Darren Anderton gives honest verdict on Richarlison in Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham transfer message

Tottenham legend Darren Anderton has admitted that Harry Kane in the Tottenham team under manager Ange Postecoglou would be “incredible” as he said Spurs are one goalscorer away from challenging at the top of the Premier League table.

Speaking exclusively with football.london In collaboration with William Hill, Anderton discussed Postecoglou’s first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and also looked at what Spurs need to do in the summer transfer window.

Anderton spent 12 years at Tottenham, between 1992 and 2004, establishing himself as a fan favourite during that time. He was part of an impressive five-man attack led by Ossie Ardiles that played almost all-out up front in the 1990s, something he saw a bit of under Ange Postecoglou in his first season in charge.

He said: “Towards the end of the season I was a bit frustrated but the games didn’t help, it highlighted that we weren’t quite there yet and the fact that we started the season so well, expectations got too high, it was probably too high, people were talking about a league challenge.

“He’s done a great job, he’s put a smile back on people’s faces because the previous four or five years have been quite difficult, we’ve had a few managers who are winners but the football wasn’t fun to watch and we didn’t win. It’s all well and good to play a certain style and you win but if you’re not entertaining or you’re not winning, something’s wrong.”

“Spurs fans want to see a certain style of football, they want the team to succeed, but watching Spurs this year has certainly been more enjoyable.

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“Now we have to go on next season and be even better, be better defensively I would say, some games reminded me of Ossie in our day which was entertaining and good to watch but not conducive to a challenge for the top four!”

And to get back into the top four and even challenge for the Premier League title, Spurs need a goalscorer. Son Heung-min has often been used in the centre-forward role in 2023/24, with Richarlison – bought for £60m in 2022 – having had an injury-plagued season.

The Brazilian has scored a goal every 145 minutes of play this season, with a goal involvement every 109 minutes. But Anderton does not believe he is the man for the job going forward.

He added: “I think we need a goalscorer at the highest level, which you can’t find. I wish Harry was still here playing in this team, the goals he scored under (Jose) Mourinho and (Antonio Conte) were incredible, put him in a team that plays that entertaining, attacking football and he would have been incredible.”

“Richarlison has had a lot of opportunities but I don’t see him becoming the player who scores 25 goals a season. And maybe another centre-back. I think the team is strong but we have to keep improving. I don’t think there’s anything that really stands out apart from that goalscorer, that player, unfortunately, the Harry Kane type.”

Darren Anderton spoke to football.london in association with William Hill.