According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Beijing Guoan forward Cedric Bakambu after his goal heroics in the Chinese Super League.
Mauricio Pochettino is looking to bolster his squad in January after failing to sign players in the summer and the Lilywhites have already contacted Bakambu over a possible move to the Premier League. However, his huge wage demands might be a problem for the club. (h/t The Sun)
Born in France to parents of Congolese descent, Bakambu started his professional career with Sochaux but did not taste success in Ligue 1, scoring only 18 goals from 94 appearances. However, he made a name for himself in the Turkish league where he scored 13 goals in a season for Bursaspor. His prolific scoring record earned him a move to Villareal in 2015.
It was in the La Liga that the Congolese international rose to prominence, scoring 32 goals from 75 appearances in the La Liga. Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan snapped him up for a whopping £35.4 million in 2018 and the 27-year-old has emerged as one of the hottest properties in China, scoring 16 goals and setting up another three from just 20 appearances.
And his prolific record hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Premier League clubs. As a matter of fact, Bakambu also has an incredible record for DR Congo, having scored 7 goals from 16 appearances.
As things stand for the Lilywhites, they need a backup striker to reduce the workload on Harry Kane. Kane has hardly had any rest due to the absence of players who can spearhead the attack.
Lucas Moura has been entrusted with that role on a couple of occasions but the Brazilian hasn’t looked comfortable in an unfamiliar position. Vincent Janssen has arguably emerged as the club’s most flop signing in recent times.
Fernando Llorente is another striker who is well past his prime at 33 and the Spaniard doesn’t have the attributes to compete in the Premier League.
Bakambu might not be the most dynamic and versatile striker around but he certainly knows how to score goals. As evident from his records, he scores goals for fun.
Standing at just a shade over 6ft, the 27-year-old has the instincts of a perfect out-and-out centre-forward. His sixth sense helps him understand the game well and Bakambu combines his instincts and awareness with his pace to latch on to through balls and crosses.
The Congolese international has the ability to outmuscle the opposition with his immense physicality and creates that extra yard of space for himself in the final third with quick turns. He has a remarkable eye for goal and rarely tends to miss the target from close range.
However, his clinical nature in front of the goal surely sets him apart. Spurs need a quality backup striker to add depth to their attacking options.
The Lilywhites need greater quality on their bench to mount a serious challenge for the title and Cedric Bakambu should be the ideal option. He won’t be a cheap buy for Pochettino but going by the form he has displayed so far, he could be a perfect fit for the Premier League.