Tottenham January Transfer Targets
Mauricio Pochettino must keep carefully building upon his squad with some new additions in January. The key area to address will be the strikeforce.
If Spurs are to continue the one striker system, it would be best to have another physical striker capable of holding up play. A proven Premier League goalscorer would be useful, but the new striker must be capable of challenging Harry Kane for a place. This is because Victor Janssen is quite clearly his deputy and is more of a squad player than competition for him. Such competition is vital if Pochettino wants to keep Kane sharp and on form.
Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe could potentially make a third return to the club. In terms of physicality, his height and stature do not match the target man role that is required. However, this may allow Pochettino to alter the dynamics of a match. When Defoe was at Spurs, he was renowned for being an impact substitute in his later career. His success in the role was due to his clinical finishing, but also his pace and good dribbling ability.
Since leaving the club he has continued his goalscoring form at Sunderland, scoring 30 goals in 70 Premier League appearances. So far this season he has managed 11 league goals already. This shows that despite his age, he is still a top striker, proven at the highest level. Keeping up this form at Spurs could lift the burden on Kane.
Could Defoe compete with Kane? These two players are at opposing sides of the spectrum. Kane is about to reach his peak, whilst Defoe is entering his twilight years. It is unlikely that Defoe can up keep this form going for more than a couple of years. Spurs may be better off with a younger striker who can compete with Kane in years to come.
Mario Mandžukić
Currently at Juventus, Mario Mandžukić is a tried and tested striker with physical power and a keen eye for goal. He is able to compete for both club and country, currently the latter’s second top scorer with 29 goals.
In terms of competition, he would certainly be able to play in Kane’s role. He is a similar build to Kane, a little taller but equally powerful. This is important as it would mean that Spurs would remain an aerial threat in the box. With the wing-backs of Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and more recently, Kieran Trippier providing service, Mandžukić would be well supplied.
At 30 years of age, he is perhaps slightly past his peak, but his experience could really aid a young squad. With more experienced players, it may help to guide and develop the younger players, meaning that Mandžukić’s transfer could help in the long term. He may even be the key to European glory for the club, having performed well in the Champions League in the past.
Kevin Volland
Capable of adapting to many positions, Kevin Volland makes another good candidate for the role. His strengths include his dribbling and some good finishing technique. However, he has only scored three goals in 18 appearances in all competitions so far this season for Bayer Leverkusen. The fact that he was playing as a winger for most of these matches did not help his cause, but it could be a warning sign that this isn’t the prolific goalscorer Spurs are looking for.
As the youngest of the three candidates, he is perhaps best-placed to challenge Kane for a starting spot. They are both emerging talents and could work together to flourish at the club. Kane has already made a bigger breakthrough than Volland, but having a hungry striker waiting in the wings will encourage Kane into upping his performances. However, there is yet another element of risk. Janssen was also meant to be a young, hungry striker, but as of yet he has not at all challenged Kane. Volland, however, may well live up to his potential and provide the club with a future world-class player.
Volland would play slightly differently to Kane, with more pace and more creativity. This could again be useful for Pochettino’s tinkering for different matches. The downside here is that he is less physical than Kane and is less of a threat in the air. It would be up to the manager to decide whether he needed brains or brawn in his upcoming match.
Verdict
Defoe, Mandžukić and Volland are but three potential transfer targets. Within this selection, each come with their unique styles of play.
Overall, Defoe is the most reliable transfer in terms of Premier League experience. He will score goals for Tottenham almost inevitably. However, he perhaps does not have time on his side unlike Volland and to a lesser extent, Mandžukić. Volland is perhaps the biggest risk of the three and may fail to integrate into the Premier League. The player that suits the system best is Mandžukić, due to his physical power.
Therefore, of the three, Spurs should aim for Mandžukić, who has Champions League experience and best fits the position.
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