At the moment we have three recognised first team strikers in Javier Hernandexz, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho. Most people would agree that we need four, even though in extremis Michail Antonio and Andre Ayew can both play in a central striking role if necessary. I don’t know how many of you saw Toni Martinez’s (pictired) well taken header against Werder Bremen on Saturday, but given the number of goals he was scoring for the Under 23s, you just wonder if rather than being sent out on loan again, he might now graduate to a first team role.
We are continually linked with a move for Andre Gray, who scored 9 goals in 32 games for Burnley last season. He certainly scored some cracking goals and has always had a good goals to games ratio in the lower leagues. A friend of mine who goes to every Burnley game, home and away thinks Gray is vastly overrated and is basically a championship player. He’d be delighted if we parted with £15 million for him and thinks Burnley would be robbing us. Wolves are now said to be trying to sign him.
Given that our outgoings in this transfer windown haven’t been massive, there is still money in the pot. I wonder whether we are going to be surprised by a marquee signing – one that would really make people sit up and take notice. I imagine Ross Barckley is out of our league, but what a signing he would be. Everton are quoting £50 million for him, but given he’s in his last year there, pundits reckon he would cost £30 million. Trouble is, it’s difficult to see where he would fit in. Lanzini is getting better with every game and has replaced Payet in the playmaker role. To me, they are too similar to play in the same team, but then again what do I know?
Slaven Bilic rarely plays with two strikers unless we are chasing the game so it’s difficult to see him blowing the rest of his transfer budget on a top class striker, but I just don’t see the point in buying a player like Andre Gray who would no doubt be very unhappy to warm the bench. However, we know that both Sakho and Carroll are injury prone, and we know that if either could be sold in this transfer window they would be. Sakho would bring in £7-10 million, while Carroll might get a bit more than that. Put that with what remains in the kitty and you’ve probably got enough for a top class striker.
I have no idea which of these scenarios come to pass, but whatever happens, I’d like to see Toni Martinez given a chance this season. He’s a great size for a central striker and really looks the part. He’s just turned twenty and is keen to make an impression. I hope he starts tomorrow’s friendly in Germany.