Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, 23, St Etienne
The Gabon and former AC Milan youth product has finally started living up to the hype that he caused back in 2008. The St Etienne forward has scored eight goals so far this season from 50 shots, also adding four assists to his game, which might impress Villas-Boas, proving he can link up play and adding a bit of unselfishness that at times, Defoe possesses. His first full season for St Etienne resulted in 16 goals in 36 appearances, and seven assists. And, as Gabon didn’t qualify for next year’s AFCON, a January transfer could be on the cards
Valued at around €7m
Pablo Osvaldo, 26, Roma
Luis Enrique brought the ex-Espanyol player to the Olimpico Stadium in 2011, but as Enrique’s career didn’t last as long as he hoped as Roma boss, this showed in Osvaldo’s differed performances. The Italian international still managed to score 11 goals in Serie A, adding five assists, another example of a deep-lying forward, who can link up play when needed. Osvaldo’s return of seven goals from 41 shots and two assists in 10 games is what was expected from the striker when signing for the club in 2011.
Valued at around €15m
Lisandro Lopez, 29, Lyon
The Argentinian forward has regularly banged in the goals for Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1, with 59 goals in the last four seasons, five of which have come this season. One problem Villas-Boas may find with the Argentinian is that he is nearing his thirties, and doesn’t contribute as many assists thatAdebayor might (only eight in the last three years.) But Lopez is a prolific striker, the number 9 that Tottenham crave. Lopez’s adaptability to play as a centre forward, a left or right winger could interest Andre Villas-Boas, if the Portuguese is keen on the Lyon striker.
Valued at around €15m
Seydou Doumbia, 24, CSKA Moscow
The Ivory Coast international has been one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, after sealing a move to the Russian Premier League from Swiss side BSC Young Boys, scoring 34 goals since 2010. Doumbia, adequately dubbed as a ‘tank’ on Wikipedia, is highly rated in Moscow, and would have to take a substantial bid for Moscow to sell the Ivorian to Spurs. The CSKA Moscow forward is currently injured, reported to return to training next week, and if Ivory Coast decide to call him up for their AFCON squad, this is likely to pose a problem for Levy and Villas-Boas. A summer transfer may seem more likely.
Valued at around €20m
Don't think Spurs will ever buy a striker because Levy never bids for a proper striker only bargain basement ones like Adebayor, Saha or any other nobody has heard of. The days when he would spend have ong gone and I have been waiting for at least five transfer windows for him to bring in the prolific striker we need.