Wanted: Goals from Strikers

Tonight, Marc Ashed focuses on the summer transfer window and the likely candidates set to catch AVB's eye.

In the Barclay's Premier League, there has been exactly 1 goal scored by a striker in the 2013 calendar year for Tottenham. That goal was scored by Adebayor on January 1st against Reading. If you count Clint Dempsey as a striker, then add 1 more to that tally. We currently sit in 3rd place, amazing.

 

In the January transfer window we had some heavy flirtation with Leandro Damiao, Alvaro Negredo and Lisandro Lopez but there were no good buys to be had. Each player was rated much higher by his club than by Mr. Daniel Levy. Negredo has scored 10 goals since the calendar year began, Lopez has scored 3 and Damiao has scored one in this past week. Each player (for the right price) would have had a huge role to play in the 2nd half of the season but unfortunately, things were not meant to work out. This offseason is going to be full of activity just as the last. I expect Adebayor to leave in addition to other fringe players such as Huddlestone, Livermore, etc.

Here is a look at strikers we have been linked with in the upcoming summer transfer window and their fit with the squad:

 

Gonzalo Higuain- Not likely to happen. Would be an amazing signing. He makes creative runs up front opening room for everyone else, distributes very well for a striker and takes his goals well. 102 goals in 182 appearances for Real Madrid. Very impressive. He clearly takes his chances well and the fact that he works so well to involve his teammates would make him a perfect fit up top with Bale, Lennon, Mousa, Holtby, Gylfi in the squad looking for goals as well.

 

Alvaro Negredo- Gonzalo Higuain-lite. Negredo isn't as prolific a scorer, as good of a distributor as Higuain but he possesses the same skills. He would be available for half the price as Higuain as well so would be a good buy for AVB's system.

 

Moussa Sow- One Moussa is working out extremely well for us, why not try our luck a second time? Kidding aside, his attitude is too similar to Adebayors. No love for his club, plays when he wants. He has the scoring record as well as size and pace to be a potentially effective PL striker but it should be with another team and not ours.

 

Christian Benteke- Strong in the air, quick feet, holds up play well. He possesses all of the classic #9 attributes. He doesn't bury every chance that comes his way but Benteke is a marked improvement over the current crop of strikers. The fact that he is Belgian and plays nationally with Mousa & Jan would help settle him as well. Young, goal hungry striker and if Villa drop down then also affordable, I'd take him.

 

Leandro Damiao- The one that got away. I don't know why his name keeps coming up since he could have moved to Spurs if he wanted to last year and in the winter window. Impressive power and speed combination and showed off what he could do at the Olympics. Levy isn't the type of guy that wants to convince a player to come to Tottenham and AVB has said its unlikely they will revisit this option. He doesn't strike me as an AVB system striker. He commands the ball too much for me and granted, I haven't seen enough of him play but he is more selfish than the others. I can't see Damiao making a run to open up somebody else and risk hurting his own goalscoring tally.

Eder- Tall, strong forward with a decent scoring record. I don't know much about him but seems to be a good fit as a striker off of the bench. He doesn't have the hype or attitude to cause problems either. For between 5 and 8 million pounds, would be better than Adebayor.

If I could have my pick, I'd take Higuain and Eder since they provide two different skill sets. If I had to predict who would be in, if Aston Villa is relegated, Benteke will either be at Arsenal or Spurs. Eder rumours have died down lately but he has links to AVB from Portugal and is reasonably priced so I see him coming in. I think the youngsters are going to be given chances to earn 1st team football. Coulthirst continues to impress, Ceballos is scoring frequently and Soulimane Coulibaly has the most potential out of any of them. 2 new strikers in and a youngster in addition to Defoe next season.

No matter who comes in, it is obvious that more goals are needed from the strikers. The chances are there, the converting is not. With more decisive players up front, the goals will add up. Imagine this team with the type of production from the strikers that they had out of Defoe in the first half of the season.

Who would be your preferred buy in the window?

@MarcAron22

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