Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Chris Waddle believes that promoting Troy Parrott as Harry Kane’s understudy would be ideal for the club and could potentially save Spurs from having to dip into the transfer market.
Tottenham have been linked with a number of strikers over the past couple of months with the likes of Arkadiusz Milik (Tuttosport via Sport Witness), Vedat Muriqi (Aspor) and Patrik Schick (TEAMtalk) mentioned as potential targets for the Lilywhites.
However, Waddle believes promoting Parrott would be a preferable option than recruiting in an experienced target man, despite Jose Mourinho’s previous admission that the Irish striker is not ready to be a first-team regular (Football.London).
In his column for The Racing Post, Waddle wrote: “The biggest issue is up front, and I think Mourinho has two options; he either puts his faith in Troy Parrott and gives him an opportunity or he looks to bring in a more experienced striker who will know he is not going to play every week.
“Parrott is out after having his appendix removed but there could still be a role for him to play.
“A hungry youngster would be perfect because Spurs are not going to be able to attract a 23-year-old who wants to be playing in the first team every week.
“Kane came through the youth system and seeing Parrott do the same would be ideal. The alternative is to sign someone like they had when Fernando Llorente was at the club.
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“There must be a host of strikers who are coming towards the end of their careers who would love one last big move. One or the other has got to happen.”
The 59-year-old also insisted that next season could be make or break for both Mourinho as well as Spurs, and insisted that Kane could ask to leave if the team does not show signs of improving on the pitch.
He added: “It has been an unsettled year but I get the feeling Kane may give it another season at Tottenham and then take a long look at his options.
“It’s a big year now the Euros have been rearranged and it could take 12 months for everything to settle down and for clubs to have a good look at their finances. The stupid money is just not going to be about.
“So Harry could bide his time but he will want to see things improve in the meantime, and then where will Spurs be? They will be back to being a club who might finish fourth or might finish seventh and will be seen as one that sells its best players.
“Mourinho tends to stick around for three seasons and move on, but I don’t know what better offer he is going to get than the job he has now. Bosses like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are the ones everyone loves now with their attractive pressing style of football. Mourinho has a great CV but he’s just not the main man anymore.
“So that’s all the more reason to start looking forward to next season and making sure he gets things right.”
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Mourinho has been pretty clear that he sees Parrott as one for the future rather than someone who is ready to take up the mantle right away. I expect the youngster to be loaned out to a Championship club next season and for Spurs to bring in a target man who can provide us with a plan B when things are not going in our favour.
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