Our striker issues have been well documented over the past season and many fans questioned Daniel Levy's decision not to splash the cash on a striker that we desperately needed in January. The failure to purchase a new striker in January is one of the main things that fans bring up regarding our failure to reach the champions league.
Now that the season has come to an end and we are in the off-season, transfer rumours from different sources fly around like bees to flowers. Many of these rumours catch on like wildfire and it is evident that we are in the market for a striker.
It is now understood that Spurs are in the market for 3 Colombian forwards; Jackson Martinez, Luis Muriel and Victor Ibarbo. The 3 Colombians are hot property in Europe and definitely show their South American flair and technique when on the football field.
According to Portuguese paper Record, Spurs have made a £25 million bid for Porto front man Jackson Martinez. This bid is £10 million short of Martinez's transfer release clause in his Porto contract but AVB feels as though he could convince the Portuguese outfit to give up their star striker. Porto are under somewhat of an invasion this summer as many of their star players have left the club or are under transfer speculation.
Former Spurs target Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez were snapped up by French club AS Monaco for £60 million and have recently been joined by former Atletico Madrid and Colombian forward Radamel Falcao for £51 million. With their star players linked with moves away from the club, Porto may find it difficult to offload another one of their best players. Martinez was in scintillating form last term, in his first season with the club scoring 26 goals in 30 games. Martinez is a physically strong player and scores goals in ridiculous situations where the odds would seem to be against him.
We are next linked with Udinese wonderkid Luis Muriel. Muriel is an extremely pacy player and is recognised for his ability to dribble past players and beat his opposite number with his speed and acceleration. Muriel is a versatile player and can play anywhere along a front 3 and also in the role currently held by Gareth Bale. AVB is a fan of versatile players and is rumoured to have sent a scout to watch Muriel play. Udinese are a team driven by profit and are a very good club at developing young players and selling them on to bigger clubs. Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez was bought from Udinese and no doubt the club are going to want to get the same sort of cash for Muriel's services. A bid in the region of £12 million should get the deal done but Spurs would face competition from Liverpool for Muriel's signature as a potential replacement for forward Luis Suarez. Muriel won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2012 which he shared with Stephan El Shaarawy. Muriel has drawn comparisons to Brazil legend Ronaldo for his dribbling abilities and close control and has been praised by Antonio Di Natale for his growing potential.
Victor Ibarbo is the last Colombian we have been linked with recently and plays primarily as a second striker and winger. Ibarbo is 6 ft 3 in and has been praised by Colombian great Freddy Rincon for his size, speed, ball control and strength on the ball. He is famously known for his ability to run the 100 meter sprint in times of 10 - 10.5 seconds and has been previously scouted by Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona for a quoted price of £8 million, that price is rumoured to have risen to £10 million which some could consider as a bargain, due to his age and ability. Ibarbo prefers playing as a winger and utilises his speed and dribbling to get to the byline and either cross the ball or cut inside and shoot. Ibarbo is a player with massive potential and is a player that Spurs should not turn down the opportunity to sign.
Ibarbo at his best
Muriel's highlights from his time at Lecce and Udinese
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I think all these players would be great for us, we would definitely be up there in the top 4 and maybe if they perform well, we could challenge for the title! That would be great.
ReplyDeletebut as usual we will miss all the targets because levy wont deal at the beginning of the window and our CL hopes will b gone again
ReplyDeleteWhat about fellow Columbian Carlos Bacca who was absolutely devastating in his first season in Europe for Club Brugge...
ReplyDeletegood strikers but there is one out there who could top them edusado vargas can score goals and is not on radar of the big clubs
ReplyDeleteno doubt these guys can add something different to the team but its up to levy to get the deals done quickly
ReplyDelete