Any die hard football fan will tell you that it would’ve been harsh to deny Tottenham Hotspur at least a point during their recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United. The north London side peppered David De Gea’s goal throughout the duration of the 90 minutes and were finally rewarded deep into injury time following Clint Dempsey’s last gasp equaliser.
However, when you compare the statistics of the two sides, specifically shots on goal, Spurs absolutely obliterated their Premier League counterparts 25 shot to five. While it’s good for fans of the north London side, it also showcased their inability to net when pressuring the opposition.
At present, Jermain Defoe remains the only out and out striker in Andre Villas-Boas’ squad, with Emmanuel Adebayor currently away on international duty with Togo for the African Cup of Nations.
Furthermore, reports suggest Defoe will be out for between two and four weeks with injury and it leaves Spurs desperately thin in the attacking ranks. With Clint Dempsey the only player who can play up front in the senior squad, it was no surprise to hear Villas-Boas talk up the possibility of bringing in a new striker before the close of the transfer window.
While the likes of Leandro Damiao and Fernando Llorente have been linked with a move to White Hart Lane, another rumoured target currently circulating the internet is Vitesse Arnham front-man Wilfried Bony.
The Ivory Coast international, currently with Les Elephants for the African Cup of Nations, is believed to have been monitored by Spurs with a view to a possible move this month. It isn’t a shock considering his goalscoring exploits in the Eredivisie, netting 30 in 51 appearances since his arrival from Sparta Prague in 2011.
It’s these statistics, coupled with his ability to play the lone targetman while comfortably forcing his way past the opposition defence, that has seen Spurs take a liking to the 24-year-old and while he will be unavailable for club duties until the end of the AFCON, a competition Ivory Coast are expected to go far in, his signing could well be a shrewd one by the north London side.