Why Tottenham signing Arkadiusz Milik would be a step in the right direction
According to reputed journalist Nicolo Schira (h/t Express), Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik.
The Poland international will be entering the final year of his contract with the Serie A outfit. And talks over a new deal haven’t gone too well. This has piqued Tottenham’s interest in the 26-year-old, who could be available for £36m. (h/t Express)
Milik started his career at outfit Rozwoj Katowice, before joining Gornik Zabrze in 2011. Bayer Leverkusen signed him in January 2013, but he hardly featured for the Germans. After spending the 2013/14 season on loan at FC Augsburg, he joined Ajax on a temporary deal for 2014/15, before his transfer was made permanent.
Milik spent two years at Ajax (including the loan spell), making 75 appearances, in which he scored 47 goals. Napoli snapped him up in the summer of 2016, for whom he has netted 46 goals in 109 appearances.
Tottenham’s need for a backup striker
One of the biggest issues for Tottenham this season has been the lack of a quality backup for star striker Harry Kane. The England captain had been in fine form until a hamstring injury sidelined him since the turn of the year. Up until that point, Kane has bagged 17 goals in all competitions.
On the back of this, the likes of Son Heung-min and January signing Steven Bergwijn were tried, despite not being natural strikers. But they too picked up injuries, delivering more blows to Mourinho & co. Lucas Moura was tried in a central role during their absence, but the Brazilian didn’t look as effective as he does from the flanks.
So, it is imperative for Mourinho and Tottenham to bring in a new centre-forward this summer. Having said that, Napoli’s Milik would be a viable addition to the ranks. The 26-year-old has gained plenty of experience at the top level and at 26, has his best years ahead of him.
Milik enjoyed his most prolific campaign in 2018/19, finishing with 20 goals and 4 assists in 47 matches across all competitions. While he has struggled with injuries this term, he has still managed to find the net on 12 occasions in 22 games.
In addition, he has been a consistent performer for the Polish national team, scoring 14 goals in 49 games. Signing him would undoubtedly add much-needed depth in the centre-forward department for Tottenham.
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Verdict
Tottenham’s lack of depth in the centre-forward department was brutally exposed in the second half of the 2019/20 campaign. So, it is important the club addresses this issue when the transfer window opens.
To that end, Milik would represent a good option for the North Londoners. The 26-year-old has experience at the top level and has been in good form over the past year and a half. He would increase the bench strength at Tottenham while also adding more quality to the squad.
