Tottenham signing Willian Jose would be shrewd decision-making
A report by the Guardian at the start of this year claimed that Tottenham Hotspur bid £10million for Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose. However, the deal could not be completed as Sociedad wanted £21million.
The striker was Jose Mourinho’s main transfer target and had even told his club that he wishes to leave. However, Real Sociedad held out for the £21million price tag and Spurs did not make another bid. (h/t the Guardian)
Willian Jose would provide options up top for Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur only have Harry Kane as a trusted out-and-out striker. Mourinho’s desperation for a backup centre-forward showed in the summer when he loaned in Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius. However, Vinicius is yet to start a league game and his only two starts have come in the Europa League.
Luckily for Spurs, Harry Kane has kept fit and is firing on all cylinders. Turning Son Heung-Min into a centre-forward has also helped Mourinho as the duo has already scored 24 goals this season. However, a stacked fixture list this season could impact Spurs mounting a real title charge if they don’t possess the depth up front.
One injury to either Kane or Son would automatically take away a huge chunk of goals from the team. For this reason, an experienced target man such as Willian Jose makes sense. Jose Mourinho would probably want Harry Kane in a bubble wrap.
The English striker’s injury at the start of 2020 saw Spurs lose crucial games to Liverpool, Chelsea, and Wolverhampton Wanders. The result was Spurs dropping off and missing the coveted top-4 spot. To avoid this, a backup striker will help in two ways.
By sharing game time and the goalscoring burden with Willian Jose, Harry Kane would be more at ease physically and mentally. On the other hand, in the case of Spurs needing a striker due to an injury to their starters, a tried and tested forward in Willian Jose would plug the hole pretty well.
The Brazilian has scored more than 10 goals in each of his last 4 seasons in La Liga. Going by his heatmap, the forward can replicate Harry Kane’s role as well, dropping and creating when needed, but also playing on the shoulder of the last man when the situation calls for it.
Verdict
A move for Willian Jose thus makes sense. Even if the previously quoted price tag of £21million stands, Mourinho should consider bringing in the forward. Spurs are at the top of the Premier League table and any real charge for the title would require a mixture of consistency, depth, and squad fitness. Signing Willian Jose would be a shrewd business in that regard, considering that he would be a permanent addition, unlike Carlos Vinicius, who is only on loan
