Marcus Thuram vs Alassane Plea: Who would be the best fit for Spurs?

Spurs’ well-documented striker problems have continued to plague them over the last couple of seasons, and the Lilywhites still appear to be a little light in this department, despite the recent addition of Steven Bergwijn. If Harry Kane isn’t fit enough to start, Jose Mourinho’s men tend to lack a little spark in the final third, and fans will be hoping that Daniel Levy sanctions the signing of another forward this summer.

The club may turn their attention to the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach duo Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea having both been linked with a switch to North London. The duo have caught the eye this season and although the pair tend to complement one another, Tottenham’s budget is unlikely to stretch that far. 

Marcus Thuram 

Spurs were first linked to the Frenchman back in 2019, although despite notable interest from the English top flight, Thuram opted to swap Ligue 1 for the Bundesliga, signing a four-year deal at Borussia Park. It didn’t take him long to get off the mark, notching his first goal for the Foals in the German Cup at the beginning of August.

The former Guingamp man likes to receive the ball in wide areas before surging towards the penalty area. He has a tremendous acceleration, and is extremely adept at putting opposition defenders on the back foot. He has a strong preference for drifting infield, and this allows the overlooking full-backs to get forward on a regular basis.

This may have been handier during the Pochettino-era, however it would certainly be beneficial to the likes of Ryan Sessegnon and Serge Aurier next season. 

With his ability to play as a centre forward, this would offer Spurs plenty of versatility in the final third, although his lack of defensive nous is an obvious concern. 

Alassane Plea

Having been schooled at the renowned OL academy, Alassane Plea is a versatile striker who has previously been compared to Harry Kane. It isn’t the first time that the club have been linked with the Frenchman, although his price will have significantly increased since the Lilywhites were first believed to be tracking the 27-year-old back in 2018. 

Plea has scored ten times and provided ten assists so far this season. Although he was often deployed on the left during his time in the French top flight, he has flourished since being given a more central role. He admits that he prefers to play down the middle, and his clinical finishing has helped him become one of the hottest properties in German football. 

His goals have helped Gladbach challenge for the European spots this season, with the North Rhine-Westphalia outfit establishing themselves as this year’s early pacesetters. Although their form has dipped in recent weeks, they remain 11/10 in the Bundesliga odds to finish in the top four. 

His lack of discipline remains the only blot on his copybook with the pacey Frenchman having been given his marching orders on a couple of occasions already this campaign. 

Who is the Best Fit? 

Although Marcus Thuram is likely to be many fans’ first choice, Alassane Plea is perhaps the best fit for the club. Harry Kane’s injury problems may be borne out of exhaustion, and having a player who is able to deputise for the England captain could make all the difference.

His pace is likely to trouble the tiring opposition defence during the final 20 minutes of games, and he would surely adapt quickly to the rigours of Premier League football.