Mauricio Pochettino drops HUGE Tottenham transfer hint
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he’d be willing to adjust his system to accommodate another striker playing WITH Harry Kane
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is very careful and measured with everything he says to the press. That’s why today’s admission that he’d be willing to sign a striker in January who could not only provide cover for Harry Kane, but play alongside the Spurs talisman, is a massive bit of news.
Over the past several days, Pochettino has commented frequently on the possibility of his club adding a striker in January. Most of his comments in the public have been designed to cool any speculation or at the very least, to put Tottenham in a better bargaining position.
For example, when he tells the media that Tottenham can finish in the top four without adding a striker, that’s a comment specifically designed to remove any sense of desperation around the club’s negotiations. It’s a clear signal to other clubs that they won’t be bullied into overpaying out of desperation.
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Today, his tone changed dramatically. By going on record about the possibility of adding a striker who would play alongside Harry Kane he’s opened up another class of striker for Spurs. Now it’s clear that Tottenham can pursue any striker it wants in the January window without concern of whether or not that player might be happy “just” serving as Kane’s back-up.
Pochettino specifically cited his days at Southampton where he played multiple strikers during many home matches. He quite rightly described how Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Dani Osvaldo all three played together in some matches. The point he’s making is that a star striker interested in Spurs needn’t be put off by his 4-2-3-1 system coupled with the presence of Kane. Instead, there’s room for two strikers in any Pochettino match-day lineup.
This revelation changes the complexion of how we should view Tottenham’s striking targets. The club needn’t limit itself to youthful backup options like Fulham’s Moussa Dembele. Instead, it can feel free to pursue other clear-cut first choice options for top clubs. It’s now squarely within the realm of possibility to push for a player who is playing every week for a top club.
Pochettino’s recent comments about playing multiple strikers together doesn’t change the most important thing about Spurs’ transfer policy though. The most important thing in their striker search is finding a player whose personality will fit into the club’s outstanding culture.
If a striker is brought in to play alongside Harry Kane it will be a player whose desire and work rate matches and compliments the English international’s. It won’t be a diva who isn’t willing to work his socks off for the club.
Some may feel I’m overreacting to Pochettino’s comments, but this man doesn’t say anything in the press he doesn’t plan in advance. His seemingly casual musings about playing two strikers at once is a very big tip as to what Tottenham is trying to accomplish in the transfer market at the moment.