Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a shock £2million swoop for Andy Carroll, according to The Sun.
The report comes the day after Spurs were handed another injury blow with Dele Alli now expected to have spell on the sidelines.
This means Spurs could well be without Alli, Heung-Min Son, and Harry Kane for around a month, with Son possibly getting back earlier depending on South Korea’s success at the Asian Cup.
Fernando Llorente started as the sole striker on Sunday against Fulham but flopped with a poor display capped by an own goal.
The veteran Spaniard had looked like leaving in the current transfer window but may now stay unless Mauricio Pochettino does some short-term business.
Harry Redknapp told talkSPORT he doesn’t believe the move should happen: “Listen, he is effective. If you use him in the right areas and you get balls into the box for him, there’s no one better.
“I know they got crosses in yesterday for the goals, but in the main Tottenham really don’t play with wide men, their crosses will come from full backs and I don’t see Pochettino suddenly changing his style to be hitting long diagonal balls up to Andy Carroll and running off him…
“I’m not sure that would be a move Pochettino would go for.
“And West Ham need him! He started in the team on Saturday!”
But, here at talkSPORT.com, we reckon it’s not the daftest idea we’ve ever heard and have four reasons to back up our thoughts.
1. He would allow Tottenham Hotspur to sell Fernando Llorente and help them save money
It’s safe to say the Spaniard hasn’t done well at Spurs. He was never going to oust Harry Kane as the No.1 striker but has only ever been used in cups and as an emergency target man.
Llorente has, though, looked poor in cup matches, including the Tranmere Rovers match which saw Spurs win 7-0 and the player get a hat-trick. He looks off the pace and unable to get involved around the pitch.
Currently, it’s believed Llorente is on £100,000-a-week while Carroll is on £90,000 and Daniel Levy may be able to get him for cheaper given his injury woes and lack of games.
He would, though, receive healthy bonuses for goals and appearances, but overall he could save Tottenham money.
2. He would help solve Spurs’ homegrown player woes
Mauricio Pochettino has struggled with amount of ‘non-locally trained’ players in his Champions League squads.
Each club is only able to name 17 but the issue for Tottenham is Ben Davies (Wales) and Eric Dier (Portugal) contribute to this total.
This has meant Erik Lamela, Vincent Janssen, Juan Foyth and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou have all been left out of their European squads at some point over the last two campaigns.
Mousa Dembele’s exit, Fernando Llorente’s possible exit, and Carroll’s arrival would help ease the restrictions on Pochettino and allow another signing in a different position, perhaps in midfield.
3. He offers a suitable Plan B for Pochettino
Tottenham aren’t known for lobbing too many crosses into the box but sometimes it’s necessary.
Against Manchester United, with Spurs struggling to score, Llorente was thrown on as a second striker to provide an aerial threat through heading at goal and providing knockdowns.
Signing Carroll would ensure Pochettino continued to have this option and given his current predicament at West Ham he would perhaps relish the chance to take on this role at a bigger club.
4. Carroll loves scoring against the ‘Big Six’
The 29-year-old forward might not have the best record in the world but he’s good when it comes to ruffling feathers against the Premier League’s current front-runners.
He’s netted five goals against both Manchester City and Arsenal during his career, four against Chelsea, and two against Liverpool, who he has also played for.
Carroll hasn’t netted against Manchester United but Spurs have already played them twice this campaign.
Pochettino could do with added firepower in these games, and particularly against Man City and Liverpool.