Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly made Burnley striker Andre Gray his top transfer target for the summer.
According to a report in the Express, the Argentine has made bringing Gray to White Hart Lane in the coming transfer window his top priority. The 25-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of the 2017/18 season and the Clarets are yet to open talks with a new deal for their star striker.
The report states that Pochettino believes that Gray’s arrival would help ease the burden on Harry Kane’s shoulders next season. Which is understandable, given Victor Janssen’s disastrous debut season in the Premier League after his £17 million move last summer from AFC Ajax.
If Tom Hopkinson of the Mirror is to be believed, Gray, who is currently having a superb debut season in the English top flight, is also a target for Premier League rivals West Ham United, Stoke City, Southampton and Championship side Newcastle United.
The Englishman is also in line for a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England National Team Squad for their upcoming International Friendly against Germany at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, followed by their first World Cup qualifier match against Lithuania at Wembley.
Gray has been an integral part of Sean Dyche’s side, ever since moving from Brentford in the summer of 2015. His 23 goals in 42 games for the club led them back into the English top flight and so far this season, he has accumulated 9 goals and 2 assists in all competitions.
His first season in the English top flight has been a rollercoaster one. Gray was suspended for a 4 matches and had to pay a fine of £25,000 after the FA charged him with misconduct. This came after some homophobic and racist tweets sent out by the 25-year-old in 2012 and 2014 had resurfaced.
He served his four match ban, missing ties against Arsenal, Watford, Southampton and Everton. After being left out of the bench for a few more games after his return, he has won his place back in the starting XI and has gotten back amongst the goals.
Gray’s first season Premier League is shaping up to be an impressive one and under Mauricio Pochettino’s guidance, he could quite possibly go on to become an even better player. Needless to say he taken to life in the English top flight far better than Spurs’ Victor Janssen.
The Dutchman has netted only once in the Premier League in 18 appearances this season. In 28 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 4 goals in total, all of which have been penalties.
It is clear that Spurs need back-up for next season as they look to compete in Europe and domestically for all trophies once again, and Gray comes across as an good affordable, long term option who can only grow as a player from here on out.
