Scouting For North Londoners: 5 Top Strikers Arsenal And Tottenham Should Target This January

There’s no single team in this world right now that doesn’t require a top notch striker, such that they complete their objectives. Talk of any English team especially, and you’ll be surprised to find that almost every single side of the top six needs a quality striker. Take Manchester United, Chelsea, City or Liverpool- they are in need of a proven goal scorer such that they achieve the targets that they had set up before the season began, or even exceed it.

North London rivals Arsenal and Spurs happen to be another two of those sides that have a similar need troubling them. While Arsenal have been crying out for an Olivier Giroud replacement since summer, Spurs are some need a goal scorer who can act as a backup for the on fire Harry Kane. Arsenal’s recent, monotonous and familiar injury crisis is something that has rocked them season after season and the Christmas period is when backups and replacements are needed the most, one position or the other. And the same applies to Spurs, who did sign Clinton N’Jie and Hueng Min Son, who has gained the recognition of being the Asian Footballer of the Year, but neither of them are out and out strikers. And as the Christmas period approaches and so does the Winter transfer window, both clubs need to pull something off, if not anything.

And here are some strikers the North Londoners may look to sign in January:

5. Vincent Aboubakar- FC Porto

The bruiser from Cameroon has certainly come on leaps and bounds since joining Porto and his rise to prominence has been gradual too. But this season is set to be a breakout one for him, with the 23-year-old Porto star grabbing a total of 11 goals in all competitions this campaign.

5 in the Liga Sagres and 3 in the Champions League, Aboubakar is Porto’s leading goal scorer and is set to capture a considerable amount of eye balls. The tall, well-built forward is as good a target man, as he’s a dribbler. Despite of having a big frame, Aboubakar is very good dribbler too- someone with pace to go past defenders with ease. He has all the required attributes to be a successful star in any top premier league club.

 

4. Saido Berahino: West Bromwich Albion

The young Englishman was heavily linked to Spurs this past summer and Pochetinno was so desperate to land the 22-year-old that they lodged as many as four bids for him, only for the Baggies to reject all of them. And the rejections from his club had forced Berahino into launching a tirade on Twitter regarding the West Brom chairman and why he won’t play for him again.

That has seemingly had an effect on Berahino’s showings as he hasn’t lived up to his goal getting reputation this season. He’s scored just three times and sometimes hasn’t registered desire to play for the Baggies. Of course, Salomon Rondon has outshined him, but Berahino has lost a bit of hunger, after that series of incidents.

It’s being said that Spurs are still after him and may offer Andros Townsend plus cash for him, to acquire Berahino’s services. Quite ostensibly, a move to Spurs is imminent.

3. Michy Batshuayi- Marseille

Among one of the young players who lie within the ‘highly coveted’ frame, Batshuayi has been on fire for Michel’s Marseille side. He’s found the net a total of 10 times in Ligue Un in just 15 appearances this season. And not just Arsenal and France, the 22-year-old Belgian has been on the radar of some other prominent clubs too, apart from Spurs and Arsenal.

He’s a more complete forward than any of the four in here. He’s got pace- raw and in bundles. And despite of a slender frame, he’s got a lot of physical power that allows him to shrug the opposition of the ball. Much like Porto’s Aboubakar, Batshuayi too has witnessed a gradual rise through the ranks- he scored nine times last season and has got one more than that already, with more than half of the season still left.

Arsenal and Spurs have drawn links with Batshuayi already and it’s been reported that Marseille have placed a 40 million price tag on him too. Come January, this man could be a Premier League player.

2. Gonzalo Higuain- Napoli

Someone who was on the brink of joining Arsenal two seasons ago, Higuain’s move to Emirates was hijacked by Napoli, where the Argentine has found his knack for scoring goals once again. He’s got 10 goals in 13 appearances for the Partonopei has got back to goal-scoring means once again, after a Copa America and the World Cup, where he was criticized quite a bit.

A more of that fox in the box striker than any of the players in this list, Higuain has a real eye for goal and knows exactly where the goal is, especially these days. He is good on the ball and even knows how to drop deep for the other players to bomb forward during counter attacks, thanks to an impressive hold-up attribute.

The 27-year-old could be someone who can transform the way either of the clubs are heading into, thanks to his heralded goal scoring abilities.

1. Viktor Fischer- Ajax

A rather surprising inclusion into this list, Fischer has been a shining star for Frank de Boer’s men ever since breaking into the first-team 3-4 seasons ago. He has scored five goals this season, registering a total of two assists and is just as capable of playing wide as he is down the middle as a forward or behind him.

After recovering from an ACL that kept him out for a majority of the previous season, Fischer has begun to bang on the doors of big European clubs, thanks to a string of impressive performances this season. He’s got a good amount of pace and willingness to move in behind defenders, with or without the ball. A more on-the-ball form of Atletico Madrid and former Villareal man Luciano Vietto, Fischer can be a swift competitor to tackle.

If he carries on the good work, a move to a bigger club such as Arsenal or Spurs is evident, if not this season.