Levy has striking chance to join elite
TEN days left in the transfer window and Mauricio Pochettino still hasn’t signed a striker. It is clear the Tottenham boss is after one. The failed attempt to land West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino last summer told us all we needed to know and, five months later, injury to Harry Kane could still spell disaster.
Berahino remains on the Argentine’s list, as does Moussa Dembele — though the Fulham youngster is viewed more as one for the future.
Kane was on the bench last night, with the lone striker’s role handed to summer signing Son Heung-min. To be fair to the Korean, he delivered, firing a ferocious shot past Kasper Schmeichel to put Spurs ahead.
Likewise, Nacer Chadli (below) weighed in with a strike of his own to remind Pochettino of his attributes.
So, does Pochettino really need reinforcements? After last night’s win, the Spurs boss reeled off a list of reasons why it may not be a necessity.
Tottenham are still in the title race and at the very least they have an excellent chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
Signing another top-level striker would send the most resounding of messages to their top-four rivals.
Question is: will Spurs chairman Daniel Levy take the plunge?
VERSATILE DIER
WHEN Roy Hodgson sits down with trusted aide Ray Lewington to finalise his Euro 2016 squad, the England manager will weigh up the merits of selecting a Mr Versatile. Someone who can play in various positions in tournament football could be invaluable.
If Hodgson does go for a jack-of-all- trades then Tottenham’s Eric Dier should top his list. The former Sporting Lisbon man has played in central midfield for most of the season, striking up a flourishing partnership with fellow international hopeful Dele Alli.
But the 22-year-old played at centre back here and looked comfortable in the heart of Tottenham’s defence. He has also played right back on numerous occasions.
Versatility can prevent a player nailing down a natural position, but Dier can use it to his advantage.
TAKE A BOW, BEN
REMEMBER the name Ben Chilwell. Leicester’s 19-year-old is one of the hottest names on the scouting circuit and made his home debut here.
It wasn’t hard to see why the left back is on the radar of England’s top clubs. Indeed, Arsenal’s chief talentspotter Steve Rowley has been raving about him for months during regular scouting meetings.
Confident on the ball, composed and mature beyond his years, Chilwell ticks all the boxes. When he broke down the left in the 27th minute, he could easily have whipped the ball straight into the area. Instead, he glanced up to see there was no team-mate in the box before driving into the heart of Spurs’ defence, eventually winning a free-kick on the edge of the box. Chilwell clearly has a big future; Leicester will do well to keep hold of him.
AGENTS BEWARE
ALONGSIDE chairman Levy last night was Spurs director of football operations Rebecca Caplehorn. She has impressed since joining the club from QPR last March and the Loughborough University graduate’s influence is growing. Her forthright manner has won friends within the corridors of power, but various agents find her no-nonsense approach less endearing.