Chicharito isn’t the right fit for Tottenham
Tottenham certainly need to add another attacking threat or two in the January transfer window. Chicharito happens to be an excellent striker who could be on the move during the winter window. That doesn’t mean the Mexican forward is the right fit for Spurs.
The Mirror is reporting that Tottenham, Liverpool and Valencia are all considering substantial bids for Chicharito next month. While I don’t understand how Bayer Leverkusen can afford to let their starting striker go in January, we’ll assume for the sake of this piece that they’re willing to sell.
Mauricio Pochettino should look elsewhere to bolster his strike force. Chicharito just isn’t the right fit for how he wants Spurs to play. He is a classic poacher. That allows him to score quite a few goals, but his overall contribution to the match isn’t good enough to make him a Premier League regular. He’s managed to score five goals in 12 Bundesliga matches, but his Whoscored.com player rating average of 6.93 illustrates how average he’s been.
If Spurs are really interested in adding a poacher in January, they should look to their past. Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe would be a cheaper, safer option. The former Tottenham star already has eight goals on the year. He doesn’t contribute a ton outside the score sheet either, but again, neither does Chicharito.
I’m still skeptical as to whether or not Pochettino will really bring in another striker this season. He’s been quite open about his disdain for the January transfer market. The Argentine believes it’s hard to find good value in the winter window. The lack of time to integrate a new player into the squad makes it even more difficult to make a valuable addition.
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If the Spurs boss does elect to sign a striker in January, I’d anticipate it being a young player he can mold to fit his ideal front man. That reality might frustrate some fans, but Pochettino still sees his job as a long-term project. He won’t sacrifice the integrity of that project just to earn a few more points this season.
While Chicharito isn’t a great fit for Tottenham, he could be a useful player for Liverpool. If Jurgen Klopp really decides to cut bait on Daniel Sturridge, the Reds will be in the market for another striker. Ideally Klopp would prefer a forward with a higher work rate, but the January market doesn’t allow for perfect additions.
Chicharito might be a sexy name for Tottenham to chase next month, but he’d be an inefficient buy for Spurs. They’d be much better off leaving him for Liverpool or Valencia to sign.