The summer transfer window is only round the corner, with just nine games left of the Premier League season for Tottenham. Antonio Conte's side currently sit fifth in the league, just three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
In the January transfer window, Fabio Paratici brought Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski to N17. The former Juventus duo have both had a solid start to their Spurs chapter, breaking straight into Conte's regular XI and making an impact at both ends of the pitch.
However, there will be a number of decisions to make by the time the summer window comes around. Not only because the Lilywhites will have three players returning from loan spells abroad, but also in terms of outgoings with current squad members and incomings that are needed.
READ MORE: Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici face 11 transfer decisions before Tottenham consider signings
During the winter window, Conte wanted a right wing-back, striker and a central midfielder, but he only got the latter. It is now becoming even more clear that a second striker needs to be a priority. After a slow start to the season, Harry Kane was back to his best before the international break and the Spurs boss was full of praise for the England captain after Tottenham's 2-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
"We are very happy because Harry is scoring a lot. He started this season and he struggled a bit because he didn’t score a lot. Now we are very happy because as a manager I know that I have a world class striker that in every game he can score. To have Harry in your team makes you stronger," Conte admitted.
The Italian's only other real option up front is 18-year-old Dane Scarlett. The youngster has been a bright spark in Tottenham's academy and is regularly in Conte's matchday squad but needs more time and experience before breaking into the regular XI. However the 52-year-old clearly has high hopes for the striker as he praised him in his post match press conference after Tottenham's 3-1 victory against West Ham. "I'm seeing a lot of improvement today in [Dane] Scarlett honestly if I have to tell you," Conte said, unprompted.
"Seeing that this guy is improving a lot, he's only [18]-years-old but I can tell you that he is a really important prospect for Tottenham. He has to be patient and work behind these very important players and continue to work in this way because about Scarlett, I can tell you that I see a brilliant future for him."
However, whilst Spurs allow the youngster to develop before a hopefully bright future with the first team, they need reinforcements in case Kane gets injured. Ahead of the summer window, football.london takes a look at four strikers who Paratici could look to sign.
Paulo Dybala
Dybala is a name that has been linked with the Tottenham camp for a number of years, since the Lilywhites were reportedly in talks with Juventus over a move for the 28-year-old in 2019. With Dybala now set to be a free agent in the summer, it could be another opportunity for Spurs to swoop in.
The striker has made 21 appearances in Serie A this season, scoring eight goals and registerting five assists. The Argentine has also captained his side on a number of occasions, showing his quality and leadership. Former Juventus star, Alessandro Del Piero praised the 28-year-old a number of years ago, highlighting his ongoing talent. "He's got enormous technical quality and he's made an impression with his personality first at Palermo and now at Juve," Del Piero told La Gazzetta dello Sport, via 90min.
"His way of being, of imagining football, enable him to make the difference. He's already at a really high level and he can get even better." Dybala has had experience as a number 10 and a striker and comparisons have been made to the likes of Lionel Messi in the past.
However the reason Tottenham may decide to steer clear is due to his injury issues. Dybala has missed 13 matches just this season, due to his various problems and with him being a free agent in the summer, he may request high wages. Paratici likes a free transfer and with his proven quality, the move can't be ruled out. However it will depend on if Tottenham want to take the risk with an injury prone player and what he is expecting from a deal with the north London club.
Mauro Icardi
Taking it back to the 2019/20 season, Icardi scored 12 goals in 20 Ligue 1 appearances and bagged five in seven Champions League features. Since then, he has been another player who has suffered injury problems and not produced as much in the final third as his past has shown.
This season the 29-year-old has scored just four goals in 23 league appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. After a return from injury, Icardi scored a hattrick for his side against Angers SCO and he earned praise from PSG boss and former Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino. "I'm glad Mauro scored three goals tonight. Anytime he's on the pitch, he has the opportunity to score. He's coming back from injury, I'm very happy with what he did."
However, with his dip in form in recent times, his time with the French outfit could be coming to an end. In their last five league games, Icardi has featured in four but played no longer than 21 minutes on the pitch. It is difficult for him to get regular game time, battling with the likes of Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but that could be why a move would be beneficial for his own career. The Argentine has been previously linked with moves to Arsenal, Newcastle and some Spanish sides.
According to Transfermarkt, the striker has a current market value of £25.2million. A move to north London would see Icardi reunite with Conte. However, it was the Italian in charge when the 29-year-old was sold to PSG, which could suggest he doesn't fit into a Conte system. Therefore it would maybe take a lot for the striker to get that reunion in N17.
Memphis Depay
Another potential option who is having a better season than the aforementioned Argentines is Depay. The 28-year-old has scored ten goals and registered two assists in 20 La Liga appearances for Barcelona this season. Strikers with injuries seems to be an ongoing theme here as Depay has also had his problems this season. He has suffered both hamstring and achilles tendon injuries during this campaign but was playing frequently up until that point.
With the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres, he could now struggle to get as much time on the pitch as he has been used to. The 28-year-old has previously been compared to Jack Grealish, a player Tottenham missed out on in 2018, reiterating his quality. Another bonus of the Dutch international is his Premier League experience, playing with Man United for just under two years. Conte will need players who can come in an make an immediate impact on improving his Tottenham side.
Kulusevski and Bentancur have both managed to do that, without previous English football experience, but it will only be a boost if a new arrival does have that experience. With a current market value of £40.5million, Depay would be the most expensive of the four options. However with Spurs wanting to challenge for even more next season, could forking out money for players in the summer be worth it?
Anthony Martial
Another player with Premier League experience at Man United is Martial, who is still a player of the Manchester side, but is currently on loan at Sevilla. The 26-year-old has made five La Liga appearances for his current side, since his move in January.
After he struggled under Jose Mourinho at United for the first season, the one after saw improvement and the former Spurs boss praised the French internationals attitude. "I see a great improvement in the person, in the moods, in the face and body language," the 59-year-old said.
"If we want a word - happiness. He is a happy guy. He is working extremely well, he starts matches and tries to do well. He goes from the bench, even if for ten minutes like in the last match at home, he tries to enjoy and to give something in the extra minutes. I am very pleased with his attitude overall, and then it is easier to play well," Mourinho added.
As the list of potentials continue, so do their injury problems. The 26-year-old has also had his own injury problems this season, causing him to miss out on a number of games. In January, Philippe Lamboley, Martial's agent revealed that the striker wanted to leave United. With his loan move only being until the end of the season, if the current Sevilla player doesn't want to play for United then he will be looking elsewhere for a new start.
Martial has been another name linked with the north London club for a number of years so it wouldn't be a shock if his name circulated once again in the summer window. The 26-year-old has a current market value of £25.2million but it will again depend on how much Daniel Levy is willing to spend in the upcoming window. There are a number of questions that will need to be answered before Tottenham can target a striker. Firstly they will need to hope that both Conte and Kane remain in N17 next season.
There are then questions of whether the Italian wants someone who can play alongside the England captain, as a backup option to him or both. Questions will then turn towards Levy and how much money the club will choose to spend on new arrivals and only time will tell what the answers to these questions are.
