OPINION
With recent reports suggesting that Tottenham wonderkid Reo Griffiths has left the North London club due to a lack of senior football, West Ham must make him their top target this summer.
As reported by the Mirror, Griffiths has quit Spurs after getting frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities and being left out of the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.
The report claims that the 18-year-old agreed a new deal with Spurs in June, but that has now been cancelled and the striker is free to join another club this summer for a compensation fee.
West Ham should make the forward their top target this summer as he would solve their long-term striking conundrum.
The Hammers only have Javier Hernandez, Jordan Hugill and Andy Carroll as senior forwards ahead of next season, but with Carroll constantly plagued by injury and Hugill likely to be offloaded, it’s up to Hernandez to play that position on his own.
Such is the club’s lack of depth in that position, Marko Arnautovic played regularly as a central striker last season and did show some good form, but he will be much better playing in a wide striking position and leaving the central position to a natural striker.
Griffiths is a proper talent. He scored 33 goals for the Tottenham youth sides last season, including four in a single game against Arsenal in April, but Mauricio Pochettino failed to give him any first-team chances.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side would only pay an insignificant compensation fee for the wonderkid, so there would be no risk involved if they were to tempt him with the prospect of first-team football.
Hernandez will start most of their matches, but should he get injured or have a loss of form, having someone like Griffiths in reserve would be a great option for the London side to have next season. He would get better and better every year until eventually, he could become first choice in a few years.
Griffiths needs West Ham and West Ham needs Griffiths.
