Loan deal the only way Tottenham should risk signing Krzysztof Piatek

The injury to Harry Kane might force Daniel Levy’s hand to urgently sign a striker, but Tottenham cannot risk bringing Krzysztof Piatek on a permanent deal. 

AC Milan resigned Zlatan Ibrahimovic a couple of weeks ago. The ancient striker is definitely not a direct replacement for Piatek, who is 14 years Zlatan’s younger. However, AC Milan is not averse to the idea of shipping Piatek off to any team willing to dish out the £34 million they paid for him in the first place.

One must be extremely cautious, even weary of any side keen on selling a player who hasn’t been around for a full season. His overall goal return is actually pretty good in his brief time at Milan. He has scored 15 goals in 39 appearances since joining from Genoa, most of which occurring toward the tail end of last season. The goals have since dried up, with Piatek scoring just four goals so far this season, two of which from the penalty spot.

Signing Piatek on a loan deal makes sense for Spurs. It’s a low risk strategy that will allow Tottenham to bring the Polish striker aboard on what is tantamount to a trial with the club. He’ll do his utmost to temporarily fill the Ozone-size hole left by Harry Kane’s injury, without the financial burden of a high-risk permanent move hanging over the chairman’s head.

You can see why Milan are playing hardball, unwilling to loan out their struggling striker. They want to make their money back and spend it more wisely, like they should have done the first time of asking.

Spurs cannot afford to fall into that trap, even with the pressure mounting to replace Kane, who won’t return until April. They should learn the lesson from Milan’s mistake and only bring Piatek to north London if a loan deal is on the table.

Otherwise it’s not worth the risk. For £30 million, he’s too much of an unknown quantity, and Spurs supporters deserve better than being subjected to reliving another Roberto Soldado or Vincent Janssen travesty.