Assessing our Transfer Targets

So after a not so great start to the season the transfer market is really heating up. However I am questioning the players we’re linked and why we’re not linked with some pretty obvious ones…

Saido Berahino – Striker(s)

So anyone who has read my first article will know I’m a fan of Berahino but I did question if he was the right fit for Tottenham but overall I decided I would love this guy at Spurs. However this was before the signing of Clinton N’Jie. I presumed that if we were to sign Saido, he would be playing more on the right flank whipping crosses into Kane and providing Kane some much needed support on counter attacks. It now looks as though that’s why N’Jie was signed and therefore I’m questioning where will Saido fit in? I really can’t see him being an effective striker without Kane as he’s not your typical lone striker that we are looking for, and I really don’t think he’s what we need now we’ve signed N’Jie. I personally think we need a big target man with Premier League experience. So who else could we look at?…

1. Charlie Austin 

I for one was not happy when we were linked with Charlie in January this year. But now I can’t help but feel he’s the perfect fit for when Kane isn’t starting. It’s a like for like replacement. 18 goals in his first Premier League season for a relegated team can’t be disregarded, he had a phenomenal season and I can’t understand why we’re not perusing him. He’s only 26 and is English, so seems to be the perfect fit for Poch. The only reason for us not going for him is surely his price tag. £15 million is quite hefty, but I think I’d rather spend it on a striker like Austin rather than a striker like Berahino for this season. It would be ideal if we could have both but we’re not as lethal in the market no more. He is your typical number 9, good at finishing, heading, defending from the front, holding up the ball and being able to shoot from a fair distance.

2. Javier Hernandez

Now I can see why you could be thinking Chicarito is probably similar to Berahino, but he’s really not. Hernandez is a striker, and only a striker. Berahino is versatile and has various positions but that’s not really what we need as we’ve got loads of players in the positions Berahino can play. I’d prefer Hernandez because he is lethal. He was born a poacher, if the ball lands at his feet then there’s a solid chance it’s ending up in the back of the net. Not only is he good with his feet, but at only 5’8”, he’s very good in the air. With 37 goals in just 53 games for Manchester United, it hard not look at him and think why he wouldn’t be the perfect fit for us. A loanee at Real Madrid too, where he notched 7 goals in 16 appearances (just 7 starts) tells me that he’s lethal when he gets given his chances.   I could see us getting him at around that £15 million mark, meaning he’s proabaly quite a few million cheaper than Berahino.

Andriy Yarmolenko- Winger

From what I could tell we was perusing this guy early in the summer transfer window after the Konoplyanka deal fell through for the 1000^th time. He is the current Ukrainian player of the year and there’s no surprise why. He’s a dynamic left footed winger who can play right wing, left wing or even as a second striker. Now we’ve been missing width since the Bale/Lennon days and have been desperate to have same width for the last few years after having two inverted wingers in Chadli and the dissapointing Lamela. With the signing of N’jie, who is right footed and most likely playing on the right side, it should mean we will have someone hogging the right touchline for the first time in years. I do also like Chadli on the left, but he’s very inconsistent and isn’t always the player who can produce a goal or chance out of nothing, unlike Yarmolenko. It seems as though his £15 million move to Everton has fallen through, so I really think we should pounce on the deal. At only 26 years old, he’s just starting to hit his peak and fits with the age of the current squad. Just this weekend (22^nd and 23^rd August), he netted a Hat-trick and 3 assists. And in the season just gone he managed 14 goals in 26 games from the wing. If we had him hogging the left touchline and N’jie on the other, we could actually see the return of a dangerous Tottenham side that team were afraid to play like back in Redknapp days. This is actually who I want the most this summer even though I know it’s unlikely.

Alex Pritchard – Attacking Midfielder/ Winger

Now obviously I know Alex isn’t a new signing but he can be just as effective as one. Just coming back from a tremendous season in the championship with Brentford, Alex showed he was potential Premier League material with 12 goals and 11 assists In 45 games and also being voted as the Italian supporters player of the season whilst at the Bee’s. Just making his comeback from injury and signing a new 4 year contract last week, I can’t wait to see Prichard in a Tottenham shirt and show what he can really do for us. I personally don’t think Eriksen has been up to scratch, but as proved at Leicester away, we miss his presence, spark and creativity when he’s not in the team. That would’ve been the prefect way for Pritchard to showcase his talents at CAM. I believe he could be a similar like for like with Eriksen if he is injured or being rested, or if Eriksen is playing then Pritchard can be playing on the left while Chadli is rested or injured.

Victor Wanyama – Defensive Midefielder(s)

When the news was released that Victor had told Southampton he would like to leave and the rumours he was keen to work under Pochettino, I probably got a bit over excited inside. Koeman has already said he won’t be leaving the club this summer, but players these days normally get what they want and Levy always gets what he wants as well, so a deal could happen. I for one think this is signing that needs to be made. We’ve lost too many targets due to Levy not coughing up the cash and going for cheap alternatives that just get sold the next summer because they’re not good enough anyway. Best example is instead of Schneiderlin, we chose Stambouli. I don’t want to see that happen again, because we’re so desperate for a tough Defensive midfielder. I see Wanyama as the Sandro figure, Doing all the dirty work and intercepting the balls etc playing alongside Mason (who I don’t actually rate highly but has had a fantastic start to the season In my opinon), Bentaleb or Dele alli. Southampton already signed him for £12 million and are pretty good at getting big profits when they sell, so I reckon £20 million minimum.  However there are other possibilities that would definitely do the job in the middle of the park…

1. Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund)
2. Maxime Gonalons (Lyon)
3. Asier Illarramendi (Rea Madrid)

In that order (with Wanymama top), they should be our defensive midfield targets. Bender and Gonalons are both 26 and both top, top midfielders who would really lead the team in the middle of the pitch seeing as the captain is Lloris so there’s only so much he can say/command.

I do just want to mention that If you managed to get to the end and take the time out reading the article I really appreciate it. I  like all the players we’re linked with and have currently got, this is just my opinions and if you don’t agree or if I’ve forgotten any targets or you just want to discuss what I wrote, let me know in the comments below or mention me on Twitter (@ryansellstrom).