Tottenham Hotspur came into the January transfer window with a huge need for more quality at the forward positions, and although the recent breakouts of Wilson Odobert and now healthy striker Dominic Solanke have somewhat changed the equation, the reality is that Spurs results in the Premier League indicate that their attacking quality is still nowhere up to snuff.
To wit, Spurs needed their center backs, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, to rescue them from a sure fire defeat to lowly Burnley this past Premier League weekend. If it were not for these two defenders scoring goals at a rate higher than even the strikers this season, Spurs would be truly toiling in the relegation battle.
As it stands, Tottenham have only two healthy wingers in Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert, and the former almost never plays despite being a standout. And he is expected by many transfer analysts to push himself out on loan this winter, even though the club are resisting a transfer.
Tottenham are getting worse
Meanwhile, Tottenham have only two healthy strikers between Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, and the latter has also been raising discontent about a loan. Another goal against a former employer in the Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt, may have saved his fate, but, by and large, Kolo Muani has been a transfer flop who literally cannot score to save his life in the Premier League.
So Tottenham are thinner at forward than before the transfer window started, and it could get even worse if players depart. Coming into the season, Atalanta left winger and center forward Ademola Lookman was a prime transfer target and alternative to Savinho, who remains unavailable to Spurs.
But instead of going after one of the most accomplished all around forwards in Serie A to help fill depth at two big positions of need, Tottenham Hotspur are about to watch the Nigerian international waltz away to a lesser club.
According to a new report from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are "closing in" on a transfer for Ademola Lookman. Fenerbahce are set to sign the player for a mere 40 million euros plus add ons, as negotiations have entered "final stages" following a recent meeting between the clubs. They just need to iron out "bank guarantees" and "payment terms" before the deal officially gets over the line.
Based on what Romano is saying, Lookman to Fenerbahce is almost in the bag, and at 40 million euros, the accomplished forward is about as expensive as mediocre center midfielder Conor Gallagher. Forwards are generally more expensive than box to box midfielders, especially goal scoring left wingers. Tottenham are running out of options.