It must be tough to be a striker at Spurs.
With the consistent excellence of a certain Harry Kane, you’re only really going to get a chance when he’s injured or being rested, right?
So we can’t help but feel a little worried for Federico Chiesa, who’s been tipped for a move to North London this summer.
The young Italian will surely be just another name on a long list of forwards who’ve competed (and lost) for that solitary striker role.
Just ask this lot.
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Roberto Soldado
Remember him?
Signed in the summer of 2013 to help fans cope with the inevitable departure of Gareth Bale (he left for Real Madrid exactly a month later), Soldado was meant to be the club’s go-to striker for years to come.
But despite being one of the top goalscorers in La Liga the year before, the former Valencia man really struggled to find the back of the net in England.
His first season at the club was marred by inconsistency, as he struggled to score from open play – although he was rather decent from the penalty spot.
In total, Soldado hit just seven top-flight goals in two years at the club and eventually left at the end of the 2014-15 season – right around the time Kane started to establish himself as the club’s first-choice striker.
Emmanuel Adebayor
What an odd Spurs career this guy had.
Initially signed on a season-long loan from Man City the season after he helped knock Spurs out of the Champions League with Real Madrid, Adebayor became an instant hit at the club despite his previous connections at Arsenal.
But it wasn’t all plain-sailing, as he struggled to get a game under Andre Villas-Boas – who even made him train with the kids at the start of the 2013–14 season – before getting back among the action under Tim Sherwood.
But when Kane started showing what he could do in 2014, Adebayor gradually found himself on the bench more and more.
Clinton N’Jie
We can’t really remember this guy.
N’Jie didn’t really get much of a chance at Spurs, making just eight appearances – all of them from the bench – before moving to Marseille a year after joining from Lyon.
No where near dislodging Kane.
Vincent Janssen
This one really should’ve been better.
The Dutchman was signed from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016 after netting 27 goals in the Eredivisie.
So he should be more than capable of getting a few in the Premier League, right?
Well, unfortunately, it seems he was thrown in at the deep end a bit too soon.
With Kane injuring his ankle just a few weeks into the 2016-17 season, Janssen was given the task of leading the line for Spurs.
Out for a month, Kane had to watch on as Janssen started 11 matches up front, but struggle to replicate the goal-scoring form Spurs fans had some accustomed to.
His first goal for the club came from the penalty spot in a big win over Gillingham in the EFL Cup, and his first Premier League goal came soon after – also from the spot.
He eventually grabbed a goal from open play in the FA Cup against Millwall, but his lack of form and often nervy demeanour meant he was back behind Kane when the England striker returned to the fold.
He joined Turkish side Fenerbahce this season on a season-long loan, so could be one for the future.
Son Heung-min
Not really a striker and certainly not someone who’s behind Kane, but deserves a mention.
Son has been excellent for Spurs since his move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, gradually establishing himself as an important part of Mauricio Pochettino’s line-up.
He’s often played behind Kane on the right wing, but has occasionally had to play as a forward.
Like last season, for example, when Janssen’s poor form saw Son used as a lone-forward in the win over Man City.
Fernando Llorente
Here’s the latest Kane back-up who’s struggled to make an impact at Spurs.
Signed from Swansea at the start of the season for £12million, the handsome Spaniard has mainly started in cup matches and has been used sparingly from the bench – although he did start just behind Kane in the trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.
Still, his struggle for minutes this season – with Kane gunning for his third successive Golden Boot – means that Llorente has only scored five goals for Spurs and only once in the Premier League.
Expect him to be gone in the summer.
READ MORE:
- How one of Europe’s best playmakers became the key man for ‘the Harry Kane team’
- Harry Kane is a national treasure but the ‘bullying’ claim is embarrassing
- Here’s why Harry Kane will probably still win the Premier League Golden Boot
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