After years of looking for a second striker, Tottenham already have one.
Tottenham Hotspur have had the same problem in the transfer window for several summers – and consistently failed to find a solution.
Harry Kane is now long established as Spurs’ main man up top, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men have always been one injury away from crisis in attack.
Roberto Soldado, Vincent Janssen and now Fernando Llorente have all struggled to perform in a back-up role, seemingly leaving Tottenham to again look for a new front man this year.
But Kane’s recent injury – during which Llorente did not impress – has been a blessing in disguise for Pochettino.
He was forced to deploy Son Heung-min in a central role and the South Korea international quickly proved himself to be a natural in the position.
Son may still be a key man in a wide role, but he now looks Tottenham’s best bet as a stand-in for Kane when and where required.
In fact, against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday, with Kane on the pitch, Son was pushed forward as Pochettino sought to change an indifferent display.
Son’s pressing and then his close control quickly teed up Kane, playing in a slightly withdrawn position, to open the scoring – even if Spurs conceded instantly.
Pochettino has seemingly not pushed all that hard for signings in recent years, preferring to coach the players already at his disposal, and that now looks like it was the answer all along.
Tottenham’s ideal back-up may well have been in their starting XI all along.
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