Tottenham should seriously consider a move for AC Milan attacker M’Baye Niang this summer.
The 22-year-old spent the second-half of last season on loan at Premier League rivals Watford, and is expected to return to his parent club ahead of the summer transfer window.
But Niang faces an uncertain role at San Siro, having fallen out-of-favour at the Italian club, and he could soon find himself searching once again for a new employer.
Calciomercato have claimed that Everton are willing to offer Niang a route back to the Premier League, but if the player is open to a return to England, Tottenham should also consider a move.
Here, This is Futbol reveals three reasons why Niang could be a good fit for Tottenham:
Lack of wide quality
Son Heung-Min, Christian Eriksen, and Dele Alli were a formidable force in Tottenham’s attack last season, but only Son could be considered an outright winger.
The trio contributed a combined 55 goals and 46 assists in all competitions, which is an incredible return, but Mauricio Pochettino had few quality alternatives up his sleeve.
Moussa Sissoko has proven to be a disastrous piece of transfer business, while Georges-Kevin N’Koudou lacks experience. Erik Lamela, meanwhile, has been plagued by injury.
Niang’s versatility would allow him to play on either wing, and he could provide Pochettino with a more enticing option than either Sissoko or the injured Lamela.
Electric pace
The main attribute for Niang is his electric pace. He is not afraid to run at defenders, and demonstrate his strength, acceleration and skill, and that could be of great benefit to Tottenham.
The quality in their current ranks is clear for all to see, but add another young player with pace to burn and it can only improve them even further.
His energy and work-rate on the flanks will also be key to making him a success for Tottenham and in the Premier League for the long-term, and although he has struggled for consistency, he’d be worth a punt under the right manager.
Kane burden
Understandably, Harry Kane is the premier goalscoring option at Tottenham. He scored an incredible 35 goals from just 38 appearances in all competitions last season.
However, if you take away Kane, Tottenham don’t have another centre-forward option quite nearly as capable as the England international.
Son can perform, albeit not at his best, in the role, while Vincent Janssen has yet to hit his stride as a goalscorer, and Niang could provide an extra option as backup.
He would primarily serve as a winger or wide midfielder, but he is also capable of being deployed in a role similar to Kane, and should the Tottenham hitman suffer another injury setback, Niang could step up to the plate.
They’d effectively be killing two birds with one stone in acquiring a player capable of fulfilling both roles, and that should reduce the need for Tottenham to spend big money on more than one player in each role.