By Sam Jordan
Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal are all reportedly chasing the signature of Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, as Schalke have given up hope of keeping him past his current contract – which expires in the summer.
Instead, the Germans want to cash in on the veteran forward, by offering him to any would-be suitors for £3million in January.
The Gunners had a bid rejected for his services over the summer, but have since signed Danny Welbeck. Although one fit, Premier League quality striker is not enough to see them through a season, so they may still make another move for Huntelaar.
Liverpool brought in Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini returned from his loan stint at Sunderland to bolster their attacking options. However, so far none of them has managed to fill the boots of the injured Daniel Sturridge, let alone the departed Luis Suarez.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs struggled for goals last season, before the Argentine took charge, with Roberto Soldado failing to continue the stunning form he showed in Spain and both Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane struggling to impose themselves as regular Premier League marksmen.
All three clubs would relish a quality forward among their ranks – and for £3million he is surely worth the risk – but wish one is most in need of the 31-year-old’s services?
There is no denying that the Schalke man is getting on a bit. He’s 31,,has played across Europe, bagging near 300 career league goals, but has never cracked England. He wants this move as much as any of the three clubs would want him.
He is a natural finished, as he showed against Chelsea in the Champions League in September. Despite performing woefully in the Bundesliga, Schalke went to Stamford Bridge to give the Blues a match, coming away with a point from a 1-1 draw – courtesy of a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar finish in the second half.
“The Hunter” is Schalke’s record goalscorer in UEFA competitions (with 17 goals), despite only joining the Bundesliga side in 2009, scoring just under 100 goals in just under 150 competitive games for the Royal Blues. Most impressively he bagged 48 goals in 47 appearances during the 2011-12 season, his most productive single season at any club.
Last season he struggled with a knee injury, limiting him to 18 appearances in the league. However, he still bagged 12 goals, converting 27.3% of his chances in the Bundesliga.
Huntelaar scored an impressive 12 goals in 18 games during the 2013-14 season
This season he is already off the mark, in the domestic league and in Europe – thanks to his strike against Chelsea , which he then added to in their next fixture with Maribor. He is Schalke’s only goalscorer in Europe so far this season, earning them two points from two games.
But how does his strong start to the season compare to some of the men he could be replacing?
Sturridge, Welbeck, Huntelaar and Adebayor have all played different numbers of games in the league for their clubs this season (three appearances, four, six and seven respectively), meaning that the best way to compare them is to look at their statistics per 90 minutes, in order to gauge how they are performing this term.
Starting with goals, the Schalke man has been the most prolific this term, bagging 0.38 goals per 90 minutes, compared to Welbeck’s 0.26 and Adebayor’s 0.15. Welbeck and Adebayor both have one goal each, whilst Huntelaar has two.
Sturridge comes in second, behind the Dutchman, having score the same number of goals as both Adebayor and Welbeck, but only having played three games boosts his average. He is on 0.33 goals per game this season.
Again, Huntelaar has been the most creative, creating just as many as he has scored (0.38 per game) – as have Welbeck (0.26) and Adebayor (0.15). Therefore, Huntelaar has contributed to just under a goal a game, be it an assist or a goal he scores himself, whilst the second most productive attacker – Welbeck – averages a contribution every two games.
England man Sturridge managed no assists before being sidelined with a thigh injury, leaving his goal contributions rooted on one every three games for the Reds. Whilst Adebayor’s is slightly below that.
Huntelaar has been the most effective of the four frontmen this term
Even when it comes to shot accuracy, Huntelaar is the best. His 67% trumps Adebayor’s 60%, Welbeck’s 56% and Sturridge’s 45%, showing him to be the most accurate at shooting and the most prolific at scoring. So far, Adebayor’s shot accuracy has been his only real redeeming quality, but having only scored once in seven games, it is still nothing to boast about.
When it comes to beating their man, the Dutchman is again the most successful. He has completed 71.43% of his take ons, compared to Sturridge’s 58.33% and Welbeck’s 50% success rates. Adebayor has failed more often than not, beating his man just 47.06% of the time.
There is only one area where Adebayor usurps Huntelaar and that is in the air. The Tottenham man has won 43.33% of his aerial duels this term, whilst Welbeck has achieved greater success with 45.45% of his headed duels going in his favour. Huntelaar (33.33%) beats Sturridge, but the Liverpool man has not one a single aerial duel.
However, Huntelaar scored more headed goals (three) than Adebayor (two) last season, so he seems to be the most efficient at attacking with his head.
Overall, it’s fairly clear which club is most in need of Huntelaar’s services: Tottenham.
Spurs are relying on Emmanuel Adebayor as their main man, with youngster Harry Kane and Spanish flop Roberto Soldado trying to lighten the load. For £3million, Huntelaar brings goals, experience and more goals to a side lacking an attacking focal point.
He can score with his left foot, right foot and his head, from close or long range and has a wealth of experience at the highest level of football, playing Champions League football for Ajax, Real Madrid, Milan and Schalke.
Liverpool can rely on Sturridge once he returns from injury – they hope! – and Arsenal have Welbeck, with Olivier Giroud a possibility once he returns. Tottenham are the club most in need of the 31-year-old Dutchman.
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