Tottenham may not need to add a starting attacker this summer
A funny thing happened to Tottenham on their way to adding an attacking star this summer. Son Heung-Min decided to post a 20 goal season for Spurs. His prolific scoring may cause the club to rethink their original transfer plans.
I must admit that I was very skeptical of Son entering the campaign. My opinion was that Spurs should offload him if they were offered the chance to turn a profit on his sale. For the record, I’m admitting right here and now that I was wrong.
The fact that he’s managed to score 14 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this year shows he’s capable of being a regular contributor for Tottenham. The question is whether or not his emergence should prevent Spurs from chasing a world-class attacker in the transfer market.
My answer to that question is no. While Son certainly puts the club into a stronger bargaining position, he still hasn’t shown the ability to thrive on the biggest stage of them all. He only managed to find the back of the net once in six Champions League stars. More troubling, was the fact that his Whoscored.com player rating average dropped to a paltry 6.43 during that stretch.
Now, it’s distinctly possible that Son can improve on that figure. After all, we’re talking about a relatively small sample size here. Six Champions League matches does not define the South Korean’s career. His Premier League body of work is far more important.
More from Tottenham Hotspur
- Bayern Munich reach agreement for Harry Kane
- Antonio Conte goes scorched earth on Tottenham
- Clement Lenglet set to join Tottenham on loan
- Tottenham set to sign Brazilian Richarlison
- Tottenham Hotspur hold off Arsenal for Champions League spot
It is a significant concern moving forward though. What Tottenham need to do this summer is acquire a player who has already proven the ability to thrive on such a big stage. That’s why a player like Douglas Costa would be so appealing to Spurs. There’s zero chance that he’ll be intimidated by the occasion.
Adding another top-level attacker would also protect Mauricio Pochettino’s squad against injury. If Erik Lamela returns next season fully fit, then the Argentine gaffer might actually struggle to keep all of his attacking players happy. Trust me, that would be a problem Pochettino would welcome.
You can’t count on Lamela to stay healthy for an entire season though. That’s why Tottenham need to add a player to join Son, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli in the attacking rotation. Spurs need that sort of attacking depth to cope with the pressures of Champions League football.
Next: Manchester City having second thoughts about Kyle Walker
Son Heung-Min’s emergence has certainly been a huge factor for Tottenham’s success this season. It may be even more helpful to the club this summer.