We all knew finding an understudy/rival for Harry Kane was the priority.
So when Mauricio Pochettino showed up at Aviva Stadium for last month’s pre-Euro 2016 friendly against the Netherlands, the thought that the Spurs boss might be casting a critical eye over Shane Long occurred to many present.
The fact that the Argentine was sat beside Long’s agent, former St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City manager Pat Dolan, only increased speculation that the in-form Southampton man might be off to White Hart Lane.
Piece on where Shane Long has come from, and where he might be going – https://t.co/2cO9fYVNgL
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) May 28, 2016
Perhaps Goodison Park would be a better bet. With Saints manager Ronald Koeman marching to Goodison Park, he might be keen to take Long with him.
It seems Pochettino is looking elsewhere.
Could this be why Mauricio Pochettino was at the Aviva the other week? #juveforlongy #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/ua6r0QbbHZ
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 8, 2016
The Londoners are close to signing AZ Alkmaar’s Vincent Janssen, who was up front for the Dutch in Dublin on May 27 as Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Danny Blind’s side.
Considering Kane started all 38 games of Tottenham’s electrifying but ultimately dispiriting Premier League campaign, there is nothing to say Pochettino is not finished with his striker shopping.
He could yet add Long to his attacking options. With the Champions League to contest next season, Tottenham will need options if they are not to run Kane’s legs to bloody stumps.
While Long crashed a one-yard screamer to the net that night in Dublin, Janssen was kept relatively quiet by Shane Duffy and John O’Shea.
He was anything but quiet for AZ Alkmaar last season however, scoring 27 goals in 34 games. A deadly finisher off both his left and right, good in the air and clever with his movement, the 21-year-old was only signed last summer from Almere City.
A graduate of the Feyenoord youth academy, it is a mystery in Dutch football circles how the club allowed a striker now being compared to Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave in the summer of 2013.
It looks, like Van Nistelrooy, Janssen will be taking the familiar route across the North Sea to try his hand in the Premier League.
Long will be there too. Unless Juventus follow through on their interest.
