Should Tottenham Hotspur move for the Southampton striker?
By virtue of the fact that Vincent Janssen scored two goals from open play for Tottenham Hotspur last season, Mauricio Pochettino must be after another striker.
Of course, there isn’t major urgency to get one in after Harry Kane scooped the Premier League’s Golden Boot for the second season in succession last term.
But it is still important that another number nine relieves the 23-year-old of the goalscoring burden every now and then – and could Southampton’s Shane Long be that man?
The pacey Republic of Ireland international had a dreadful season under Claude Puel last time around, netting three goals in 33 league appearances – only 10 of which were starts.
But it would be massively unfair to judge his striking abilities on last term and forget his previous two seasons with the Saints, when Long, then under Ronald Koeman, scored 19 goals in 46 starts for the South-Coast club.
It’s not an outstanding goal return, but Tottenham need a back-up option and the 30-year-old has built up enough stock down the years to suggest he could be that man.
New Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino admitted to the club’s official website this week that he phoned his fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino for advice about the Saints.
Given that the duo are reasonably close, Pochettino should ring him back and ask whether he intends to use the Irishman next season. If not, Spurs should consider signing him.
He knows how to score goals in the Premier League, and his pace means that he would offer something different to Janssen. Question is whether Pochettino can help him get his groove back but, with his man-management skills, it’s certainly possible.
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