Javier Hernandez is one of the biggest enigmas of the Premier League over the last decade. Despite having an incredible goals-to-game ratio since joining Manchester United, he was never really considered as one of the regular first-team players. Sir Alex Ferguson often preferred using the likes of Wayne Rooney as the first choice strikers. Hernandez enjoyed first-team football in the first few years of his United career and then was relegated to the bench.
After a few frustrating years, the Mexican joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015 on a permanent basis. It was reported that the German outfit paid around £7.3 million for the player, but he has been an incredible value purchase for Leverkusen. He hit an incredible 26 goals in 40 appearances for the German outfit last season. The goal scoring abilities within the 28-year-old have not disappeared, as he has managed five league goals in 12 appearances this campaign.
Now, reports from the Sun has suggested that this goal record has made him a top transfer target for Liverpool and Spurs. Both clubs are in need of a forward who can find the back of the net. Spurs did sign Vincent Janssen from Ajax for around £17 million in the summer, however, the striker has been such a major disappointment that rumours have been linking him with an exit as early as in January.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have been heavily reliant upon Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho for their goals. As a forward Daniel Sturridge is reportedly unhappy with the game time he has been receiving under Jurgen Klopp, he is widely expected to leave the club in January or in the summer. A player like Hernandez could come in as a replacement for Sturridge.
In his first season at United, Hernandez hit 20 goals in just 45 games. Since then, however, he was never really able to establish himself in the first-team spot. In the end, he departed with 59 goals in 157 games for the club. He is certainly a player who can score goals when provided with the right opportunities.
Spurs have no shortage of players who can create chances. The likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have been a major factor in Harry Kane’s impressive goal record. Mauricio Pochettino will have reason to believe that these playmakers can provide the ammunition for Hernandez scored goals. The 12 games missed by Kane in the last months due to injury showed that the club needs a backup goal scoring striker in order to compete at the very top level.
It is not surprising that Hernandez has emerged as a transfer target. As a proven Premier League goal scorer with the experience, he could prove to be the missing link for Spurs.
