Should Spurs have rivalled Stoke when Choupo-Moting was a free agent?

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Before Stoke signed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from Schalke should Tottenham have considered a move?

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Stoke City scores his and his side’s second goal during the Premier League match against Manchester United.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting opened his account for new side Stoke City when he scored both goals during a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.

The forward, who signed from Schalke on a free transfer this summer, was impressive as the Red Devils conceded and failed to win for the first time in the English top tier in 2017/18.

Stoke City’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match against Manchester United.

Choupo-Moting has slotted in perfectly to the Potteries’ 3-4-3 formation, seamlessly moving between the front three positions alongside Jese and Xherdan Shaqiri to suggest he could be a shrewd acquisition.

It begs the question why bigger clubs didn’t make a more concerted effort to try and sign the 28-year-old, who is also experienced on both the European and international stages with game time in the Champions League and 44 caps for Cameroon.

Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, gives his team instructions.

Also, playing so well in this particular system suggests he could have fitted in well at Tottenham Hotspur. While Spurs’ starting XI is among the best in the division, there remain some question marks over their strength in depth – especially when competing in so many competitions.

Choupo-Moting would have been unlikely to have usurped Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen or Harry Kane from a starting place, but with the ability to play in any of their roles he would have been a useful replacement from the bench or as cover for injuries and suspensions.

Heung-Min Son also fits this bracket, while new signing Fernando Llorente will be used as backup to Kane, with with doubts over Erik Lamela and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, perhaps Mauricio Pochettino’s options in attack are still lacking.

It would have been a gamble, but for his experience in the Champions League and versatility going forward, maybe Choupo-Moting could have given Pochettino the support he needs to compete on so many fronts.