Harry Kane’s cruel injury has reportedly forced Tottenham Hotspur into searching for a replacement, and they have been linked with a move for Lyon forward Moussa Dembele.
A story from Goal claim that Spurs are looking at the Lyon star as a potential transfer target this month, to try and cover for Kane, in the fight for the top four this season.
The Ligue 1 side are adamant that the club’s top goal-scorer is not up for sale in January but is Dembele even a good choice for Spurs?
Dembele and his numbers
Having started his senior career in London, with Fulham, Dembele truly rose to prominence during his stint with Celtic, where he managed 51 goals and 18 assists in 94 appearances, winning everything possible domestically.
He moved to Lyon at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, and announced himself to the French league, with a 15-goal debut season.
Dembele has started this season in fine fashion as well, and has 10 league goals, in spite of his team struggling in 12th place, with just seven wins from 19 Ligue 1 games.
An athletic striker with a keen eye for goal, Dembele’s biggest asset is his finishing. He has all the attributes of a top-class striker, and will covert even half-chances into goals.
He has troubled the best of players that he has faced, making a living of turning defenders inside-out and testing the keepers on a regular basis.
Dembele is a mobile striker, who loves to take run beyond the backline but he is also effective in build-up play and suits the pace of the English game.
His previous experience in London will certainly add some strength to this rumour and the French Under-21 international could certainly make an impact for the rest of the season in the Premier League.
Will Tottenham Hotspur be able to lure Moussa Dembele?
Lyon’s struggles in Ligue 1 and the chance to play under Jose Mourinho could potentially make it an easy decision for Dembele, but the amount of playing time when Kane returns from his injury is the big question.
Kane is one of the best strikers in the world at the moment, and is going to be back in the first team right after his injury.
He may be out for the rest of the season, which will give Dembele a chance to impress, but irrespective of the returns the Frenchman provides, it is hard to see Spurs play him over Kane next season as well.
But the lack of a backup to Kane might help Mourinho persuade Dembele of a long term role at the club.
This is a tough deal for Spurs to complete in January, but if they pull it off, it could be a masterstroke and potentially help them push Chelsea and Manchester United for a top-four place.