TBR View: Spurs should feel confident of beating Arsenal to £20m-rated ‘next Thierry Henry’

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If recent reports are to be believed, Tottenham Hotspur are now vying with Arsenal for the signature of one of the most highly-rated young strikers in European football.

According to Football London, Jose Mourinho’s Spurs are looking at Red Bull Salzburg forward Patson Daka, who the Far Post has also linked with the Gunners.

The 21-year-old, a Zambia international, registered 27 goals and 12 assists from 45 games in all competitions for Salzburg last season, including 24 goals in 31 league appearances.

Whilst Daka has made a huge name for himself over the past season, particularly after Erling Braut Haaland’s exit, his talent has been evident for years.

Herve Renard, formerly of Lille and Zambia, waxed lyrical about Daka in 2017 during the Under-20 World Cup, as quoted by Besoccer.

“He’s a modern center-forward, who moves quickly, who is capable of creating efforts and making a difference because he is skilful and has a sense of movement,” he said.

“I brought him to Lille at 17, he had to wait a little before playing and I had the bad luck to be dismissed in the meantime.

“Unfortunately for him, but whatever, because he signed for Red Bull Salzburg. You really have to write his name down because he is very, very promising.”

Meanwhile, Dan Kabwe – another of his former coaches – told News Diggers recently: “When I saw Patson Daka, what came into my mind is this guy is the next Thierry Henry – and in no time he has proved it.”

With Arsenal currently well stocked in the attacking department, even if Alexandre Lacazette goes, Spurs could have an advantage over those two in that they’d be able to give Daka more game time.

Tottenham’s crisis up front earlier this year is something that shouldn’t have happened and mustn’t happen again, hence the need for a new striker.

Someone like Daka, who is young and extremely talented, would have great mentors at Spurs in Harry Kane, one of the best strikers in the world, and Jose Mourinho, one of the best coaches in the world.

While Kane is first-choice at Tottenham, there has been way too much reliance on him – besides the risk of injury, he needs to be given a bit more of a rest during any given season, and Daka would be able to take over without issues.

In terms of price tag, The Sun claims a fee of “£20million plus” could be enough to tempt him from Salzburg – hardly a bank-breaker considering his age, talent, goalscoring record and chance for further development.