Report: Tottenham fail with late move for Eran Zahavi

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The Telegraph have claimed on their deadline-day blog (Friday, 10.42pm) that Tottenham Hotspur failed with a late move to sign 32-year-old striker Eran Zahavi from Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F.

Tottenham failed to bring in a new striker before the deadline, with Frank Lampard choosing to keep Olivier Giroud at Chelsea as the Blues failed to land either Edinson Cavani or Dries Mertens. A move for Odion Ighalo also followed.

However, the Nigerian powerhouse picked Manchester United where he has joined on loan until the end of the season. Spurs also needed a striker, given Harry Kane’s torn hamstring – just as United did with Marcus Rashford injured.

Zahavi, a 52-time Israel cap, has a stunning record in the Chinese Super League. He has scored 99 goals in 110 games for R&F, including 29 in just 28 appearances during the 2019 season. His contract ends in December, but Spurs failed with a move.

TBR’s view – Despite Zahavi’s stats, it would have been a poor signing

Zahavi has only ever been a success in China and his home country of Israel for both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He struggled when given the chance at Palermo – failing to make a single senior appearance.

A move to the Premier League with last season’s Champions League finalists, then, would have been a step up that even some big players struggle with – let along an ageing Zahavi who has never played at such a level.