Mauricio’s Euro 2016 Shopping List
Shopping for new players is always a complicated affair when there’s a major tournament on the horizon. Most of your intended targets will be performing in that competition so competent displays, together with crucial winning goals will always increase any potential transfer fee until it becomes a financial impossibility.
Take Colombia’s James Rodriguez as the first case for the prosecution. Before a ball was kicked at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Monaco midfielder was being touted around for a not inconsiderable fee of 20 million Euros – a figure within the reach of Spurs who were among those clubs being linked.
Six goals and a Golden Boot later, it took Real Madrid some 80 million Euros to prize him away from France. So, any rumours ahead of Euro 2016 are hard to verify at this stage. One decent tournament and the player’s value soars beyond the capacity of most sides.
Nevertheless, Spurs need reinforcements and a back up striker to Harry Kane is the first priority. Here are some players we will be keeping a close eye on in France.
Michy Batshuayi
Two years ago it was Divock Origi filling the gossip columns and now we switch to another Belgian in time for this year’s tournament. Batshuayi is the name most widely linked with a move to Tottenham with reports that a departure from current club Marseille is almost certain.
At 22, the former Standard Liege striker has notched 26 goals in 62 league appearance in France plus two in three at full international level. Perhaps it would be good news for Spurs if Batshuayi has to wait behind Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke as a subdued tournament will keep the fee down although figures of £30m are already being bandied about.
Arkadiusz Milik
Spurs supposedly passed on the Polish striker when he failed to impress during a trial some six years ago. Since then, a fee of £100,000 has risen to a reported £10m and could keep in going if the 24 year old impresses in France.
£10m or £20m – it may still be a bargain if the Ajax man were to maintain his current record of 32 in 52 for the Dutch legends. Premier League clubs don’t have a great track record of signing strikers from the Eredivisie but 10 in 24 for Poland suggests that Milik has the credentials to perform well at a higher level and an impressive tournament will see a number of clubs follow up their reported interest.
Alvaro Morata
As impressive as Leicester City were in 2015-16, you feel that if they are linked with a striker of Morata’s class then Spurs must be in with a shout at least. The Spaniard has just one goal in eight full internationals but with Diego Costa missing from the squad, the 23 year old is expected to play a full part in his side’s defence of the trophy.
Reality suggests that former club Real Madrid are prepared to activate the buy back clause that they inserted when selling Morata to Juventus in 2014 but failing that, a host of Premier League clubs are linked with Tottenham among them.
Callum Wilson
One man who won’t be travelling to the Euros is Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson although his record on the South Coast makes the England Under 21 Man worthy of mention. 25 league goals in 52 games including five in seven in the Premiership, suggests the 24 year old is ready to step up.
Those long term injury issues must, however, be a concern and with similar problems ending any widespread stories concerning Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez, this must come with several caveats.
