Spurs want backup striker

Tottenham Hotspur will be in the market this summer for a striker to serve as a backup to England captain Harry Kane, according to Sky Sports.

Spurs signed Carlos Vinicius on loan from Benfica for that very purpose in early October last year and the 26-year-old Brazilian scored 10 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for them so far. But Vinicius is shortly due to return to the Portuguese club, where he has a contract for further three years, with Spurs not expected to trigger the option to buy for £36 million inserted in the original deal.

The North-London club identified signing a backup striker as one of the priorities a while back. Neither the recent sacking of Jose Mourinho, who will be taking over at AS Roma next term, nor the fact that they are still to name a coach to relieve interim boss Ryan Mason of duty at the end of the season, have impacted their plans.

Spurs have recently been linked with Sergio Aguero, who will leave Manchester City as a free agent this summer, though it remains to be seen if the Argentine star is ready to accept playing second fiddle to Kane.