Spurs are actively looking for a striker to share the workload with Harry Kane as he is the only established striker who can score goals on a consistent basis. As the Euros suggested, Kane can go out of form and with Champions League in the foray now, Spurs do need someone else to provide the goals and make the team a better unit. Many forwards have been targeted but Michy Batshuayi has been acquired by Chelsea while Alexander Lacazette is being targeted by Arsenal after their failed pursuit of Jamie Vardy.
AZ Alkmaar’s forward, Vincent Janssen has been targeted since the past month but his pursuit has hit a roadblock as both the clubs are at loggerheads over his transfer fee. It is bring reported that Spurs had made a bid of £15 million but AZ have rejected as they value the striker at £16.5 million as suggested by their advisor, Billy Beane, the famous Moneyball creator. The fee should not become an issue as Spurs are desperate for a striker and the Dutch side seem to sense that fact and are holding on for a bigger fee.
Vincent Janssen has just one season experience at the top level but took the Dutch league by storm and became Eredivisie’s top scorer with 27 goals in 34 games. The 21 year old was in the Feyenoord academy but was strangely released by the club and Alkmaar took a risk by signing him from the second tier side, Almere City. It proved to be a huge hit and was no doubt their best player. It wasn’t a walk in the park for the Dutchman and he went eight games without scoring but soon found his scoring boots and then became the first player in 52 years in the Eredivisie to score 20 goals in the second half of the season.
Janssen is a good technician with an eye for goal and has tremendous finishing abilities. He can hold up the ball really well and has a brilliant passing range. Janssen likes to involve his teammates and will look for a pass when required and is a totally unselfish player. His link up play has been exemplary at times last season and in Netherlands, he has been compared with the great Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Like Nistelrooy, the 21 year old has also emerged from the second tier and made himself a household name in his country.
Janssen do possess a risk for Spurs but the striker has huge potential and can be the missing piece in Spurs’ pursuit to glory. With Spurs’ attacking prowess, Janssen can get the required delivery and he has all the abilities to challenge Harry Kane for a starting spot. Both of them competing can bring the best of each other and Pochettino must do all in his capabilities to sign the young forward who promises a bright figure for himself and also the club he joins.
