Why Tottenham need to buy another Striker this January transfer window
Tottenham Hotspur’s season so far has been kind of a mixed bag. Defensively they have been quite sound, with the squad grinding out results when it matters most. Yes, the 0-3 defeat at the hands of West Ham was surely an aberration, but this Spurs side will eventually get better and better as the season prolongs. Andre Villas Boas at the managerial helm backed by Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy with Franco Baldini behind closed doors have had a terrific transfer spending spree thanks to the fiscal ramifications for which White Hart Lane’s favourite son and Welshman Gareth Bale left for the greener pastures of Real Madrid’s Santiego Bernebeu.
In came the likes of Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado amongst four others in what was surely an utter revamp of the Spurs squad in recent years. The whole team as a whole has perhaps failed to show the brilliance they possess but judging them after just seven games would be unfair. But the main cause for concern has to be Soldado’s inability to score from open play.
The former Valencia hitman was prolific in La Liga last campaign, but he is still yet to find his feet in the EPL this campaign, with both of his goals coming from the spot. With Jermain Defoe falling in the pecking order and Emanuel Adebayor’s future looks as good as over, Spurs perhaps need to to go shopping for a new striker come this January transfer window.
If at all Besiktas remains the suitable destination for Adebayor, Villas Boas needs to fund it for Manchester United’s out of favour Mexican Javier Hernandez. Whereas Soldado hasn’t quite had the influence one might have expected to have given his price and reputation, Hernandez would surely provide Tottenham the missing piece in the jigsaw. The Mexican has netted over 50 times for Manchester United but still finds himself as fourth choice striker at Old Trafford behind Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck. With the situation unlikely to change with David Moyes at the helm, Hernandez (nicknamed Chicharito) would perhaps want to trade for the White Hart Lane Faithful.
The 24-year-old is certainly available in the market and if Spurs can nick him for a fee under 12m, it would be another of Daniel Levy’ hard hand twisting transfer tactics. Chicharito’s greatest influence comes in him being a certain fox in the box, being also great in the air but has a question mark over his finishing skills. But who knows; with Eriksen and Lamela behind him, things might change very soon. Chicharito is certainly better than Soldado when it comes to making space for others and his game might just thrive if Tottenham do play with two strikers up front. Moreover, he is more like an impact substitute who can change the game on its head late coming off from the bench.
If at all Villas Boas looks to add to his already impressive squad at White Hart Lane, the young Portuguese gaffer certainly needs to look no further than Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez.