Tottenham signed AZ Alkmaar striker Victor Janssen for around £17M this summer to provide competition for centre-forward Harry Kane. The Dutch international made the Eredivisie Team of the Year after scoring 27 goals in 34 appearances last season, and could well take the Premier League by storm if his final season in the Netherlands is anything to go by.
The wide variety of goals he scored in 2015/16 will be particularly pleasing to manager Mauricio Pochettino, as well as the ruthless nature of his finishing. A powerful but mobile striker who gets himself into good positions in the box, Victor Janssen has all the hallmarks to be a fantastic centre-forward if he can develop in the Premier League.
Still only 22 years of age, the prolific striker has plenty of time ahead of him to forget a career with the Londoners, and will stay hot on the heels of Kane in his debut season. While possessing less of an aerial threat, Janssen is more of a technical player, potentially capable of operating with a strike partner.
He’s primarily left-footed, but has scored with his weaker right foot, and can physically hold his own when given robust treatment. Tottenham have been desperate for a second striker in the squad after letting the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado leave, and Janssen could well stick around for some time.
Tottenham’s transfer activity this summer has been very shrewd with the side addressing a lack of depth. They brought in a known Premier League talent in Victor Wanyama from Southampton to provide some power and competition in the midfield, and now have a striker to take the burden off Kane.
The English international was heavily relied upon last season, and initially struggled to find the back of the net in the early games. But now Pochettino has a secondary option in attack. The likes of Clinton N’Jie was brought in to provide some cover up front, but failed to take his chance when called upon.
Janssen should be a more convincing option for Tottenham with a skill-set more in-keeping with Pochettino’s philosophy. Capable of leading the line on his own, while having the athleticism to isolate defenders, the young Dutch international has been full of goals in the last three seasons which bodes well for Spurs. He scored 32 goals in 74 games for former side Amere City in 2013/14 and 2014/15, while netting a total of 31 goals for AZ Alkmaar in 2015/16.
Could Victor Janssen be a success for Tottenham this season?
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