The football season is yet to reach its titillating climax, there’s still a relegation battle to endure, European places up for grabs and the small matter of which Manchester club will get their grubby mitts on the Premier League trophy. However, that hasn’t stopped the nations press from cranking up the rumour mill into overdrive, deliberating the possible movers and shakers during the next transfer window.
One club that seems to be at the heart of such stories are Tottenham Hotspur, the countries favourite bargain hunters, although don’t tell Harry I said that. In recent weeks the uncertain futures of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Harry Redknapp have all enjoyed a quick rinse cycle in the back pages and now it seems it’s the turn of Emmanuel Adebayor. The on-loan Togolese striker arguably ranks as one of the signings of the season and yet there still remains an air of doubt over whether Spurs should pursue a permanent deal.
Adebayor’s goal-scoring tally this season (12) is hardly prolific, resident bench warmer Jermain Defoe is currently surpassing him (15), although these stats span across all competitions. Adebayor is however excelling in the assists table, accumulating 11 in the league, which means he’s joint second with Antonio Valencia and one behind current leader and midfield maestro David Silva.
His influence in the team therefore derives from his capacity to play as the lone target man in Redknapp’s preferred 4-5-1 formation. His fierce physique and vision whilst holding up the ball allows him to bring others into the attacking fold and his aerial ability means he thrives on the service from Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. Yet as the sole striker on the pitch he will be relied on as the main goal threat and Spurs fans only have to look at their North London rivals to see how many goals a lone frontman could be accumulating across a season.
The decision to sign Adebayor could soon be snatched out of their hands should Spurs fail to finish in the top four. There’s no question that a stray finger is hovering over the self-destruct button at White Hart Lane, as the Lilywhites have seen their commanding position disintegrate in recent weeks. Tottenham’s last league win was when they put five goals past Newcastle but they have since struggled in front of goal, only finding the net four times in their previous five league matches.
A failure to qualify for the Champions League would surely leave Adebayor reluctant to join the club and severely tarnish Tottenham’s allure in the transfer market. Other targets that have found themselves in the tabloid crosshairs include Marseille striker Loic Remy and Villareal forward Giuseppe Rossi, but again both would be unwilling to move to London if they had to work on a Thursday night.
Another facet to the Adebayor deal will involve the future of current manager Harry Redknapp, with the offer of the national role seemingly waiting patiently on his doormat. Influential playmaker Luka Modric has already spoken of his reluctance to commit to the club whilst his Gaffa’s next career move remains in the balance. Redknapp’s much publicised man management skills and affectionate relationship with his players has been one of the reasons Spurs have exceeded expectations this season. It’s fair to say Redknapp has been crucial in restoring Adebayor’s reputation since becoming an outcast at Eastlands.
The biggest obstacle surrounding the deal as always will be motivated by the financial implications for both parties. Adebayor’s ‘revival’ at Spurs will surely allow Mancini to steer his transfer fee skywards whilst the strikers reported wage of £170,000 a week will cause many readers to collapse or at the very least burst out laughing.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy currently upholds a strict wage structure at the club with few players ever likely to earn a pay packet north of six figures. Levy is a notoriously shrewd businessman and will no doubt need every last penny as the club looks to develop their new stadium proposal alongside an unlikely, but plausible move for Lille sensation Eden Hazard.
There is a worry that Spurs could find themselves in somewhat of a striker shortage should a move for Adeabyor fall through. Rumours have begun circulate that Defoe has grown tired of his role as an impact substitute whilst new signing Louis Saha already has a significant number of miles on the clock. Pavlyuchenko’s departure coupled with the inexperienced Kane and Lancaster in the youth ranks means you can expect a few new arrivals down at the Lane this summer, whether Adebayor will be one of them though, remains to be seen.
Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where we can have a serious discussion regarding Tottenham’s transfer targets until someone mentions Peter Crouch.
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