Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, with The Northern Echo stating that the Cherries will look for £30 million to sell the forward this summer after their relegation from the Premier League.
While Spurs are in need of a new striker before next season to provide competition and back-up to Harry Kane, signing Wilson at that price simply would not make sense.
Tottenham’s transfer budget is expected to be limited given repayments on the new stadium and lessened recent revenue – to spend a sizeable chunk of it on a player that will be on the bench more often than the pitch is not a smart move.
Wilson has shown that he has what it takes to score regularly in the Premier League and would be a good addition at Spurs, but finding a financial solution to bring him to the club appears impossible.
The problem that the likes of Roberto Soldado, Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente had at Tottenham was the fact that their opportunities to play were sporadic and hard to predict.
With Kane playing the majority of matches, most in their entirety, chances to make an impact was difficult for the trio – and will be for whoever fills the role next.
All three of the afore-mentioned former Tottenham strikers scored consistently during stints at Valencia, Alkmaar and Swansea, but they were the main number nine at those clubs.
Filling the position of back-up takes a different mentality given the challenges around sharpness and match fitness.
While the right player to fit into this specialist role will be hard to find and Wilson may well be someone who could fit the bill, paying £30 million or anywhere close to it isn’t worth it given recruitment requirements in other parts of the Tottenham squad.