According to a recent report from AS, Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose has been chosen by Jose Mourinho to replace Harry Kane amid his injury, and move to the Premier League in the January transfer window.
But if that move were to materialise, there would be one clear winner and one clear loser emerging from Spurs’ squad…
The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?
Winner: Harry Kane
Kane is a man who needs little introduction and being Spurs’ top goal-scorer every single season in the Premier League since 2014/15, it’s pretty safe to say that the London outfit have relied on him banging in the goals. And for that same reason, they are now in a rather desperate situation with the Englishman’s injury.
But with the arrival of Jose – another prolific goal-scorer who’s already netted eight times in his first 22 games for La Real – Kane could see the responsibility in front goal finally shared by someone else.
And with much less pressure and a bit more time to rest and recuperate when needed, Spurs could potentially avoid further injuries to their star striker – he’s suffered seven injuries since the start of the 2017/18 season, missing 153 days of action and 28 games in total.
Kane would definitely prosper from the arrival of a quality backup forward.
Loser: Lucas Moura
With Kane injured and Mourinho lacking any out and out striker to successfully fill his void, Moura has been chosen to try and assume the role of a centre-forward and lead the line for his team.
The 27-year-old started and finished the last five games in that position but with little to no effect, failing to find the back of the net in each of those outings.
Jose’s arrival would in theory allow him to return to a more favoured role out wide, but it still remains to be seen whether the Special One intends to put him in the squad ahead of the likes of Heung-Min Son, Erik Lamela and Giovanni Lo Celso.
The simple fact of the matter is that Lucas just doesn’t come across as a Mourinho-style winger. Speed aside, he’s not particularly athletic or robust and he has a knack of drifting in and out of games.
Son will surely take the left wing, having made as many Premier League goal contributions as Kane this season, but Lamela feels more suited to Mourinho on the right and has started there in Spurs’ last two Premier League games, while Lo Celso featured on the flank in the FA Cup against Southampton.
That’s not to say the Brazilian definitely won’t win the battle to take the right wing, but there’s clearly far greater competition out wide than up front. Right now, Lucas gets into the starting XI by default.