Ever since the sale of Harry Kane last summer, Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a number of high-profile strikers. Here, we discuss the pros...
The post Opinion: Weighing up pros and cons of the five strikers linked with Spurs this summer appeared first on The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.
Ever since the sale of Harry Kane last summer, Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a number of high-profile strikers. Here, we discuss the pros and cons of the main targets heading into this summer transfer window.
In fairness, Spurs managed to get through the season without signing a replacement for Kane, with Richarlison and Heung-min Son contributing plenty of goals between them.
Indeed, the 74 goals scored by Tottenham this season is higher than the 70 scored when Kane was around, with more of the squad chipping in with goals in the 2023/24 campaign.
Still, with the number of chances created, the injury issues Richarlison has suffered this season, and the fact that Son doesn’t quite look at his best in the number 9 role, something has to change.
So, here are the five key names linked to Spurs this summer, and what we make of their attributes.
Toney has been linked with Spurs for a while now, and it is thought he is on Ange Postecoglou’s wishlist right now (ESPN).
Pros: Signing a player with Toney’s track record of scoring goals would be relatively low risk for Spurs, as we know exactly what we are getting, and he’s proven year after year that he can hit high numbers. He can score penalties, headers, and is good with his feet, as well as being a really physical striker that could help Spurs become a more aggressive attacking team.
In terms of his transfer status, it’s no secret that Toney wants to leave Brentford, and the club appear to be fairly resigned to that fact. It wouldn’t be difficult to persuade the player to switch, and his club would be happy enough as long as they get a fair fee, so it would be pretty painless when it comes to negotiations.
Cons: Aside from the obvious issues that saw Toney receive an eight-month ban last year, he has shown a slight lack of professionalism in how he has treated Brentford in the aftermath. The club stuck by him, and yet Toney has been very open about wanting to leave — having a desire to step up to a bigger club is fine, but there’s a certain way you should go about discussing these things.
Then, there’s the fact that Toney hasn’t actually since way back in February, and was even dropped to the bench by Brentford towards the end of the season. Still, you’d like to think that if he got his big move, he would sort his attitude out and would start firing on all cylinders.
After a prolific campaign with Bournemouth this year, it’s no surprise that a number of clubs are keen on Solanke, with Spurs among those interested in signing the forward (talkSPORT).
Pros: You only have to look at Solanke’s numbers this season to see that he’s been on fire, and if he can replicate that form again, he would be the ideal man to lead the line for Spurs. You’d like to think that, if he can score 19 goals in a decent Bournemouth side, he would be able to snap up even more chances in a highly creative Tottenham side.
Cons: The problem is, there’s a fear that Solanke’s season has been a flash in the pan. Prior to this year, Solanke has never scored more than seven goals in a Premier League season, and we’ve seen plenty of strikers have this kind of brilliant campaign and then fade away into obscurity once more.
Spurs were favourites to sign Genoa’s Icelandic star last month (Inter Live), but there is now a belief that Gudmundsson would prefer to stay in Italy (Football Transfers).
Pros: Put simply, Gudmundsson has been on fire this season for club and country, and he appears to have all the attributes you could want in a striker. He’s quick, physical, intelligent, has great feet, and knows where the goal is. He’s also versatile, too, and is able to fill in on the wing or in the 10 role.
Plus, it’s worth noting Spurs and Genoa have a great relationship since the transfer of Radu Dragusin, so that could help negotiations run smoothly.
Cons: While Gudmundsson’s versatility is a bonus, you could also argue that Spurs aren’t necessarily looking for a jack-of-all-trades; they want an out-and-out number 9 who can play a very specific role.
More importantly, and perhaps the dealbreaker, is the fact Gudmundsson appears to prefer a switch to a Serie A side, which means the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Napoli could have the upper hand.
The Feyenoord forward is thought to be a ‘priority target’ for Tottenham this summer (GiveMeSport) and was even present at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the North London derby.
Pros: Like many on this list, Gimenez has been prolific this season. 23 goals in 30 matches is an incredible return, regardless of the league you play in, and he scored 15 last season, too, so it’s not just a fluke.
The Mexican striker is only 23-years-old, too, so he should get even better in the next few years. So, he fits the profile Spurs are looking for, and he’s another physical, hard-working striker that Ange Postecoglou would very much love to have.
Cons: The only real issue with Gimenez is the fact he is playing in the Eredivisie right now. 23 goals there usually translates to more like 12-15 goals in England, and that isn’t really the kind of number Spurs are looking for when it comes to finding their new leading striker.
Stuttgart have been amazing in the Bundesliga this season, and their success is largely down to Serhou Guirassy’s goals. The Guinea international is seen as a cheap option for Spurs (GiveMeSport), but they are not alone in their interest, with the likes of West Ham, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan also keen.
Pros: Guirassy has a £15m release clause this summer, which means he really is an easy target for any club looking for a new striker. That value, on a striker who has just scored 30 goals in 30 games this season, is ludicrous really, and it’s not like Guirassy hasn’t produced the goods before, too — he scored 14 goals last year, which is not bad at all.
Cons: At 28-years-old, Guirassy is not going to get any better than he is right now, and it’s very likely he has peaked this season. Yes, he has scored a lot of goals, but he doesn’t necessarily have the profile or physical attributes Spurs are necessarily looking for — he’s not the kind of striker that will work hard and press high, he’s not very fast, and he’s not the most creative player.
Essentially, Guirassy is a striker who is often in the right place at the right time, and while that could be handy for Spurs, they need someone who is going to make things happen, too, and Guirassy is not that player.
The post Opinion: Weighing up pros and cons of the five strikers linked with Spurs this summer appeared first on The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.
