Franco Vázquez to Choose Chelsea or Tottenham

The search for a striker to aid Harry Kane is high atop of Mauricio Pochettino’s wishlist this summer, after seeing Tottenham Hotspur once again go through an entire season with one out-and-out center-forward.

If rumors are to be believed, then according to the IBTimes, Franco Vázquez is set to leave Palermo this summer for either Chelsea or Tottenham. The in-demand striker has plenty of suitors but will let his agent take care of his future, whether that’s remaining in Italy or joining a Premier League club.

"“I will leave Palermo, my future will be 100 percent far away from Sicily,” Vázquez said (via Gazzetta Giallorossa).“I can confirm the words of the club president, I have no preference between Italy and the Premier League, I want to consider all offers. My agent is taking care of my future.”“I do know if my next team will be Tottenham or Chelsea. I just received an offer from West Brom that was rejected by Palermo.”"

Hotspur HQ reported on Franco Vázquez twice this month, one which was about Palermo’s president claiming Tottenham as a possible destination with the other article saying Spurs have better options than Vázquez himself.

Both articles, more or less, agreed that while Vázquez is a talented striker to have on a team, Mauricio Pochettino could use Daniel Levy’s money more wisely and spend it on a center-forward who is closer to Harry Kane’s age and one who can surely help the 22-year-old rest.

For two seasons now, Kane has literally carried Tottenham on his back as the lone and only out-and-out striker on the squad.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on May 02, 2016 in London, England.jd (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /

If you were to include all the starts and substitution appearances that the English forward has made in the past two years with international friendlies/tournaments, pre-season tours, his time spent with England’s Under-21 team, and finally Tottenham in all competitions.

You would get a three digit number that hovers well over 110-120 games.

So it would make sense to sign a player who can do the same thing that Kane has done. And at the moment, Franco Vázquez doesn’t seem like that kind of player.

At 27-years-old, while he looked good with Paulo Dybala during their time together in Palermo, and could potentially do the same with Harry Kane playing just behind him. Pochettino has seen what it’s like to pair a young striker alongside an older one — or two (Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor).

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Soldado and Adebayor aren’t the greatest examples to use as one kept misfiring in front of the net while the other couldn’t even get onto the pitch because of personal reasons.

But what those two former Spurs strikers showed, was that Mauricio Pochettino favored a less productive player (during his loan spells) who was younger than his competition at the center-forward position on the squad, but hungry to prove everyone wrong.

It’s something that he has mentioned in the past. Back in February of this year, Pochettino had this to say about having a good mix between young and experienced players (via The Guardian).

"“Young players have hunger, energy and potential and if they show they have enough quality, it’s perfect, especially if you have good team-mates, who give you good advice. […]”“There are a lot of factors in football but if you have good balance between younger and experienced players, it is a perfect mix to try to achieve big things. […]”"

This doesn’t mean that Mauricio Pochettino won’t sign Franco Vázquez because he’s 27, seeing as how he clearly signed Toby Alderweireld when he was 26 last year. Instead, at an area that needs plenty of energy to run up and down the pitch, younger players are preferred.

Which is why Michy Batshuayi and Vincent Janssen have been targeted recently.

The 22-year-old Englishman’s spot as a starter isn’t in jeopardy, though his minutes should likely be monitored more closely.

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Both Batshuayi and Janssen have been productive with their respective teams last term, but they’re also young enough to handle a rigorous season that Harry Kane has gone through twice, all by himself.

As a third striker, or even a possible mentor to teach the young forwards, Vázquez could be ideal in that sense. Assuming he would take a backup role.

The Argentine-born Italian international provided Palermo with eight goals and seven assists last season. Decent to good numbers for sure, but his price alone which is said to be £19.6 million according to Maurizio Zamparini, Palermo’s club president, makes Franco Vazquez not worth it.