Tottenham signing this 15-goal forward would ease reliance on Harry Kane

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Rohan Sengupta

Why Tottenham must make a move for Wolfsburg’s Wout Weghorst

Back in January, the Bild (h/t The Express) had claimed that Tottenham were considering signing Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst. However, no deal materialized as Spurs ended the January transfer window with the additions of Gedson Fernandes on loan from Benfica and Steven Bergwijn from PSV Eindhoven.

Wout Weghorst of VfL Wolfsburg is challenged by Nico Elvedi of Borussia Moenchengladbach during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Volkswagen Arena on December 15, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Getty Images)
Wout Weghorst of VfL Wolfsburg is challenged by Nico Elvedi of Borussia Moenchengladbach during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Volkswagen Arena on December 15, 2019, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Getty Images)

Wout Weghorst, 27, bagged 17 goals and 7 assists in 34 appearances in the previous campaign to propel Wolfsburg to a 6th-place finish in the Bundesliga. He has managed to replicate his form for the Bundesliga outfit this season, smashing in 15 goals while also recording five assists in 32 appearances.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have suffered a dip in form of late under Jose Mourinho, tasting back-to-back defeats to Chelsea and Wolves respectively in the Premier League.

Mourinho has been hamstrung with injuries to key players of his squad—Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Kane has 181 goals in 278 games for Spurs, including 136 in 201 in the Premier League.

That is despite his persistent injury problems, with the England international once again suffering a major injury this term. He ruptured his hamstring on New Year’s Day and had surgery in the hope of being back in time for the Euros.

Wout Weghorst of VfL Wolfsburg reacts after the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 at Volkswagen Arena on December 18, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Getty Images)
Wout Weghorst of VfL Wolfsburg reacts after the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 at Volkswagen Arena on December 18, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Getty Images)

Son, meanwhile, flew back to South Korea last week for an operation on his broken right arm, which Mourinho fears could keep him out for the remainder of the campaign (h/t Daily Mail).

The South Korean international has netted 14 goals across all competitions this term and was chipping in with goals in Kane’s absence but since his injury, Spurs have struggled to score goals.

Injuries to Kane and Son have completely exposed Tottenham, with Mourinho lacking a reliable source for goals. Lucas Moura has operated through the middle in their absence, although the Brazilian is effective down the wide areas as evident from his performances earlier this season. With Spurs lacking a back-up striker to Kane, another striker wouldn’t go amiss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Having said that, Tottenham must rekindle their interest in Wout Weghorst during the summer transfer window. A product of Dutch club FC Emmen academy, Weghorst netted 20 goals in 64 appearances in two seasons. That earned him a move to Heracles Almelo, where the centre-forward netted 20 goals in 64 appearances.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho celebrates with his players. (Getty Images)
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho celebrates with his players. (Getty Images)

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In 2016, the Netherlands international joined AZ Alkmaar. He instantly became a key player for AZ Alkmaar, scoring 45 goals in 86 appearances. Weghorst’s goalscoring exploits didn’t go unnoticed as Wolfsburg snapped him up in the summer of 2018. Since then, the 27-year-old has been scoring goals consistently.

Verdict

At the age of 27, Weghorst has proven himself in the Netherlands and Germany. Hence, Tottenham must do everything possible to sign the Wolfsburg star.