Tottenham Hotspur must keep pace in Cenk Tosun race after Champions League double

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Newcastle United and Crystal Palace appear to have pulled clear of Spurs in the race to land Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun in January.

You would have bet your house, your car and your general sense of general well-being on Harry Kane slotting home a late winner at the Bernabau on Tuesday with only Keylor Navas to beat.

The Costa Rican would have just cost you everything, however, with a sprawling fingertip save to deflect Kane’s right-footed effort around the post. All in all, Tottenham will be very happy with a 1-1 draw away at Champions League holders Real Madrid – but a creditable point could have been a famous three if Spurs had been a little more clinical and composed late on.

Cenk Tosun’s match-winning brace in Besiktas’ 2-1 win at last season’s semi-finalists Monaco, then, should not have gone unnoticed.

Champions League specialist

The Sun reported earlier this month that Spurs had sent scouts to watch Tosun in action for Turkey over the international break – though Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Crystal Palace appear to have emerged as frontrunners in the last few days, per Fotomac.

With Spurs hoping to go further in the Champions League however after last season’s group stage exit, Tosun’s continued excellence in Europe’s premiere club competition should serve as proof of his quality.

Not content with winning UEFA’s admittedly futile Goal of the Group Stages award last season for his acrobatic bicycle kick against Benfica, the 26-year-old now has three goals in three games in this year’s competition.

Tosun fizzed home a long-range in a 3-1 battering of Porto in matchday one, followed that up with an assist in a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig and produced his best performance so far with two clinical finishes away to Monaco.

Besiktas now have nine points from nine and look a safe bet to cruise into the knockout stages. Tosun is developing a reputation as a Champions League specialist – so Tottenham should act as Newcastle and Palace pull clear in the race for his signature.