Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici could make his first big mistake as the club’s sporting director in the upcoming winter transfer window, if reports are to be believed…
What’s the word?
According to journalist Paul Brown, who was speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the north London outfit are one of several teams “sniffing around” Everton winger Anthony Gordon as he appears unlikely to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.
The Lilywhites were first linked with a move for the England U21 international around the time they signed Richarlison as they tried to complete a deal for both players. Premier League rivals Chelsea also came close to sealing his signature.
Should Spurs look to sign Gordon in Jan?
“I think it’s up to Everton to change his mind. Otherwise, they’re going to be in the same situation they were with him come January,” the reporter claimed.
“It may be that the interest from those two clubs has waned a bit by then. We’ll see.
“But, if he has a brilliant few months, you can guarantee that Spurs, Chelsea and possibly other teams will be sniffing around because they know from his advisors that Gordon is not about to sign a new long-term deal tomorrow with Everton.”
Paratici disasterclass
The 21-year-old is, of course, still very young and under the right development could blossom into a future star on both the Premier League and international stage but based on the evidence so far, he’s not a player that Spurs should be pursuing.
It’s not as if manager Antonio Conte is short on wide attacking options, and even then his wing-back system hardly caters for one. On top of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski, there is the aforementioned Richarlison, as well as Bryan Gil and Lucas Moura.
Whilst over his 67 senior appearances for the Toffees, Gordon is yet to be deployed as a wing-back, so it’s not as if he could feature there either.
And in those outings, the Finch Farm academy product has only mustered up six goals and eight assists, averaging one direct goal contribution every 288.5 minutes – not great returns from an attack-minded player, one that has also played up front, as per Transfermarkt.
Given his reported asking price is in the region of £60m, it would be an expensive and high-risk gamble to sign the Everton winger, particularly as they signed his more proven former teammate – Richarlison – for the same price, whilst that fee is also being bandied about for Leicester City‘s James Maddison, who could well offer Conte something that’s actually needed.
Once described as “fearless” by BBC pundit Alan Shearer, it’s evident that Gordon just wouldn’t be the answer at Hotspur Way, so signing him would potentially be one of Paratici’s first big mistakes in the Tottenham hot seat.
His lack of genuinely consistent end product is surely a big cause for concern, just as much as that price tag is, too. Gordon must not be revisited come January.
AND in other news, “Congratulations, Mr Levy”… Spurs hit jackpot on £15m ace whose value has risen 308%…