Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici are going to face a decision in the January transfer market regarding Tottenham's attack following an update on the injury front. Already hit by a handful of problems over the course of the season with Lucas Moura, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison and Son Heung-min all spending time on the sidelines, Conte has to do without two of his players for the return of Premier League football.
Richarlison is one of the two set for more time in the treatment room, joining fellow countryman Lucas Moura in there as things stand. That leaves the Spurs head coach with Harry Kane, Son, Kulusevski and Bryan Gil as his attacking options going into the Premier League restart.
Tottenham confirmed on Tuesday that Richarlison was set to undergo an MRI scan on the hamstring injury he sustained at the World Cup prior to Brazil's quarter-final clash against Croatia. Asked by football.london on how long he will have to do without his summer addition, Conte said: "I spoke with the medical department, they said to me we need three or four weeks still. Three or four weeks. His injury was a serious injury."
READ MORE: Every word Antonio Conte said on his contract, Kane, Romero, Richarlison injury and transfers
Now looking set to be without Richarlison until the middle of January, Conte and the team will be hoping that Lucas can return sooner rather than later after such a frustrating time through injury in 2022/23. Missing two months of action with a heel injury and only playing 90 minutes across eight Premier League appearances in the process, the boss told football.london that the experienced player is "struggling a lot to find a solution" regarding his current issue.
"About Lucas Moura, we didn’t have him from the start of the season. And we are continuing to not have him," explained the Italian. "He has this problem, he is struggling a lot to find a solution. For sure it’s a difficult situation. Because I have a good player in my squad, but he’s never available. It’s like you don’t have him.
"It’s a pity because I repeat: we are talking about a good player, a good guy, but he is struggling a lot to solve this problem. I don’t know, I don’t know what in the future happens about him."
Not ideal news for Conte ahead of some important games, the double blow could possibly work in Gil's favour. One of a number of players remaining at Hotspur Way over the past four weeks and getting to work closely with the head coach and his staff, the Spaniard did impress in their three friendly games.
Registering goals and assists in the first two matches against Motherwell and Peterborough United, Gil once again caught the eye against Nice with some lively play. Causing the French side a number of issues due to his pace and trickery, there were occasions when his final ball was lacking and he was outmuscled by his opponents.
Conte did turn to his player a couple of times before the break in play, notably when he wowed off the bench in the crucial Champions League clash against Sporting CP. Opportunities could be there for him once again as Spurs cannot afford to push Kane, Kulusevski and Son too much with three games in quick succession over the festive period.
Missing out on a return to Valencia in the summer and one of the favourites to depart in January to get some regular first-team football elsewhere, Paratici may now face a decision over what to do with the 21-year-old due to Richarlison and Lucas' current injury woes.
Conte's words on Lucas could also impact Tottenham's January transfer plans, especially as he stated that "it's like you don't have him". The boss does like to have two players for each attacking position, although that hasn't always been the case this campaign due to the attacking injuries.
With Tottenham pushing for another top-four finish and looking to go far in the Champions League, they must ensure they are well stocked up front or it could prove costly to their lofty ambitions come May. Just as Lucas needs to "find a solution" to his injury problem, Conte and Paratici might also have to do the same in January given the injuries that have hampered the team since August.
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