The Spurs garden is pretty rosy right now. Only Arsenal are in better form in the Premier League over the course of the last six games, while a last gasp Europa League victory against Anderlecht on Thursday has effectively booked the club’s passage into the last 32. It all looks good for Mauricio Pochettino, it seems.
But there is one elephant in the room, the striking situation. Harry Kane has rediscovered his goalscoring form of late, but beyond the Englishman the London club have little in the way of centre-forward options.
Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-min can be used in the role, but neither player possesses the physicality to lead the line alone, so suddenly the exits of Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor look a little short-sighted… even though they were both useless!
Luckily for Pochettino the January transfer window is opening soon, and the mid-season madness offers the chance to get a player in on loan to solve the issues short-term ahead of the more fruitful summer option. With that in mind, here are FIVE potential temporary deals for Spurs to consider…
Alvaro Negredo
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Reports are already claiming that the 2013/14 Premier League champion is on Spurs’ radar, and the ex-Manchester City man appears to be a wise potential addition at White Hart Lane. 23 goals in 33 games by the end of January in his one season at the Etihad Stadium was mightily impressive, and even though his form tailed off he’s shown that he has what it takes to find the net in English football.
At 30, ‘The Beast’ boasts experience and, as his nickname suggests, he’s suited to the hustle and bustle of Premier League football.
Alexandre Pato
https://vine.co/v/eXpZOZLzOKE/embed/simpleA high risk, high reward potential addition, Pato on loan seems to be the safest bet from Spurs point of view. The Brazilian has spent his recent career shipped out to Sao Paulo from Corinthians, and even though his parent club have talked up an £18.6m sale amid interest from Spurs, it’s unlikely that they’ll be fighting off suitors at that price given his horrendous injury record. A loan deal appears to make sense for all parties as Tottenham could ‘try before they buy’ and Corinthians may get a better fee for their 26-year-old if he impresses in a European ‘shop window’.
Sebastian Giovinco
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Major League Soccer is often associated with 30+-year-olds seeking one last bumper pay-day, but Giovinco, at 28, is in North America in his absolute prime. After struggling for game time at Juventus, ‘The Atomic Ant’ – a nickname given due to his slight 5ft. 4” frame but impressive strength – the Italy international joined Toronto FC earlier this year and is currently MLS’s joint top scorer with a stunning 22 goals. His side’s play-off loss at the hands of fellow Canadians Montreal Impact means that Giovinco’s 2015 toils are now over, and with the mid-season break in action a loan deal through January and into February could work out well for him.
The pint-sized attacker needs to maintain form and fitness with EURO 2016 on his agenda, and as he’s in his physical prime, Toronto need not worry too much about burnout.
Simone Zaza
Linked with a bizarre loan move to West Ham just months after signing for Juventus over the summer, Zaza’s situation in Turin remains unclear even now. Despite his fine form for Sassuolo and Italy, the 24-year-old has been used minimally by a struggling Old Lady side in Serie A action, and with the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala ahead of him, things don’t look great for the 6ft. 1” striker.
Game time with EURO 2016 looming is sure to be on Zaza’s agenda as he looks to win a spot in the Azzurri set-up, and Spurs could use his physical, yet technically adept, approach for a few months to keep their top four push on track.
Steffan Kiessling
Linked with Liverpool of late, the towering German is understood to be reviewing his future and could demand a move away from Bayer Leverkusen in January. The 31-year-old’s game time has been hit by the arrival of Javier Hernandez at the BayArena, and even his own proven record through the years in the Bundesliga is seemingly not enough to keep him in the frame.
His pace may be some way short of alternatives, but against a crowded defence Kiessling is a useful tool and could provide good cover for Kane.