Barring Manchester City’s £28million acquisition of Wilfried Bony, the Premier League has remained fairly quiet this month, with the majority of clubs seemingly preferring to keep their hands wedged well within their pockets.
There’s still five days before the end of the January window however (deadline day coming on February 2nd) so there is a chance that the likes of Mauricio Pochettino could be tempted into dipping his toe into the choppy transfer waters.
So, with that in mind, here’s a list of FIVE targets known to be on Tottenham’s radar that the club could (and we reckon should) go after in the next week.
So without further ado…
MATTIA DESTRO
//www.youtube.com/embed/WsBaQTCBym8
Age: 23
Height: 5 foot 10
Position: Striker
Teams: Genoa, Siena, Roma, Italy
Honours: Coppa Italia finalist 2013, Serie A runner-up 2014
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, according to The Express, Tottenham and AC Milan, according to The Metro
Likely transfer fee: £15million, according to The Daily Star
The Lowdown
Despite Mauricio Pochettino recently labelling Harry Kane, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado as ‘three great strikers’, the latter duo only netting thrice collectively in the Premier League this season, Tottenham will undoubtedly attempt to bolster their striking options this week if the right opportunity comes along.
And the latest reports have linked the north Londoners with Roma prospect Mattia Destro, who boasts a promising return of 23 goals in 52 Serie A appearances for the Stadio Olimipico outfit.
The 23 year-old is regarded as a particularly efficient striker, grabbing his goals despite limited clear cut opportunities at goal – this term, he’s bagged five goals from 22 attempts,with a shot accuracy of 67% – resulting in him picking up eight caps for the Azzurri since 2012.
With just 18 months left on Destro’s contract and Roma on the verge of signing Shaktar Donetsk star Luiz Adriano, it appears a number of Premier League clubs are keen to snap him up in a reduced deal.
Meanwhile, recent declarations from the versatile front-man, who has also featured on both flanks for Roma this season, regarding a lack of first team football and better opportunities abroad, suggest he’d be prepared to leave the Italian outfit this month.
Tottenham’s need for firepower is more desperate than most however, which could motivate them to do some business within the next few days. According to TalkSport, a swap deal involving Vlad Chiriches could be on the cards.
DANNY INGS
//www.youtube.com/embed/bldGyHxlW_0
Age: 22
Height: 5 foot 10
Position: Striker/No.10
Teams: Bournemouth, Burnley, England U21s
Honours: Championship Runner Up 2013/14, Championship Player of the Year 2013/14
Interested clubs: Tottenham and Liverpool according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £5million according to Mirror Football, £10million according to Goal.com
The Lowdown
Another young striker alleged to have caught Tottenham’s transfer attention is Burnley prodigy Danny Ings – one of a batch of homegrown strikers that have surprisingly taken the Premier League by storm this season.
Indeed, it’s taken the 22 year-old some time to adapt to the top flight after firing the Turf Moor outfit to promotion from the Championship last season with 21 goals, but he now boasts seven strikes and three set-ups in his last 14 Premier League outings.
In addition to his composure and skill in front of goal, it’s Ings’ intelligence as a footballer that truly stands out. Diminutive mobility allows the England U21 to change the angle of play in an instant, whilst the effectiveness of Ings’ link-up play often results in him sitting just in front of the midfield in the No.10 role.
And most appealingly for Spurs, he isn’t accompanied by the audacious price-tag of your average Englishman. With just six months remaining on the striker’s contract, Burnley will be forced to sell this month if they’re approached with a sizable offer.
There’s still some dispute over valuations however, with Spurs reportedly preparing a £5million bid but Sean Dyche rating his star front-man at £10million.
ANDRE SCHURRLE
//www.youtube.com/embed/uPeOjkAc12I
Age: 24
Height: 6 foot
Position: Winger-forward
Teams: Mainz, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Germany
Honours: World Cup 2014
Interested clubs: Liverpool, Tottenham and Wolfsburg, according to The Daily Star
Likely transfer fee: £30million, according to The Independent
The Lowdown
Mauricio Pochettino was relatively coy on Spurs’ reported interest in Andre Schurrle this week, but he also failed to rule out a move for Chelsea’s marginalised winger.
Indeed, it’s been a troubled campaign for the 24 year-old, seeing just 433 minutes in the Premier League – despite netting thrice – and finding himself hauled off at half time during his last two starts for the west London club.
Schurrle’s talent remains undoubted however, having bagged two goals at the World Cup and provided a tournament-winning assist to Mario Gotze, and he’d certainly address the current dearth of quality on Tottenham’s flanks.
But the Blues will only sell if the right bid comes along, despite their well-known interest in Fiorentina’s £26million man Juan Cuadrado, so whether any suitor is prepared to match their £30million valuation remains to be seen.
MEMPHIS DEPAY
//www.youtube.com/embed/rvO32HHfnl8
Age: 20
Height: 5 foot 10
Position: Winger
Teams: PSV, Netherlands
Honours: KNVB Cup 2012, World Cup 2014 third-place
Interested clubs: Manchester United and Tottenham, according to Mirror Football
Likely transfer fee: £15million, per Mirror Football once again
The Lowdown
Another winger believed to be in Tottenham’s transfer crosshairs is PSV trailblazer Memphis Depay, who was also linked with a White Hart Lane move in the summer before extending his Philips Stadion contract by four years.
The 20 year-old has proved himself to be one of the Dutch division’s most destructive attacking forces over the last two seasons, amassing 23 goals and 12 assists in his last 47 league outings for PSV, whilst also averaging a whopping 5.1 shots per match.
Impressing likewise in a cameo role for the Netherlands at the World Cup, scoring against Australia and Chile in the group stages, Depay is tipped for a huge future and, particularly due to their shared free kick technique, is already drawing comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.
His £15million valuation should be within Tottenham’s reach this month – but interest from Louis van Gaal’s Man United could prove problematic.
WINSTON REID
//www.youtube.com/embed/cKuwj7Bbxjw
Age: 26
Height: 6 foot 3
Position: Centre-Back
Teams: Midtjylland, West Ham, New Zealand
Honours: Championship Play-off winner 2012, Hammer of the Year 2013
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £7million, according to Mirror Football, £20million according to Sam Allardyce
The Lowdown
The immediate fate of West Ham contract rebel Winston Reid has generated interest throughout the Premier League, with four clubs reportedly attempting to prize the New Zealand skipper away from Upton Park this January as his current deal enters its final six months.
Reid may not be the most progressive or graceful centre-back on the market this month, but what he lacks in technical quality is made up for with a masterful understanding of the nuts and bolts of the defensive trade – tackles, headers, clearances and interceptions.
He’s blessed with the awkward, elbowy frame of former Arsenal defender Martin Keown and would bring a new sense of resilient grittiness to Tottenham’s backline.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, the 26 year-old could be available for a knock down rate. The Hammers are currently playing hardball however and if the Lilywhites are prepared to wait until the end of the season, they can land Reid on a free transfer instead.