The Tottenham Hotspurs have been busy in the summer transfer window ahead of the new season. Jose Mourinho has brought in midfielder Pierre Emelie-Hojbjerg, veteran Joe Hart and attacking full-back Matt Doherty to the club.
Two key areas have already been addressed by Spurs, a defensive midfielder to protect the back-four and a right-back. Both these signings have a similar pattern – a tremendous amount of Premier League experience and a strong mentality.
The forward area needs addressing by Mourinho, with Harry Kane Spurs’ only option after Troy Parrott was loaned out to Millwall. With just under two weeks until the new campaign, Spurs will be eagerly searching for a back-up option for England’s captain ahead of the mammoth schedule.
With this in mind, here are the options for Mourinho. A striker with Premier League experience and eye for goal.
Oliver Giroud or Callum Wilson – Striker options for Spurs this summer
Oliver Giroud
The Frenchman was one that got away for Spurs in January after agreeing a deal with Chelsea to sign the striker on deadline day. However, Spurs’ arch-rivals pulled the plug, leaving Spurs without a striker once again.
Although the 33-year-old has signed a new deal at the club, Spurs should look to sign the experienced goal scorer once again this summer. Oliver Giroud will be looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge now that Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham are both ahead of him in the pecking order.
Giroud’s experience in the Premier League and the 10 trophies he has won in his career would bring that winning and leadership mentality to Spurs. The 33-year-old still managed to score 10 goals in 25 appearances last season, and his shooting accuracy is just 6% shorter than Kane’s (45%). The Frenchman would be an excellent signing by Mourinho and would provide a different output from the bench or starting.
Two Bournemouth men
Callum Wilson is heavily linked to link-up with his international teammate at Spurs after Bournemouth were relegated. (Goal)
Wilson would look the most suitable option – Premier League experience, capped internationally and will have a sell-on value. He scored nine goals in a struggling Bournemouth side last season in 39 games. Whilst he managed a better shooting accuracy than Giroud at 41% in his five seasons in the top-flight.
However, one issue Spurs will have on bringing Wilson to the club is Bournemouth unwillingness to sell for a cheap fee. Wilson currently has three years left on his deal – leading to South Coast charging a hefty price.
Although this could lead to Spurs targeting Wilson’s teammate – Josh King. King only has one-year left on his deal and looks more likely to leave the club this summer. The Norweigan would also count as a homegrown player after his short stint at Manchester United.
So, Premier League experience, cheap fee and cheap wages – seems like a perfect deal for Daniel Levy. His goalscoring record is not the greatest, only scoring six goals last season, with King usually played out-wide.
A Surprising Target
Burnley’s Chris Wood name is not circulating in the media but should be an option for Spurs.
Personally, Wood is an underrated striker in the Premier League and continues to score vital goals for Burnley. The 28-year-old scored 15 goals in 39 games last season, beating his tally of 13 the campaign before. Also, his 47% shooting accuracy is higher than anyone else mentioned – and better than Kane himself.
The Australian would be a shrewd signing by Spurs and adds a different dimension from their bench – similar to Fernando Llorente two seasons ago. However, Wood still has three years left on his current deal with Burnley unlikely to sell so close the new campaign. But if Levy can persuade Sean Dyche and Wood, then he would be the fitter option out of Oliver Giroud, Wilson and King.
Who should Spurs sign as a back-up to Harry Kane? Comment below.
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