January will soon be with us and while the striking situation at White Hart Lane doesn’t seem quite so desperate as it did last season, it still seems likely that Spurs will be entering into the market at some stage for reinforcements.
Despite Pav’s wonder strike against his compatriots from Rubin Kazan last week, he has had a lacklustre start to the season and could well move on this winter. Additionally, while Emmanuel Adebayor had an instant impact at the Lane, he is only supposed to be here for one season.
So a striker may be high on Harry’s post Christmas shopping list, but who should it be? Countless names have been touted but the following players get more than just a mention in passing.
Leandro Damiao
Still a favourite option for many fans, Spurs are reported to have made a bid for the Brazilian at the start of the summer. It’s thought that while his current employers, Internacional will be ready to sell in January, the fee involved is likely to have doubled since then in light of the player’s performances this season.
After scoring his first international goal for Brazil against Ghana at Fulham in September, Damiao struggled a little with injury but he has still found the net 39 times in 47 games for Internacional in all competitions during this campaign.
Seydou Doumbia
The CSKA Moscow striker has only really been mentioned as a possible target for Premiership sides following his Champions League displays this season, but he has been a prolific striker for several seasons since he joined Young Boys back in 2008.
His scoring ratio, albeit in the Swiss and Russian leagues averages out at way over a goal every other game and his double strike in the CL last week has brought him into the public eye once again.
Doumbia has expressed a desire to play in the Premiership so could Spurs be the team to give him that opportunity?
Moussa Sow
Like Doumbia, Sow has emerged as a potential target thanks to his displays in this season’s Champions League. His record with Lille is comparable with Doumbia’s at CSKA, but he has only really emerged as a prolific centre forward in the last 12 months.
At 25, he still has a long career ahead of him, but could his reputation as a late developer put managers off this winter?
Roberto Soldado
Another player who has evolved to net at more than a goal every other game is Valencia’s Soldado. However, his performances this year have supposedly alerted Spurs as well as Bayern Munich and if it came down to a choice, the financial clout of the Bundesliga giants would probably win the race.
Mention of Soldado’s name on here recently drew an apathetic response, so maybe he isn’t our man in any event?
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Sorry, but you can’t keep this guy away from the rumour mills at the moment and you sometimes wish Spurs would sign him or say they have absolutely no interest in the Dutchman. Only then would we end this link which seems to have gone on for several years now.
Huntelaar endured a disappointing first season at Schalke, but seems to have rediscovered his form this campaign, particularly under new coach Huub Stevens. He’s starting to find the net with regularity once again and that will continue to spark these transfer rumours.
There may be other names besides that we’ve missed but above all, who is/are our main striking target(s) this winter?
Llorente?
Its very rare that players from bilbao leave, due to them only having players born in the basque area.
Damiao and Lavezzi or Cavani with Chris Samba please, we will be title contenders with these additions. Damiao is a must.
Leandro Damioa is a MUST!
Samba he can do the two jobs HHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAGETIN
How much would cavani cost?
For a January signing it should be a striker who has played in the EPL. At least then there is a better chance of them settling quickly to play this season.
Apologies…
Why is Damiao such a must? My mate keeps on talking about him as well. Is he that good? Why are other clubs not all over him? Why does it just seem to be us? I know we have the internacional contact but if he is that s**t hot that surely would not matter, other clubs would be all over him.
Seems like a player that would take time to bed. Sandro did/still is. So buying him in January might be quite a good thing.
I still think we would struggle to find anything better the Ade… he’s class and knows the premier league. If we can get a bargain on him (still way more than we’ll want to pay but a relative bargain nonetheless) and he wants to stay… amazing.
I also think we should try and get Given, soon.
Damiao would be a replacement for Pav and could be blooded in the FA cup and Europa.. Just check out his hit-rate! I think we’ve been trying to get him for ages – and we should have first option because of our relationship with Internacional..
Ade would be great to keep, but it’s wishful thinking that we could meet his wage bill..
Hekko, check damiao out on youtube mate. I know youtube aint the best way to judge a player but it should give you a taste of what he is about. Not sure what its called but try and see the one where he flicks it over the defender ossie ardiles style! Amay ing skill.
There are two, one called amazing dribble and one called amazing skill. Watch them and then you will know why he is a MUST!
Lol.. he busted out a rainbow flick and it almost worked for him in an international match.. do you watch Internacional games? have you seen how many times hes tried it and it didn’t work out..he’s a natural finisher, not a clinical finisher. He isn’t the most intelligent finisher and I’m glad to see someone finally questioned him, thank you hekko. Watch Doumbia’s goals and you’ll see how much more clinical he is with his finishing. I have a feeling that Damiao would be a flop just like Pav and Gio.
At least he tries the flick, could you imagine pav trying that! Dont know what your problem with damiao is but your wrong.
Damiao is a must because his striking record is amazing, comparable with all great brazilian forwards such as Ronaldo, Romario, etc. He will be World class and this is the only time we will be able to sign his as in 2 yrs his price will be double the 15-20 we could get him for now. He has not looked out of his depth against better opposition either (recently scored great goal against Barca) his wages are also within our budget which is VITAL.
other realistic options for us our the lad at CSKA although I believe he will go elsewhere or sign Ade up full time with bonus add ons for appearances and goals.
Leave the French league strikers for Arsenal as they blow hot and cold as Chamak and D.Cisse prove.
next year maybe Kane should be considered as no4 also.
Cavanni is out of our range as well as Hulk and Falcao for anyone that is dreaming of them 25-30m each and sky high wages too
COYS
Pamelachenko’s strike record was amazing.. how’s he doing now?
Damiao and Samba please!!
Damaio is a must and he must be the one we are planning on getting, which is why we never signed anyone other that Adebayor.
He is tearing up the brazilian league and before I hear people question that league let me tell you Brazilians are far more technically adept players than the english.
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario, Neymar all players who came from that league and can we honestly say our league has teams that would do well in that country……..all I will say is would Ritchie De Leat, Zat Knight, Jonas Olsson, Alan Tate, Emmerson Boyce and Phil Bardsley (all premier league regualrs) justify us having better defenders in this league!!!!
I think we already have the solution in our youth squad – Souleymane Coulibaly. He’s only sixteen and he’s already scored in all but one of his appearances for Spurs XI and the U19s, including two against Inter’s world-famous academy. £1.75M he cost to sign from AC Siena in the summer after scoring for Cote D’Ivoire nine times in four games at the U17s FIFA World Cup. Just watch this and you’ll see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh5jXWsWHfA
Samba…………..And , dare I say, bring back the Bulgarian ???
Probably get him on the cheap from United………..He’ll be motivated and have plenty of energy w/ the way that United have treated him.
bollocks!!
I would have Berba back, Him and VDV would be absolutely amazing up front! most intelligent front 2 in the prem. but Damiao is a priority with a CB such as Cahil or Samba
COYS
BERBA , DAMIAO , AND SAMBA AND SANDRO MUST ALLWAYS PLAY IN MIDFIELD !!!!!!!!!
Why would any striker come too Spurs too sit and watch us hang on with a midfielder playing striker. Leave our strikers just sell one upgrade Soulman and Kane Buy Samba Hennesey sell Pav to a Russian Club Basssong Dosantos Jenas Obika to Yeovil Gomes
We first must try to solve our weakness with our academy. Give H.kane and Coulibaly minutes to play so they can show what they can do and if they are a little far to reach the standard buy someone else. We won´t a replacement for GK, right? Why Harry does not use Oscar Jansson in cup matches?