Noel Whelan has hailed Tottenham’s capture of Benfica striker, Carlos Vinicius in this transfer window.
Spurs have completed the signing of a striker that will provide backup to Harry Kane finally, after a long search and several pleas from Jose Mourinho.
They have landed Vinicius on loan with the option of making the move permanent at the end of this season.
He is expected to feature in most of the domestic cup games from the start after Mourinho played his last Carabao Cup game without a recognisable striker.
Whelan claims he is an exciting signing when one considers his statistics, adding that Spurs needed that competition in the striker role to take some pressure off England captain, Harry Kane.
Whelan told Football Insider: “It’s exciting, anybody with that amount of assists and goals, there’s a player there.”
“A good player, they needed that strength, they needed that competition there, that was one area that was needed to take a little bit of pressure off Harry Kane and give them options.
“He can’t just be the one leading the line week in, week out, for the whole Premier League season, including cup competitions, he needs that help and I think this will help Harry Kane no end knowing that he’s got someone there, if needed, for backup.
“He’s not going to take Harry Kane’s place, that is just impossible, Harry Kane is probably one of the best strikers in the world, hands down. What it is going to give is options for Jose Mourinho and maybe take a little bit of pressure off Harry Kane as well.”
Vinicius scored 24 goals in 47 games for Benfica last season and if he can score half of that off the bench this season, it will be a decent return for him.
Doesn’t have to replace, or be back up for Kane – how about a return to the good old days when teams used to actually play 2 up front!