The door has seemingly opened for Tottenham Hotspur to make their move for mooted transfer target Mauro Icardi this January…
What’s the word?
According to Friday’s edition of French newspaper L’Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain are likely to part ways with the 28-year-old striker in the winter transfer window as it would be a ‘surprise’ if they rejected a ‘reasonable’ offer for him (via Sport Witness).
Other reports earlier in the month have suggested that agents had offered the Argentina international to the north London outfit and PSG were prepared to sanction his departure.
It remains to be seen how much a move for Icardi would cost Spurs, though Transfermarkt currently value the Rosario-born forward at £31.5m.
Would Kane and Icardi be a lethal duo for Spurs?
YES!
NO!
Shades of Lautaro
A new striker could certainly be high on Antonio Conte’s agenda at the turn of the year as he only has one senior option in Harry Kane, who is out of form, having bagged just one league goal all campaign.
The Italian is also unable to deploy a 3-5-2 formation as a result of the situation, a system which saw him clinch Inter Milan’s first Scudetto in over a decade last term.
He was able to pair Romelu Lukaku, a towering and physical presence, alongside Lautaro Martinez, a more nimble poacher, together in the attack and it paid serious dividends.
Presuming Kane can fulfil the Belgian’s role, then Icardi could come in as Conte’s new Martinez. After all, the pair are both Argentinian and stand at 6 foot or smaller.
Ironically enough, it was the 24-year-old Nerazzurri striker who arrived at the San Siro to replace Icardi a few years ago.
‘Similar to Icardi, Martínez is a great poacher in the box. When leading the line, the striker causes confusion in the opposition defence by wandering into midfield and rather discretely using the defender’s blind spots to make runs into the box,’ wrote analysis website FootballBH back in 2019.
The eight-cap Argentina international may be frustrated by his lack game-time under former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, being restricted to 746 minutes in all competitions so far this season.
However, he has been prolific throughout his career, scoring 124 goals in 219 games for Inter, whilst he’s still bagged 36 times in only 79 appearances at the Parcs des Princes, as per Transfermarkt.
Icardi’s former manager Stefano Pioli once dubbed him an “animal in the box” and that is a frightening prospect to have alongside Kane in the Premier Leauge.
As such, Tottenham’s sporting director Fabio Paratici must seal a move for the PSG outcast in January. In doing so, Conte could switch to his successful two-man frontline and find his new Martinez and Lukaku combination.
It makes the world of sense.
AND in other news, Journalist drops Spurs update amid mounting Hotspur Way crisis…
