Harry Kane's continued brilliance has been a joy for everyone associated with the Premier League - aside from Arsenal or Leicester fans, perhaps - but Spurs mustn't ignore the continued need for some striking competition.

As the Champions League beckons for Mauricio Pochettino next season, the club must guarantee that they have the depth to cope with the additional challenge. The Champions League will not offer fixtures where they can send an U21 team to the depths of Eastern Europe and come home with a favourable result. Kane, despite his superhuman efforts this season, simply cannot play every single minute.

Spurs have been fortunate that Dele Alli has supplemented Harry Kane's goal-fest this season. Alli is still a young player and he will also need rest, to avoid that infamous 'red zone'. Other than that, Spurs have had their resilient defence to thank, with Christian Eriksen being the only other squad member to score more than five goals this season.

Very few people think Kane will suddenly become an ordinary striker, but Spurs need to have the depth to account for all eventualities next season.

[ffc-gal cat="tottenham-hotspur" no="5"]

Kane may well suffer a minor drought - as he did at the beginning of 2015/16 - or he may finally succumb to a serious injury and be out of the side for a period of time.

Although Son and Nacer Chadli have done a decent job when asked to fill in for Kane, neither are up to scratch as a centre-forward of a team competing on four fronts next season.

Champions League football will provide a challenge to Pochettino that he is yet to have to juggle since being in English football. Spurs fans will now be expecting a top four finish and title challenge, and it is imperative that their manager signs a prolific alternative to Kane.

Links to Michy Batshuayi and Saido Berahino have continued as it looks like Pochettino is fully aware of the risk they would be taking not to add to their striking ranks. Chadli and Son's performances were sufficient for the odd fill-in game this season, but Spurs must see it as fortuitous that Kane avoided injury or poor form for this entire campaign. As good as Harry Kane is, and will be, not signing a recognised striker should not be an option.

The only alternative to signing Batshuayi, Berahino or another established goal scorer would be if Pochettino has another Harry Kane in the academy. That in itself would be a sensational gamble, even for Pochettino.

Injury will impact on Kane's career at some point in the next couple of seasons and it would be so cruel if that had a season-wrecking impact just because Daniel Levy didn't loosen the purse-strings to add some backup options.

This Tottenham squad has depth across its defence and midfield, but the weakness in the forward line must be a concern for the management team and it risks damaging their best chance of consistent Champions League football in years.

Whether they take a punt on a youngster or opt for a more familiar face like Graziano Pelle or Christian Benteke, Kane needs to have the chance to take a breather occasionally next season.

[ad_pod id='ffc-poll-2' align='center']

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']