Tottenham – Guessing the transfer window

“If we’re going to make a signing, let’s make one big signing. That would send out a message. But it’s difficult finding that player who would make a difference.”

Guessing the mysterious ways in which Harry Redknapp is likely to move during his favourite time of the year is probably a thankless task – but let’s do it anyway. Presumably Redknapp won’t be able to resist doing a couple of mid-to-low-level deals, but lets stick to speculating on who the marquee signing could be.

Fernando Llorente

Big, skillful forward with an abundance of footballing and finishing ability.

Pros: Redknapp and Daniel Levy were reported to have been sniffing around Llorente in the Summer, and anybody who’s watched the 6ft5 26-year-old will know why. Yes, his goal record is slightly underwhelming, but he possesses the physique and the nous to hold the ball-up and link the play. Both commodities that fit very snugly into Redknapp’s attacking philosophy.

Cons: Gouging Llorente out of the Basque Country would take an absolute boat-load of cash – which would amount to quite a risk before ensuring a Champions League revenue next season. Also, given the way Spurs have approached the last couple of transfer windows, there’s nothing to suggest that they do actually possess that kind of disposable income.

Kaka

Off-colour Brazilian star, currently being marginalised at Real Madrid.

Pros: An old Redknapp quality – the ability to get the most out of individual players. Is there a player in the world whose stock has fallen further than Kaka’s? Wishful thinking it may be, but Tottenham could actually be the antidote to whatever ailment is so obviously stalling the Brazilian’s career.
He is also available, reportedly, for a cut-priced £22m.

Cons: It’s ‘Kaka’ and it’s ‘Spurs’. His wages alone would probably make Daniel Levy choke a little bit on his bagel, and the club would probably be unwilling to break the wage structure for anybody other than Luka Modric. There’s also the caveat that the Brazilian may very well be in terminal decline rather than simply ‘out-of-form’ – and nobody needs a £22m deadweight loss.

Leandro Damiao

Internacional starlet long-admired by Europe’s elite

Pros: Very few actually, because his exposure to a more European-style of play is very limited – and he still doesn’t have the international experience to be compared to anybody outside of the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian league. At a stretch though, he is a close friend of Sandro Raniere…

Cons: He’s not going anywhere, and is recently on-record declaring his loyalty to Internacional. He’ll end up in Europe soon, but it won’t be in January.

Guiseppe Rossi

Pint-sized Italian-American

Pros: Well, the obvious – he scores goals. Villarreal are also currently rubbish, which may make him favour a move to greener pastures.

Cons: Much like Llorente, he would cost a fortune. Plus of course, he doesn’t really have a natural place in the Spurs team – he’s not big enough to fill the role played by Emmanuel Adebayor, and Harry Redknapp has already ruled-out selling Jermain Defoe. On that basis, it’s hard to see Spurs mounting a serious bid.

Gary Cahill

Over-hyped and over-priced ‘next-generation John Terry’

Pros: Cheaper than he would have been because of his contractual situation, but isn’t that the same logic that sees people buy things in the sales that they don’t need? One plus though, he’s young and rarely-injured. Novelty.

Cons: A whole raft of them; Chelsea seem to have this deal all but signed, he’s not better than what Tottenham already have, and the obvious one – he’s not actually anywhere near as good as everybody think he is.

Andriy Yarmolenko

The next great Ukranian export

Pros: Talented, really, really, talented. The Ukranian press have already anointed him as Andriy Shevchenko’s successor, but they’re slightly different players. 22, pacey, skillful, comfortable all across the front line and a goal-threat from anywhere within thirty-yards. And…with the exception of Cahill, probably the cheapest player on this list.

Cons: There’s nothing to indicate that Kiev would be willing to sell their prize-asset just yet. While a move to a more high-profile club is probably inevitable, it won’t happen without an enormous cat-fight between Europe’s elite.

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