After recing refusing to extend his contract past 2015 , Sunderland starlet Connor Wickham was linked to the likes of West Ham, Newcastle and Stoke City during the summer transfer window.
But young, English, likely available for a pittance in January and having laid his potential bare for all to see at the end of last year, should the Black Cats contract rebel be attracting interest from some of the Premier League’s bigger clubs too – namely, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur?
Both north London outfits possess amongst the least enviable strike-forces in the Premier League’s top half.
Tottenham’s forward line for example, of Harry Kane, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado, have claimed just 19 Premier League goals collectively since last summer. The latter striker, although immensely talented technically, has never looked comfortable with the pace and power of the English top flight and only two of his domestic goals for Spurs have come in open play. Having thus far only served as a substitute under Mauricio Pochettino, a drastic revival in form harking back to his Valencia days remains incredibly unlikely.
Likewise, Arsenal’s striking cast is desperately short of depth. First choice Olivier Giroud, although Arsenal’s top scorer last term, has continually struggled for goals against the Premier League’s top sides and is now ruled out with an ankle injury until 2015 at the earliest. Meanwhile, in summer signing Danny Welbeck the Gunners have added a forward who infamously struggled for potency at Manchester United, whilst 21 year-old Yaya Sanogo is yet to find the net in 16 competitive appearances since turning up in north London last summer.
Wickham may not be the ultimate solution to Arsenal and Tottenham’s striking woes – he’s claimed just six goals in 42 Premier League appearances and hasn’t found the score sheet in five outings for Sunderland this season – but he would be a step in the right direction. And unlike the vast majority of names linked with both clubs ahead of the winter window by the tabloids, he will be attainable for the right price in January.
Indeed, the Junior Lion’s goal tally is disappointingly modest considering the amount of top flight exposure he’s already received. West Brom’s Saido Berahino for example has found one more Premier League goal in nine less appearances, and 21 year-old Romelu Lukaku has already netted 17 league goals for two separate Premiership clubs.
Yet, Wickham’s form throughout the 2013/14 campaign, and particularly his role in Sunderland’s relegation-escaping run at the end of the season, was the result of either enormous potential or divine intervention from the footballing gods.
It started with a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday; after eight goals in just eleven appearances, it became clear the former Ipswich youngster was above Championship level. Another loan move to Leeds bore no fruits – goalless in six games – but this overlapped a period, instigated in part by Brian McDermott’s infamous ‘Black Friday’ , that saw the Whites record 13 league defeats between the start of 2014 and April.
Gus Poyet publicly declared his side needed a miracle in April following a 5-1 home thrashing by Spurs and he soon found one in the form of the 6 foot 3 striker, recalled abruptly from his Elland Road stay following an injury to Steven Fletcher.
Wickham went on to bag a brace against Manchester City at the Etihad, score against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, ending Jose Mourinho’s 78-game unbeaten run at home in the Premier League, provided an assist against Manchester United at Old Trafford and perhaps most importantly of all, netted twice past Cardiff City in an integral relegation dog fight.
It takes self-confidence, determination and quality to affect both ends of the Premier League table in such a manner, and although there are obvious inconsistencies to Wickham’s game, especially in front of goal, last season demonstrated the positive extremities of his capability.
If Arsene Wenger or Mauricio Pochettino can improve the 21 year-old’s potency with a greater sense of regularity, or even help Wickham replicate his form against England’s biggest clubs from last season, he could quickly emerge as a very important player.
Tactically too, Wickham suits both north London clubs well. In terms of his link-up play, the Sunderland youngster may not quite echo the efforts of Olivier Giroud, but his 6 foot 3 frame parallels the Frenchman’s height and power, which has become equally essential to Arsenal’s forward play in the lone front-man role.
Likewise, Pochettino favoured old-fashioned, powerful centre-forwards at Southampton and has carried that philosophy to White Hart Lane, electing the lanky Adebayor over the considerably less physical Soldado and Kane.
And Wickham’s home-grown status should not be overlooked as a superficiality; Wenger revealed his plans to create a healthy English contingent that will benefit from the synergy between Arsenal and the national team earlier this summer, whilst many believe Spurs need to readdress their balance of imported players, having made just one signing eligible for the Three Lions, compared to 12 foreign acquisitions and six first team Englishmen departing the club, over the last three transfer windows.
I’m not suggesting Connor Wickham is England’s next great hope and I do not dispute that currently the Sunderland starlet is below the level of striker you’d expect to see playing regularly at Arsenal or Tottenham. Based on recent form and prior history, he doesn’t significantly improve upon the forwards already available to Wenger and Pochettino.
But the 21 year-old’s potential is undeniable, whilst his transfer situation, provided it remains unchanged by January, remains equally appealing.
And following a summer window that witnessed the Premier League invest just 17% of an overall £835million into English players, it would be incredibly refreshing to see a top club take a punt on a financially justifiable home-grown talent, rather than another cheap youngster from abroad.
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