Tottenham are reportedly in the market for a striker this summer, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus (Mirror), Lautaro Martinez (Alfredo Pedulla) and Richarlison (Daily Mail) thought to be on the club’s radar.
However, over recent days, some publications have also suggested that Antonio Conte’s men could pursue VfB Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic (The Sun).
Here’s all you need to know about the 6 foot 7-inch centre-forward:
His rise to prominence: Kalajdzic started his career at Austrian club Admira Wacker before moving to Stuttgart in the summer of 2019.
After an injury-hit first season in the Bundesliga, the striker exploded during the 2020/21 campaign, scoring 17 times and registering six assists (Transfermarkt).
The centre-forward once again missed a chunk of the 2021/22 campaign due to injury but his six goals in 15 appearances proved vital in helping Stuttgart preserve their top-flight status.
The 24-year-old has also been capped 15 times for Austria, scoring four goals.
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Style of play: Kalajdzic is an imposing presence in the penalty box and always makes himself a nuisance for opposition defenders.
Apart from his aerial ability and natural finishing instinct, the Austrian’s technical quality and vision is also decent for a number nine, which is why he has also featured as an attacking midfielder/second striker for Stuttgart on occasions.
Contract situation: Kalajdzic has just 12 months left to run on his contract at the Mercedes-Benz Arena (Transfermarkt) and reports indicate that Stuttgart are willing to cash in on him for £21.4m this summer (Bild).
Injury history: The Austrian international’s injury record would be a matter of concern for interested clubs. He suffered torn cruciate ligament during his first preseason training camp with Stuttgart, which saw him miss much of the 2019/20 season.
The striker also suffered a shoulder injury last season that kept him out for the entirety of the first half of the season.
Who else is interested: The Sun have reported that apart from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City are also eyeing moves for the Stuttgart star.
They added that Kalajdzic was also on the radars of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. However, Bild subsequently revealed that Bayern and Dortmund have turned their attentions elsewhere, with the striker being primarily eyed by Premier League clubs. However, Football Transfers suggest Bayern are closing in.
Spurs Web Opinion
At times last season, we struggled to create chances against teams who defended with a low block. Bringing on someone like Kalajdzic from the bench would allow us to go more direct in such games. The Austrian would likely be content with a bit-part role at Spurs.
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