Tottenham desperately need to sign a striker in January. A combined strikeforce of Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane have found just 21 Premier League goals since last summer, including a solitary one this season, provided by the Togo international.
It’s shown in the Premier League table too – only six clubs have recorded less than the Lilywhites’ seven goals so far this term.
Resultantly, the White Hart Lane outfit have been linked to a plethora of frontmen in the tabloids ahead of the January window, but as per usual, the majority of targets mooted are incredibly unrealistic.
So being the lovely bunch we are at Football FanCast, here’s a list of FIVE forwards who would cure Mauricio Pochettino’s striking woes, that could conceivably be lured to north London when the transfer market reopens.
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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
In terms of strikers already linked with a January move to White Hart Lane, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar remains one of the stand-out names.
The Schalke assassin’s contribution to open play is infamously limited, as shown below:
And at 31 years of age, he’s no spring chicken. But the Netherlands international is absolutely lethal in front of goal; he’s bagged 35 in 65 for Oranje and 93 in 143 for the Miners – including this strike against Chelsea last week in the Champions League:
Here’s a look at Huntelaar’s top ten goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/EBGEdveNuY4?rel=0
The 6 foot 2 striker’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and although Schalke have plans for a new deal, they want Huntelaar to take a wage cut.
That makes a January move increasingly likely and the German outfit will have to accept selling for a nominal fee. But the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star has also been linked to Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Galatasaray.
WILFRIED BONY
Mauricio Pochettino’s game-plan at Southampton depended on big-n-burley, old-fashioned centre-forwards, and he’s utilised that tactic at White Hart Lane too, favouring lanky front-man Emmanuel Adebayor over the less physical Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado.
In that regard, stocky 6 foot Swansea striker Wilfried Bony fits the bill perfectly.
Following his arrival in south Wales last summer, on the back of netting 37 times during his ultimate season at Vitesse Arnhem, the 25 year-old claimed 16 goals and four assists in his inaugural Premier League campaign. Here’s a look at some of Bony’s highlights from last term:
//www.youtube.com/embed/L_zt5akDKGs
And as viewable below, in terms of aerial dominance and hold-up play, the Ivory Coast international far exceeded Spurs’ strike-force last season:
The former Eredivisie star has struggled for form this season, with him yet to get on the score sheet. But much of that can be attributed to a rather turbulent summer, involving a World Cup and continuous links to the Premier League’s bigger sides, as Bony has recently revealed.
Tottenham were undoubtedly one of the interested parties and could revive their interest in January:
Garry Monk spent the summer denying his star striker was up for sale, but it’s known Bony comes with a £19million release clause, which is well within Spurs’ financial grasp.
PACO ALCACER
Valencia youngster Paco Alcacer is quickly emerging as one Europe’s most sought-after strikers, and has resultantly been linked to Arsenal and Chelsea to name a few:
But in my opinion, Tottenham have a decent chance of signing the 21 year-old too, not least because they can offer him Premier League football AND a greater role in the first team, compared to the Gunners and the Blues.
As viewable below, Alcacer has been nothing short of prolific over the last 18 months:
And after winning two European Championships with the U19s, Vincente del Bosque used the international break to hand the 5 foot 11 striker his competitive debut as a Spain senior. Alcacer repaid the faith, grabbing one goal and one assist against Macedonia.
The Roja starlet’s contract includes a £15million release clause, leading the Spanish press to label him ‘the bargain of Europe’.
But Valencia are aware of the growing interest in their latest prodigy, and are reportedly planning to bump up his buy-out fee to £40million before the January window:
Here’s a look at Alcacer in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RCKK3deKD2w?rel=0
SEYDOU DOUMBIA
Seydou Doumbia has been linked with a move to the Premier League for much of his career, but that could finally materialise in January with the striker’s CSKA Moscow contract entering its final months.
The 26 year-old is yet to be tested in a major European top flight but his returns in the Russian League and at former club Young Boys are nothing short of sensational, as viewable below:
Doumbia measures in at just 5 foot 10 but he’s powerful and sensationally quick, meeting the natural requisites of the Premier League. Here’s a look at him in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/poul9EoEYiM?rel=0
Recent speculation surrounding the African front-man has been surprisingly limited. He was linked to Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea in April, but we haven’t heard too much since.
Perhaps they’re all eying a deal this January – if Doumbia doesn’t agree new terms, he could be available for a pittance.
According to Russian publication Izvestia however, CSKA are about to offer him a €3million per-year contract.
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Andre-Pierre Gignac’s Ligue 1 career has been patchy to say the least, but at 28 years of age, the French striker finally appears to have found his consistency in front of goal.
Here’s a look at the Marseille star’s stats over the last seven seasons:
And that’s backed up by a sensational start to the current campaign, which has seen Gignac rise to the top of the French top flight’s scoring charts – even trumping Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
Admittedly, the 6 foot 1 striker remains a bit of a punt – he doesn’t offer much to open play and has spent his entire career in French football.
But his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal is looking increasingly unlikely. L’OM suffered horrendous form last season and many of their senior players, such as Andre Ayew, appear ready to jump ship.
Gignac rejected rumours that he’d be leaving the Ligue 1 outfit in the summer, but Marseille will be forced to sell in January if their star forward is still yet to agree new terms. That could see him arrive at White Hart Lane for a nominal fee.
Here’s a look at the France international’s top five goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Uj-12t4Rcgg?rel=0
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