham Hotspur faithful. The north London club signed him for €10 million in 2014 which initially felt like quite a bargain.
The Argentine had become a mainstay in the Sevilla backline for many years and was also capable of producing the odd goal. However, Fazio failed to effectively adjust to the intensity of the Premier League and was always caught out by the lack of pace.
Tottenham Hotspur soon signed Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer, which meant no opportunities for the former Sevilla centre-back. He may have helped the La Liga club to the 2014 Europa League crown, but it was evident that he wasn't going to help the Lilywhites get any closer to silverware than they already were.
After making 32 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine joined Roma in a deal worth €3.2 million and established himself as a pillar at the heart of their defense. He delivered one of his finest performances on a historic night when Roma knocked out FC Barcelona from the 2017-18 Champions League.
#2 Vincent Janssen
Still only 27-years-old, Vincent Janssen once looked like he had the world at his feet and a great potential ceiling, but those days are gone. He is now plying his trade in Mexico in Liga MX, where he has been bang average. But when the Lilywhites took the risk of splashing £19.80 million for his signature in 2016, a few protested.
After all, this was a striker who, despite not representing Ajax, Eredevisie's most potent side, had taken the Dutch league by storm. In 34 games, he had scored 27 times and provided a further five assists. This tally with AZ Alkmaar made him the youngest player since Ronaldo Nazario (PSV Eindhoven) to score 25 or more league goals in a single league campaign.
As a result, he was awarded the 'Johan Cruyff Young Talent of the Year' award. Janssen had proven his worth and that he was ready for the top European leagues, and Tottenham Hotspur obliged. That was the beginning of the end.
The left-footed forward never looked comfortable in England and lacked serious confidence. He missed opportunities, easy ones that he was expected to take and failed to deliver. Fans quickly forgot he was in their ranks when he became a fringe player and was ultimately let go.
Janssen scored only two goals in 31 Premier League appearances and the north London club still somehow managed to sell him for €9 million to Monterrey.
#1 Roberto Soldado
Having built his reputation as an elite striker in Spain, Roberto Soldado arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013. Gareth Bale's departure to Real Madrid left a handsome amount in the club's kitty as they went on a shopping spree of sorts.
The Spaniard signed for a club record fee of €30 million. However, a few days later, Tottenham Hotspur forked out more money to make Erik Lamela their most expensive signing. Soldado arrived in England at the zenith of his career as a typical No.9, a goalpoacher with a midas touch.
In his previous three La Liga campaigns, he had scored 24, 18 and 17 goals respectively. So the idea was simple, a 20-goal-a-season striker will come to the north London club and propel them closer to major silverware. But his performances in a Spurs shirt once again reminded fans that the Premier League is different than most other leagues.
Soldado lacked the physicality to adjust to the English top-flight and that was his biggest roadblock. He was clever with his movement but once the defender caught up, the centre-forward could not hold his ground. In his first season at Tottenham Hotspur, he managed 11 goals in 36 appearances, quite poor by his standards.
Fans were positive and thought the adjustment period was over and the former Mestalla striker would get into the act. But the following season was even more disappointing as Soldado produced five goals and six assists in 40 games across all competitions.
The verdict was out, he was an absolute flop and wasn't meant to make the cut and lead the line for a top Premier League club.
