Sport Tottenham haven't bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS

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Tottenham Hotspur's ascension as one of England's top clubs can be attributed to the development of one man: Harry Kane.

Since notching the winner against Aston Villa with a fine free-kick at Villa Park in November 2014 the England captain has been virtually undroppable, and has seen his stock rise as one of the greatest strikers in world football.

Kane has played 261 games for Spurs across all competitions since making his debut in 2014-15, scoring 183 goals.

Tottenham to place Gareth Bale on intensive training programme

Bale is still suffering from the effects of a minor knee problem he picked up whilst on international duty with Wales earlier this month and will need time to get himself fit for Jose Mourinho's side.Bale is still suffering from the effects of a minor knee problem he picked up on international duty with Wales earlier this month and will need time to get himself fit.

England's Kieran Trippier has three years remaining on his Tottenham deal. The 28-year-old has also been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid. Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS and Jose Mourinho faces big problems even after signing Gareth Bale unless

Tottenham Hotspur are willing to sell Nabil Bentaleb but will not entertain a loan. The 21-year-old midfielder is surplus to requirements under Mauricio Pochettino. Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS and Jose Mourinho faces big problems even after signing

But last Sunday's defeat by Everton in Spurs' Premier League opener raised further questions as to the north London club's reliance on Kane as the man to lead the line, as well as wider concerns about Tottenham's inability to recruit well in the final third.

The acquisition of Gareth Bale might be a stunning step in the right direction but that does not solve the problem at the point of the spear.

© Provided by Daily Mail Harry Kane looked a striker running on empty in Spurs' defeat by Everton on Sunday

© Provided by Daily Mail The 27-year-old has led the line superbly for five seasons but is in need of a back up

Make no mistake, Tottenham's transfer woes with regards to signing strikers were present long before Kane broke through six years ago.

'To all the Spurs fans…I'm back!': Gareth Bale to return to Tottenham

Gareth Bale, 31, announced his return to Tottenham on Saturday, saying he 'can't wait to get started'. But a knee injury will delay his debut until October 17's home fixture against West Ham.But fans will have to wait to see him in the number nine shirt after a medical uncovered a knee injury that will delay his debut until October.

Transfer news RECAP: Juventus interested in Everton striker Moise Kean while Manchester United hold talks with Porto over left-back Alex Telles Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS . Last Sunday's defeat to Everton raised questions as to Spurs' reliance on Kane as

Tottenham , who lost against Watford on matchday four, haven ’ t suffered consecutive Premier League losses since the final two games of the 2015-16 season. Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS and Jose Mourinho faces big problems even

That season, Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor were ahead of a young Kane in new boss Mauricio Pochettino's pecking order, with the pair costing the club £26m and £5m respectively.

The Spaniard had already spent an unremarkable season at the club and was rapidly being viewed as a flop with every game played. Adebayor, meanwhile, after making an excellent impact while on loan from Real Madrid the season before, was now blowing hot and cold and was causing headaches around the club with his behaviour.

Can Ndombele turn things around at Spurs and fix Mourinho's midfield?

A club-record signing who threatened to become a flop at Tottenham, Tanguy Ndombele may have just come good at the right time to help out an ailing midfield lacking pace, incision and creativity.A club-record signing from Lyon for an initial £54million last summer soon threatened to become an expensive flop as Mourinho became increasingly irritated by the Frenchman's fitness and attitude, publicly calling him out in the media.

Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS and Jose Mourinho faces big problems even after signing Gareth Bale unless Daniel Levy can buy smarter than Soldado and Co.

Tottenham haven ' t bought a successful striker in ELEVEN YEARS and Jose Mourinho faces big problems even after signing Gareth Bale unless Daniel Levy can buy smarter than Soldado and Co. Liverpool confirm £41m signing of Diogo Jota from Wolves to strengthen front line as Premier League

And pressure was growing on the new Spurs manager to turn promising performances into results. Pochettino had endured a rocky start to life in north London, winning just three of his first nine league games with the club languishing in the bottom half of the league.

So up stepped Kane, who grabbed at his chance to make the No 9 berth his own. His winner at Villa Park has been viewed as the goal that saved Pochettino's Tottenham career, and more pertinently resolved a gaping problem that had blighted the club for some time.

© Provided by Daily Mail Kane propelled Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino (right) into members of the game's elite

© Provided by Daily Mail But now he has been run into the ground and Spurs desperately need to ease the burden

Peter Crouch was the last striker signed by Spurs who made a successful impact, and his signing was in 2009. In fact, Tottenham's 'No 9' has scored just four Premier League goals since 2011, and that is excluding penalties.

The likes of Louis Saha, Roberto Soldado, Clinton N'Jie, Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente have all been brought in and none have managed to make the sort of impact expected when recruited by Daniel Levy.

