Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino is looking to be bolster his attacking options and is reportedly interested in roping in Barcelona forward Munir El Haddadi.
Barcelona attacker Munir El Hadaddi’s future at the camp Nou hangs in jeopardy as manager Luis Enrique is eyeing another striker to serve as a replacement to the front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. The Spanish striker seems to have become somewhat of an outcast at the club, but as per recent reports, he has been offered an escape route to the Premier League.
According to Spanish publication Sport (h/t IB Times), the Barcelona starlet is waiting for Tottenham Hotspur to make a move for him. The English side are understood to be keen to bolster their attack, and could benefit from signing Munir. Also, as reported by Ignasi Oliva of Goal, the player’s agent has kept the door open for a Camp Nou exit.
7 – Munir El Haddadi has scored seven goals in his last eight appearances for @FCBarcelona (all competitions). Option.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 14, 2016
However, Spurs are reluctant to include a buy-back clause in the player’s contract as Pochettino sees him as a part of the club’s long-term plans. The same could be said about Enrique, who is hoping to build a youthful side at the Camp Nou for life after Suarez and Messi, once they head towards the end of their careers.
Do Spurs need another striker?
Tottenham striker Harry Kane almost single-handedly carried his side to a commendable third placed finish in the league last season. Heung Min Son was signed as his backup, but he seldom impressed, heaving additional pressure on the English striker.
But with Kane firing blanks at the recently concluded European Championships, Pochettino signed AZ Alkmaar forward Vincent Jannsen to deputize for the Englishman. Thus, signing another forward would not make sense for them.
Also, given Munir’s relatively tender age of 20, he would be looking to move to a club that would guarantee him a regular starting role. At White Hart Lane, he would be third in the pecking order, and that would make it extremely hard for him to climb up the ladder.