Pundit claims Spurs would be taking a risk by signing 22-year-old 

Former Coventry City striker, Noel Whelan has claimed that rumoured Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolas Gonzalez could struggle to adapt to the Premier League. 

Gonzalez has been in fine form for Stuttgart this season and his performances have been a key reason behind why the Bundesliga club have outperformed expectations on their return to the top flight.

The forward, who is capable of playing down the middle or in either flank, has scored six goals and recorded two assists in 14 league games so far this campaign. 

The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed at the start of January that Tottenham had begun talks with Stuttgart over a deal for Gonzalez and suggested that the Bundesliga club were willing to let him leave for around €30m (£26.8m).

Sport Bild (via Sport Witness) revealed last month that the chances of the Argentine leaving the Mercedes-Benz Arena were ’50-50′, with Tottenham being mentioned as one of the contenders for his signature.

However, Whelan believes that signing the 22-year-old would be a gamble for Spurs, claiming that he might face similar issues in adapting to English football as Steven Bergwijn has.

When asked about Tottenham’s rumoured interest in Gonzalez, the pundit told Football Insider: “Sometimes you never know where you’re gonna get.

“It’s working out for him in Germany, his stats look great. The German League, compared to the Premier League, is completely different. It’s a different kettle of fish, it’s a different proposition altogether.

“It’s how you hit the ground running. Will he adapt very quickly to a move abroad and life in the Premier League? It’s a different, stiffer opposition that you come up against and players you’ve got to compete against to take that position.

“It’s not as easy or as straightforward that you’re straight in the side. Bergwijn’s figured that one out as well because there’s lots of competition there.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to bring out and emulate that sort of performance that you’re doing in a different league.

“It fits their criteria, financially, put it that way. It would make more sense because he’s 22. You’re trying to rebuild the team there that put some fresh legs in there as well.”

Spurs Web Opinion 

It does not appear as if Spurs are going to take the option to sign Vinicius permanently. I also expect at least one of Lamela, Moura and Bergwijn to be sold in the summer while Bale’s future remains uncertain. So we could very well need two new forwards in the summer. 

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