According to Nicolo Schira, Arkadiusz Milik could be on the verge of leaving Napoli in the summer. And this has alerted Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur as they continue their search for an additional striker to support Harry Kane. However, the Lilywhites could face stiff competition from Bundesliga outfit FC Schalke 04.
Arkadiusz Milik: Player profile
Milik has emerged as one of Serie A’s top strikers since joining from Ajax in 2016. Although a few injuries halted the Pole’s progress, he still has managed to score 46 goals in just 109 competitive matches. This season, he has already netted six goals in 19 league games, helping Napoli recover from a disappointing start to the campaign.
Standing at 186cm, Milik is primarily known for his impressive work-rate. The Pole likes to involve himself in the game. He can link up with teammates using quick one-touch passes, which is why he had an excellent understanding with the likes of Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne. His work-rate is backed up by the fact that he has averaged nearly one key pass per game this season.
The 26-year-old is also a physically adept striker. His significantly tall 186cm frame gives him a considerable advantage in the air, with the Napoli star winning 1.7 headed duels per game this season.
That being said, Milik is not the greatest of goal-scorers. Despite his excellent record at Napoli, the ex-Ajax starlet often tends to miss glaring goalscoring opportunities. This is a crucial reason why Mertens was eventually transformed into a centre forward by Maurizio Sarri during his time in charge of the Naples outfit.
Why Milik is not the answer for Tottenham
On paper, Milik seems like a viable target for a Tottenham attack that has lacked efficiency in front of goal, especially following the injury of Kane and Son Heung-Min. But, his tendency to miss scoring opportunities, coupled with the fact that he can also appear inconsistent does not make the Pole an ideal backup for someone like Kane.
Moreover, Milik has a rather poor injury record, notably suffering from a knee and an ACL injury during his time at Napoli. These two injuries kept him out for a total of almost a year. But more importantly, the Napoli star will not be a cost-effective option for Spurs.
In fact, it won’t be surprising to see Tottenham having to spend more than €35 million to attain the services of Milik, thus making him a risky target for the Lilywhites.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
