Scouting Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Target Saido Berahino
Saido Berahino is a name that has not been far from the lips of Tottenham Hotspur supporters in recent months.
West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace put a kibosh on the speculation linking his striker with the north London club late in the last transfer window, per the club's official website.
Irritatingly for the Hawthorns chief, it has continued to cast a shadow over the Baggies.
The maintained link has ensured many Tottenham fans have continued to regard Berahino as the most likely candidate to augment their team's own forward options.
With such stories gaining momentum again, per Mike McGrath of the Sun, it is an ideal time to examine the lay of the land surrounding this potential Spurs transfer target.
The Latest Speculation
By the time you read this, "the latest" might have included another story or two—perhaps even something concrete.
Do not hold your breath for the latter just yet. Speculation is definitely emerging again, however.
As explored by the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson last week, Tottenham unsurprisingly may be considering whether Berahino is still a good fit for them. His issues over getting on with his job at West Brom create concerns over whether it would carry over in the event of a transfer (even if said problems—notably begun with a public outburst against his employers—were likely caused by their pursuing of him in the first place).
It is possible such worries could disrupt any prospective move. If they are interested in Berahino, though, such evaluation is more likely to be part of appropriate due diligence. Four months and counting of a player not prominently featuring for his team rightly requires a checkup.
Interest in the Baggies attacker this time around could publicly extend beyond Spurs, according to Sky Sports' Charlie McFaulds.
He named Stoke City as one of the interested parties; elsewhere the Daily Mail's Craig Hope believes Newcastle United view Berahino as a solution to their scoring struggles.
The Daily Star Sunday's Paul Hetherington led reports this weekend that Tottenham are indeed very much still after the 22-year-old too.
A fee of around £20 million is still being mentioned. Unlike last time, Spurs could have a bargaining chip in the form of out-of-favour Andros Townsend. Sky Sports' Paul Vinnell is among those suggesting West Brom have an eye on the winger.
From Brief Redemption to the Baggies Bench
So, what of the player Tottenham are supposedly still after?
Berahino's hoped-for move to Tottenham never got to a serious stage of negotiation, according to his chairman. Peace ended the transfer window irate at the unsettling of his player and the assumption the pre-deadline day enquiries were an acceptable practice.
"We have a key player who has been very unsettled by antics which were designed to get him out of our club cheaply," Peace told the club's official website. "Tottenham’s offers failed substantially to reflect Saido’s true value while the timing made no allowance for our own recruitment of a suitable replacement for a proven Premier League goalscorer."
His Spurs counterpart Daniel Levy refuted the allegations his club had acted improperly. But Peace was left to rue his manager Tony Pulis being "left with the task of repairing the damage created by this unfortunate episode."
For a short while, a truce appeared to have been agreed upon. Berahino's threat he would never play for Peace again was forgotten, and the task of getting the best out of the side's top 2014-15 scorer began.
Having missed Albion's previous three matches, Berahino made his return in September 12's stalemate with Southampton.
BBC Sport's Alistair Magowan described how the former England under-21 international "injected urgency into the game." His manager's bigger takeaway was the mostly positive reaction from the Hawthorns crowd.
"Like everyone he's made mistakes," Pulis told his club's official website. "I just hope and pray he doesn't make any more mistakes because he showed what he can do when he's on the football pitch."
The initial inclinations were Berahino would do just that.
A week later, the 22-year-old scored the winner against Midlands rival Aston Villa. Deployed just off new team-mate Salomon Rondon, his positive display had Pulis again looking to re-establish goodwill between everyone at the club.
"They have embraced him and brought him back into the fold—that naughty child!" the Welshman said of the fans' response, per West Brom's official site.
Berahino would net again in the following week's defeat to Everton, then grab another winner in mid-October against Sunderland. Though acknowledging his quiet spells during the game, BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright raised the prospect of the player forcing his way into England's Euro 2016 squad.
Berahino's goal against Bristol City in the FA Cup last weekend—a well-placed effort fizzing from the edge of the area—was his first since seeing off the Black Cats. He has not started since October and made minimal impact off the bench in the six games preceding Saturday's third-round tie.
The initial attempts at a feel-good redemption (or at least a professionally acceptable one) have since fallen by the wayside. Berahino's struggles to exist in Pulis' more direct-minded attacking style seem to prompt at least a partial disengagement in efforts to make it work.
The Telegraph's John Percy last month reported persistent lateness has followed up at least one earlier incident of disrespecting his manager.
Speaking to BBC WM 95.6's Rob Gurney, Pulis reiterated his concerns about the non-club handling of Berahino's career.
However, the manager has also been bluntly critical of his young charge's overall attitude, per BBC Sport: "You've got to look and understand that Saido's had almost five months where he's not prepared himself or got himself ready and prepared to play in the team."
Why Berahino to Spurs Could Happen Now: The Townsend Factor
The combination of Berahino's recent attitude problems and lack of match practice will raise a warning flag for any prospective employer—the latter particularly for those requiring an immediate impact of some sorts.
But in the midst of a demanding season, it is unlikely to dissuade Tottenham (albeit short-term expectations may be tempered even as those looking ahead remain high). From a business and football perspective, the move still makes sense for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Even with changes made, their draw with Leicester City typified the Spurs attack right now.
Imaginative at times (see the buildup to Christian Eriksen's goal via Tom Carroll and Josh Onomah), but lacking the inner fire or force of will to outfight stubborn opponents when the creative juices are not flowing. That is something star men Dele Alli and Harry Kane are only able to do so much about.
The temperamental Berahino does not necessarily solve that problem on his own. Nonetheless his speed, aggressive movement and greater finishing prowess remain more likely solutions than the more meandering likes of Nacer Chadli and Eriksen do at times.
In the disgruntled Townsend, Tottenham have a better bargaining chip in their attempt to negotiate a satisfactory deal too. Not involved whatsoever against Leicester, the England international's days at his boyhood club are clearly numbered.
The 24-year-old's width, pace and general directness may remind Pulis of the threat provided in his latter Stoke City sides by Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant.
Townsend will require firm instruction as regards to crossing and looking for front men Rickie Lambert and Rondon. But in compensating for speed lost via Berahino departing and the greater game-changing ability he offers compared to a James McClean or Callum McManaman, Townsend would be worth the work for West Brom.
Albion are an ideal fit for his skill set. So long as he applies himself, Townsend will find more opportunities than he latterly has in Pochettino's more intricately minded team.
A swap deal with Berahino makes so much sense for both clubs.
West Bromwich Albion were right in standing their ground last August. But with principles only going so far in the Premier League, they are at the point now where what makes sense businesswise and footballwise is surely to take priority.
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