Why Tottenham Hotspur should consider Ishak Belfodil in the summer

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The Hoffenheim and Algeria striker is finally showing what he’s capable of at the Bundesliga club.

Should Tottenham Hotspur seek to reinforce their front line this summer, they should look to the Bundesliga and to one player who has been in red-hot form lately.

Hoffenheim striker Ishak Belfodil has scored an impressive 13 goals and registered four assists in his side’s last 22 Bundesliga games, plus one goal in the Champions League (Transfermarkt).

Indeed, the 6ft 4in Algeria international has nine goals and two assists in his last eight league appearances, including a hat-trick against Augsburg last time out and braces against Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund (Whoscored).

The 4-0 win over Augsburg boosted Hoffenheim’s chances of qualifying for next season’s European competitions as they are a point adrift of fifth-placed Wolfsburg with 44 points from 28 games.

Belfodil is certainly impressing in just his second season in German football, having been on loan at Werder Bremen last time out, and after years of seemingly unfulfilled potential, the 27-year-old is finally showcasing his talents.

The 17-capped Fennecs ace reportedly missed out on a move to Everton back in January 2017 due to doubts by then manager Ronald Koeman (The Guardian), but should Mauricio Pochettino consider making a move in the summer now that he seems more like the finished product?

A tall, imposing frontman, Belfodil has a great first touch and impressive acceleration, while his finishing has improved in the last couple of years, which his recent goalscoring run of form is testament to.

Whoscored, meanwhile, notes aerial duels and dribbling as his strengths, while his style of play lists him as an indirect set-piece threat with a penchant for short passes, layoffs and dribbles.

In terms of price, Belfodil joined Hoffenheim last summer for a reported £4.95million fee (Transfermarkt), penning a contract until 2022, so even though his latest valuation is £6.3million, one would expect this to increase considering his contract length and impressive goalscoring credentials.

Even though the striker has not long been at the club, Spurs should have enough financial muscle to overcome this, and if they wanted to bolster their ranks in the summer with an out-and-out striker who is finally proving what he’s capable of, they should certainly take a look at Belfodil.