After Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho agitatedly revealed that he did not know when striker Harry Kane would return from injury, stating it could be the “End of April, May, next season”.
In the meantime, without their top scorer in Premier League history, Spurs are searching for a replacement in the January window, but some of the names linked with the club will not be music to fan’s ears. The Independent has reported that two potential incomings are Fernando Llorente and Christian Benteke.
It may surprise a few to hear that Llorente is being linked with a return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, only six months after his departure on a free transfer to Napoli. Since returning to Serie A, the 34-year-old Spaniard has found the back of the net three times in 15 appearances, which is scarcely prolific, though 12 have been as a substitute.
But it would be a frightening admission of their lack of ambition that Tottenham could be eyeing a return for a striker who found the back of the net just two times in two Premier League seasons with Spurs. While it was not Mourinho’s decision to allow Llorente to leave for nothing, it would be a damning indictment to Tottenham’s transfer strategy if they had to pay to bring the Spaniard back to the Premier League after such a brief period away.
Meanwhile, another name touted with a move to North London is Benteke. Shockingly, the Belgian target man is even less prolific than Spanish counterpart Llorente, having found the back of the net just once in the past two seasons. Mourinho cannot use his hold up play as a reason to be interested in the Crystal Palace striker, with Benteke yet to register an assist this term. The Eagles will be licking their lips at the prospect of getting the misfiring Belgian off their wage bill.
Another player linked with Spurs is AC Milan poacher Krzysztof Piatek and that move would make more sense if the Polish international is happy to play second fiddle to Kane upon his return. However, with Mourinho reportedly adamant he wants two strikers this month, you have to question the direction he is taking the club. A return for Llorente or acquiring Liverpool reject Benteke would be a startling admission Tottenham are heading backwards under the Portuguese boss and with a place in the Champions League at stake, they must eye a greater replacement if Kane is to be out for some time.
