Over the summer Tottenham Hotspur signed one of England’s most promising teenagers Ryan Sessegnon for an initial £25m from Fulham after their relegation back to the Championship. The 19-year-old had a disappointing season by his Championship standards last term, but it cannot of been helped by the turmoil the Cottagers found themselves in, after appointing three managers during one campaign. Under proper guidance at Spurs, there is a chance that Sessegnon could walk in Gareth Bale’s footsteps to become a fearsome winger having started his career in defence.
Manager Jose Mourinho compared the England Under-21 international to Ashley Cole earlier this month, and regardless of what position Sessegnon end’s up occupying, that is outstanding praise. In his only start for Spurs since joining the wing-back lived up to his manager’s hype, thundering a strike past World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to level proceedings against Bayern Munich. He was one of the English side’s brightest players in that game even though it was a dead rubber, but with Son Heung-Min in outstanding form ahead of him, first-team opportunities have been limited.
However, with a stable situation at club level, he can at least push on from his two goals and six assists in Fulham’s relegation campaign. Despite a disappointing season, he was their most creative player, but sadly Sessegnon could not replicate his second division goal-scoring form where he found the back of the net on 16 occasions, primarily from left-back.
In spite of his former club’s poor fortunes, it is apparent that Sessegnon, valued at £31.5m (Transfermarkt), has an incredible amount of potential. Mourinho is not known for neutering young talents while in England, aside from Scott McTominay, but the Portuguese manager would be foolish not to guide a player who is ready to make the step up to the elite level.
His performance against Bayern shows that the Englishman is prepared to grab every opportunity afforded to him with both hands and, providing he is given a stable environment and the highest level of coaching, Sessegnon will soak up every drop. With an ageing squad that will need replacing over time, Sessegnon could yet become Spurs’ most valuable asset in the future.
