When you look at the Premier League table and Tottenham Hotspur’s position within it, one thing instantly catches the eye and that is that Mauricio Pochettino’s men aren’t scoring enough league goals.

The Lilywhites have only scored twenty-three league goals in fifteen games, that’s significantly less than any other top six side. Premier League leaders Manchester City have actually already scored double that of Spurs and eighth placed Watford have even bettered Tottenham’s goal tally.

Defensively Tottenham have been very steady and secure, so scoring the goals and struggling to kill games off is definitely the main problem this year.

The North London club are currently in the midst of a four game run without picking up a victory in their domestic matches. They lie in sixth spot and now the once potential title chasers find themselves four points away from a top four position.

After Man City manager Pep Guardiola referred to Spurs as “the Harry Kane team” Pochettino responded by saying:

“It’s important that different players score goals too.”

Centre forward Harry Kane has once again scored the majority of his side’s strikes. He has banged in ten goals in fourteen top flight fixtures, only Liverpool’s Mo Salah has produced more so far this term.

But after Kane, no other Spurs player is scoring regularly enough.

Dele Alli, Christen Eriksen and Son Heung-Min have all chipped in with three apiece but boss Pochettinho was probably hoping for more from the trio.

Summer signing Fernando Llorente hasn’t scored yet but the Spanish striker has only played ninety minutes in the league this term and that’s over nine substitute appearances.

Mauricio has flirted with the idea of playing two up-top this term but neither Alli nor Son are perfect foils for Kane in the forward role. Veteran Llorente is more of a back-up than an automatic starter, I think Harry would prefer a more mobile striking partner. Other sides have found favour with a three man frontline and that might be another formation change for Poch to consider.

Pochettino has been quick to say that his side can’t compete with Europe’s superpowers when it comes to transfer fees but the Argentine needs to ask his chairman to push the boat out and bring in another prolific goalscorer.

One man that could be of interest is Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Spurs have faced the Gabon international twice in the Champions League and while they’ve been victorious in both encounters, Aubameyang would have let the defenders know that they’ve been in a game. He scored in one of those games and also struck against Real Madrid. 

Domestically Dortmund have the same issues with inconsistent form as Tottenham but Pierre-Emerick has been in terrific goalscoring form!

In all competitions so far in this campaign, the striker has scored seventeen times in nineteen appearances.

Aubameyang is a clinical finisher and he can also hold onto the ball in tight areas. He also has electric pace and that could be very effective in and around Kane. It would also be benefit Pochettino’s team when on the counter attack in the bigger games.

At Dortmund, the hitman is used to playing with fellow attackers near him. He also has the versatility to play in wider areas, which could see him moved if the game calls for it tactically.

The Bundesliga outfit refused to let the forward leave Signal Iduna Park in the summer, with Chelsea reportedly very interested in his services.

But maybe BVB’s mind on the twenty-eight year old’s status could have shifted since that transfer window. They’ve suspended the attacker after he arrived late to training and many blamed Pierre-Emerick for getting sent-off against Schalke, Dortmund were four up at the time and then the capitulated after the red card and ended the game drawing 4-4.

Tottenham will have to go all out if they want to tempt the talismanic striker to their project. Fellow English top six side Liverpool have been heavily linked with the frontman, while Chelsea have again been mentioned as potential suitors.

One man that might need convincing will be chairman Daniel Levy.

The Gabon international will come with a hefty price tag, probably nothing less than £40m will get Dortmund around the negotiating table. Spurs might want a player at a smaller fee and who would have a better resale value. The player himself will want considerable wages and we know Levy runs a tight ship when it comes to balancing the books. The ill discipline this term might also put the chairman and his manager off.

One thing Levy will have to ask himself is ‘does he want to have Champions League football in the new stadium next season’? 

If the answer to that is yes, then they might have to speculate in the winter transfer window to accumulate. If they aren’t scoring enough, then they will continue to drop points and that will put their top four place under threat.

Posted on December 4th, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article