Having arrived at White Hart Lane for a then-club-record £26million and since gone on to score just seven goals in 46 Premier League appearances – only three of which have come in open play – forward Roberto Soldado is regarded as one of the worst signings in recent Tottenham history.
Indeed, in the wake of Gareth Bale’s £87million departure to Real Madrid, Daniel Levy took an ill-fated punt on a striker that, despite boasting 81 goals in 141 appearances at former club Valencia, always looked suspiciously alien to the physical, high-octane style of the Premier League.
Now 29 years of age, essentially wasting the peak of his career, it’s more than likely Soldado will be sold at a loss this summer as Mauricio Pochettino reshuffles his Lilywhites squad.
But how truly bad is the Spain international, when compared to some of his many flopped forebearers who also represented the north London club?
Perhaps this countdown of the seven biggest flops in Tottenham’s recent history – the earliest being in 2000 – can shed some light on the debate.