It says a lot about the summer surgery required on Tottenham’s squad that the future of their four strikers is far from assured.
Here’s a look at what may be in store for the Spurs strikeforce…
Emmanuel Adebayor
The prospects of Tottenham keeping Adebayor change from game to game. After he scores, Redknapp often pops up in interviews and says “We’ll tie him down to a deal soon”, and nothing happens. When a period of indifferent form occurs, everything goes quiet, and fans begin talking about ditching him. In reality, it probably depends on whether or not Tottenham qualify for the Champions League. Adebayor has high wage demands too which have previously been a sticking point to a deal, and a club like PSG for who money is no object may be more prepared to pay them. Verdict: 50/50
Jermain Defoe
An interesting article yesterday suggested that Jermain Defoe is owed an apology by Tottenham, and it is hard to disagree with the argument. The reason for this is that despite anything that Defoe does, he is consistently overlooked for a starting spot on a regular basis by boss Harry Redknapp, now for the second season in a row, with Peter Crouch preferred last year to play ahead of Rafa van der Vaart. His England prospects have been severely damaged by his lack of match time, and with Spurs linked with new strikers on a regular basis, he must wonder if his time will come. With former club West Ham aiming for promotion, could he be set for a shock return? Verdict: He’ll stay, but could be an August deadline day mover if he starts next season on the bench.
Louis Saha
Saha was signed by from Everton by Redknapp on an 18-month contract in January, perhaps it would have been better if it were a six-month one. It is not that Saha has been terrible, but he was bought as a stopgap, and there shouldn’t be much need for him next season if Spurs make the top level signings supporters desire. However, if Adebayor and Defoe do move on, he could be kept as an insurance policy, and he still has the talent to make an impact, it just won’t be as first choice. Verdict: Spurs might be stuck with him for another year.
Giovani Dos Santos
Mexican forward Gio Dos Santos is a certainty to leave right? Well we said that last summer, and in January, yet he still remains at the Lane. He has made a handful of substitute appearances lately, but that has to do as much with Redknapp wanting to put him in the shop window as much as the club’s desperation in recent games. Don’t expect him to hang around for another season of sitting on the bench or in the stands, it’s time for him to relaunch his career elsewhere. Verdict: Adios Gio
If a number of the above do leave- Who do you want to replace them up front at Tottenham next season?
image: © wonker
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
