Javier Hernandez Reportedly Lined Up by Tottenham for January Transfer

Tottenham have a problem scoring goals, so Andre Villas-Boas will attempt to sign the English Premier League's most instinctive poacher in January, reports Carl Eldridge of the Daily Star.

Javier Hernandez is out of favour at Manchester United and beginning to make noises about a potential move away from Old Trafford, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror.

Eldridge writes that Andre Villas-Boas has earmarked the Mexican as the answer to Spurs’ problems and will pay £15 million to land the striker:

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White Hart Lane supremo Daniel Levy has given AVB the green light to make signings in January and Hernandez, 25, is his top priority.

The Spurs coach wants a third option up front to cover for Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe, with out-of-favour Emmanuel Adebayor heading for the exit.

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Tottenham have scored six league goals in seven games this season, two of which were penalties from Roberto Soldado, who is yet to score from open play since his big-money summer arrival from Spain.

Only once have Tottenham netted more than once in a league game—beating Norwich 2-0—and they were handily thrashed 3-0 at home by West Ham in their last outing.

Villas-Boas has spent serious money boosting the creative ranks at Spurs, adding Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen to account for the loss of Gareth Bale.

However, Bale was Spurs’ top scorer last season, and neither Lamela nor Eriksen is expected to fill that void. Soldado carries that responsibility, but Villas-Boas wants to bring in extra help.

Hernandez, also linked to Atletico Madrid by McDonnell of the Mirror, recently hinted at a potential exit from Old Trafford when he said the following, reported in a separate McDonnell article:

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I strive for that [to start more games]. I am working towards that—earning a spot as a starter.

I know that my performance on the pitch will allow me to achieve that goal someday either here [in Manchester] or elsewhere for any other club.

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The question for Villas-Boas is whether Hernandez offers the necessary qualities to fit the Spurs model. The Tottenham boss likes to employ a lone striker, but Hernandez is very much a penalty-box poacher.

Much like Jermain Defoe, the Mexican offers little outside the area, which is why Soldado is the favoured option due to his ability to bring others into play.

There can be no doubting Hernandez’s finishing ability, scoring 94 goals for club and country over the past four years, per ESPNFC.

As a partner in a two-pronged strike force, he would add genuine firepower to the Tottenham attack and could spark their challenge for Champions League football.

However, much like his plight at United, it is debatable whether Spurs play the right formation to suit Hernandez. And if he is to leave the top team in the country, it is likely he will only do so if guaranteed first-team football.

That, seemingly, won't stop Villas-Boas trying his luck in January. And the Portuguese may also attempt to lure Sergi Samper from Barcelona B, having scouted the player at the weekend, according to Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail.