Paul Robinson has claimed that Spurs “missed a trick” by not signing Olivier Giroud from Chelsea in the January transfer window, per Football Insider.
What’s the word?
Spurs did not manage to sign a striker at the turn of the year, leaving the club without a recognised senior forward under Jose Mourinho.
Harry Kane’s injury has left them fearfully short, with Son Heung-Min and Steven Bergwijn both also on the treatment table.
Robinson believes that Spurs should have done everything they could to secure the Blues forward, who has scored two Premier League goals this season, including a strike against Tottenham in their 2-1 win.
He said: “They tried to get a number nine in the January window.
“With Harry Kane’s injury, closely followed by Son’s injury and now Bergwijn they have not got anyone who is comfortable playing that position.
“To not get a striker in January has proven… It was very important.
“I think it was a real miss not getting Giroud in January. He has got game time and Chelsea and played a lot better. He would suit Mourinho perfectly – occupy the centre-backs and give space for those behind him.
“It is a difficult sell for Spurs, getting a top striker to play while Kane is out. I really think they missed a trick not signing somebody.”
No clues whatsoever: Which seasons do these iconic Spurs images belong to?
They did try
Robinson is right but it must be noted that Spurs did try.
Sources have confirmed that they were interested in bringing the France international into the club and that Chelsea were open to the idea, provided they could bring in a replacement.
They couldn’t and, thus, the Blues pulled the plug on the deal.
Spurs didn’t need to put all their eggs in one basket, of course, but they didn’t do that either; moves for Real Sociedad's Willian Jose and AC Milan's Krzysztof Piatek, who eventually joined Hertha Berlin, fell through, per sources.
Giroud was an option late in the window and Spurs pursued the option as best they could; it is not really their fault that it didn’t come off.