With the Premier League season set to start this weekend, an influx of new players are set to have their first outings in new colours, with three points the ultimate goal for every team.
For Spurs, these fresh-faced acquisitions are likely to be in defence, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men bolstering their options in the back four but not improving their options in the final third.
As such and with an over-reliance on Harry Kane to be the North London club’s main goalscorer, most of the White Hart Lane faithful have had their fingers crossed that Daniel Levy is set to add attacking reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut.
One of the countless names that has been mentioned as a possible target for last season’s fifth-placed side has been Andriy Yarmolenko – the skilful forward’s agent has even confirmed that discussions over a move have taken place with Spurs.
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Straight away the reaction from most long-suffering Tottenham fans to the news that a big money Ukrainian is being scouted will instil a sense of dread.
Sergei Rebrov was signed back in 2000 with hope that the diminutive forward’s capture could be the catalyst for a period of success.
Having starred in a Dynamo Kiev side alongside future Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko, the pair were two of the hottest prospects in European football – but Spurs bought the wrong one.
While Shevchenko went on to become an AC Milan legend and one of the most lethal centre forwards in the world game, Rebrov was reduced to joke status for an inability to adapt to English football.
The whole experiment by Tottenham added to a list of Ukrainian players to have failed to live up to their billing in English football.
In that regard, should Yarmolenko pen a deal with a Premier League club this summer, he will have the reputation of his countrymen resting on his shoulders.
Ironically, Spurs would be repeating the same move as they did in the Rebrov example; signing a Ukrainian, with a big reputation and sizeable transfer fee, from Dynamo Kiev.
Rebrov is now even Yarmolenko’s manager at the eastern European club.
However, the 25-year-old has all the attributes that the North Londoners need and would surely be a success at White Hart Lane.
With Spurs lacking a consistent option on the right-hand side of midfield, Yarmolenko would bring real quality, precision and an end product to Pochettino’s team.
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Not only does the attacking midfielder have an excellent goalscoring return for both club and country, but he has built up a significant reputation of providing goals for others also.
With Yarmolenko also being left-footed, he has the versatility to play anywhere along the Spurs forward line and would be an exciting addition to the Spurs squad.
With the Leningrad-born schemer admitting earlier this summer that now was the time for a new challenge for him, it is surprising that he has not been snapped up yet.
Although Spurs have been burnt in the past by a Ukrainian, the capture of Yarmolenko has the potential to buck the trend and fire the club into top-four contention.
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