Though Tottenham Hotspur are desperate for a quick fix to their striking problems, Steve Bruce isn’t sympathetic. Though 30-year-old Emile Heskey has been linked in the press with a £10 million move to White Hart Lane, the Daily Mail reports that Wigan will refute any offer for the England striker.
“A source at the JJB Stadium has, however, confirmed to Sportsmail that Athletic would rebuff any approach for their talisman.
The source added that Wigan’s Barclays Premier League survival would hinge on Heskey remaining part of Steve Bruce’s squad and that Wigan simply could not afford to lose their man.”
Though he has faced harsh criticism and doubts about his class during his career, Heskey is a useful striker, especially in the role of target man. Though £10 million is a good chunk of change for a man entering his thirties, Bruce is smart not to let him go, because, behind Heskey, they are very thin up front. While he is an intriguing talent (according to the ridiculous FIFA rankings) Amr “The Best Striker in the World” Zaky is still unproven in the Premiership and is likely to really benefit by playing alongside a proven veteran.
For Spurs, it is impossible to tell how serious they ever were about signing Heskey. In this tabloid-fueled transfer market, there have been more erroneous links made to Ramos’ men than pictures of Cristiano Ronaldo dressed up like Wham! members. Heskey never would have been a satisfactory replacement for either Berbatov and Keane, especially because he has never been a prolific goal scorer, which Spurs need more than anything.
I still expect Ramos to make at least one more signing, but I highly doubt it to be of the Huntelaar/ Villa class of striker. It seems more likely that they will have to make due with a guy like Milito, Falcao, or Pavlyuchenko.
If I had to bet on it, I would say they will sign Pavlyuchenko. He is lethal in front of goal, as well being a true target man. It also seems that he could be had for the right price and seems interested in moving to England, especially if they sign his compatriot Andrei Arshavin.