Kane has more than plugged a gap, with his performances over the past five years transforming the club from one on the fringes of the elite to a European contender and then part of the exclusive Big Six.

But now he is struggling. Kane appears to have been run into the ground due to a quick turnaround between the end of the last campaign and the start of the 2020-21 season, as well as the poor recruitment strategy that is finally coming home to roost.

Pochettino demanded an alternative to Kane during his tenure in charge, in a bid to relieve the burden on his star man, but Janssen - signed for £18.5m from AZ Alkmaar in 2016 - and Llorente - who joined from Swansea for around £15m - failed to win over the Argentine.

And if Amazon's fly-on-the-wall documentary of Spurs in 2019-20 is anything to go bye, Jose Mourinho has despaired over the club's reliance on Kane to play week in, week out.

Tottenham to 'meet with Napoli and Arkadiusz Milik's agent TODAY'

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to bring in a striker in the closing stages of the summer transfer window to provide back-up for England international Harry Kane. And according to Calciomercato, both Tottenham and Napoli - plus Milik's agent - will meet to try and thrash out a deal. © Provided by Daily Mail Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik has reportedly emerged as a target for Tottenham this summer The Poland striker appeared to be on his way to Roma this summer, signing on loan with an obligation to buy for £16.5m plus up to £6m in add-ons and bonuses.

The 27-year-old was sidelined for a long spell of the campaign with a hamstring injury, leaving viewers to watch a grumbling Mourinho trudge around the training ground, bemoaning the loss of his star man.

Yet Spurs would have been acutely aware of the possibility of Kane picking up an injury and leaving the club in need of a stand-in. Barring his debut campaign, Kane has been sidelined in every season since he broke through, on each occasion leaving Spurs to fight on without their star man.

They've been able to do that largely down to the contributions of Son Heung-min, who has filled in admirably to take on the responsibility to score goals for the north London club.

But Son is better deployed wide, and Mourinho knows that Spurs are a far stronger proposition with the South Korean and Kane working in tandem, while Son would most likely not take kindly to taking on the role as Kane's understudy.

It's been widely reported that it is difficult for any club to recruit a player who is happy to play second fiddle to the club's star man. And while that is a strong argument, surely it would be possible for Spurs to entice a talented striker to learn and develop alongside Kane day in, day out, in training.

More handball controversy as Newcastle earn late point at Spurs

More handball controversy as Newcastle earn late point at SpursSpurs had led through a 25th-minute Lucas Moura goal and Newcastle had not managed a shot on target but deep into stoppage time Newcastle's Andy Carroll and Eric Dier challenged for a ball and the forward's header brushed the arm of the Spurs defender.

Gabriel Jesus agreed to join Manchester City as a 19-year-old, knowing full well he'd play the understudy to Sergio Aguero. More recently, Wolves have signed Fabio Silva from Porto despite the 18-year-old being unlikely to dislodge star striker Raul Jimenez.

© Provided by Daily Mail Chairman Daniel Levy must work hard to entice a player to play second fiddle to Kane

© Provided by Daily Mail Gabriel Jesus (right) joined Manchester City knowing Sergio Aguero (left) would start

Spurs will have an eye on a talented young striker of their own, with Troy Parrott regarded as the club's future. The 18-year-old is already a Republic of Ireland international, and will hope to flourish at Millwall on loan this season with Mourinho unconvinced that the youngster is ready for a more regular role just yet.

While the Portuguese might be right in that respect and Parrott is an exciting talent for the future, Spurs need a striker for the here and now.

Kane is notoriously a slow starter to a new season, and received criticism for his performance against Manchetser United right after lockdown. But with a long Europa League run expected, a second striker is the absolute priority before the transfer window slams shut.

© Provided by Daily Mail Spurs have three weeks to bring in another striker and it could prove crucial to their season

Alexander Sorloth is one of the latest names linked with a move to Spurs, with Mourinho refusing to deny claims that talks have been held with Turkish side Trabzonspor for the former Crystal Palace flop.

EIntracht Frankfurt's hard-working target man Bas Dost is another player being lined up, but his relatively cheap signing at £5.5m is unlikely to set any Spurs fan's pulse racing.

Whoever Levy and Mourinho manage to bring in, it is crucial that the player in question has the determination to make an impact. Soldado and Janssen prove they cannot just fold and sign anyone willing to sit on the bench.

Andy Carroll posts Instagram picture sympathising with Tottenham

Andy Carroll has criticised the handball rule by posting a picture of stick man performing a 'pencil jump' on social media, claiming it was the 'new rule for any aerial challenges'.The former England striker criticised the handball rule by posting a picture of stick man performing a ‘pencil jump’ on social media, claiming it was the ‘new rule for any aerial challenges’.

Spurs have three weeks to turn a corner and finally get it right with recruitment for a No 9. It could prove the difference between a successful or a dreadful season for Mourinho.

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