There is no doubt that a striker will be on top of Tottenham’s transfer wish list this summer.
The Spurs squad have been far too reliant on Gareth Bale for goals and will need to strengthen up on fire power, especially as their most notable striker, Emmanuel Adebayor has only netted three times all season.
Andre Villas-Boas even tried to add more notable firepower during the January transfer window but was left frustrated as he saw a move for Brazilian striker Damaio collapse in the dying days of the window.
There’s no doubt that to combat next season’s European football and Premier League campaigns they’ll need to buy, but there will be a certain player hoping that the cheque book isn’t open too long as he looks to start entering the manager’s first team thoughts.
Enfield born striker Jonathan Obika has been making a name for himself in both the Tottenham youth sides and the lower divisions of the English leagues in recent years.
Obika started to catch the eye during the 2007/2008 season as he banged in the goals for the Tottenham Academy squad, which saw the striker named as the club’s top scorer for that season.
It was a season that earned the youngster his first team debut in November 2008 as he graced the pitch in Tottenham’s Europa League campaign.
The youngster’s debut came against Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, and was quickly followed up by another Europa League appearance, this time against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
It was a couple of seasons that obviously impressed the Tottenham hierarchy, as Obika signed a contract extension in 2009.
Since then the striker has been plying his trade in the English lower leagues with spells at Millwall, Crystal Palace, Swindon, Peterborough but most notably at Yeovil Town.
Obika has played 70 games for the Glovers during various loan spells at Huish Park scoring a total of 17 goals for the club.
However, one of Obika’s most notable goals actually came against Yeovil as he equalised for Millwall.
It was a goal that the striker didn’t celebrate out of respect for Yeovil, even though it meant a great deal to the play-off chances of The Lions.
This season has seen Obika gain first team experience at a slightly higher level, as he signed a loan deal in February at Championship play-off chasers Charlton Athletic.
He became an instant hit with the fans as he scored his first goal for the Addicks, a stoppage time winner goal against fellow promotion chasers Leeds United.
Whether he’s done enough to warrant a place in next season’s squad is still anybody’s guess.
There’s no doubt there is space for a hungry striker down at White Hart Lane, it’s just whether he has what it takes to take his chance, should he be given it.
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