Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Gonzalo Higuain would have joined Tottenham ahead of Chelsea - Dean Saunders
GONZALO HIGUAIN would have chosen to join Tottenham ahead of Chelsea if Spurs wanted to sign him last summer, claims former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders.
Chelsea: Gonzalo Higuain transfer praised by Dean Saunders
Higuain is set to join Chelsea on loan for the remainder of the season with an option of another 12 months at Stamford Bridge.
Saunders believes it is a top signing for Maurizio Sarri and the type of striker they were in desperate need for.
“What a signing that is for Chelsea,” Saunders told talkSPORT.
“That’s exactly what Chelsea need, a player of that ilk. He’s a class act, a great finisher and gets goals everywhere he’s been.
So Higuain, if he had an option in the summer for what club to go for, he maybe would have taken less wages and gone to Spurs
“What a great signing because obviously if you’re playing the type of football Chelsea are playing, if you haven’t got a number nine getting on the end of things in the six-yard box, then you’re wasting all the chances you’re creating because there’s no one there in the right place at the right time.
“Now when you look at Chelsea’s front line, Eden Hazard, Higuain and Pedro – that can rip any back four to shreds.”
But Saunders went on to say Tottenham had an advantage over Chelsea last summer as they could offer Champions League football to prospective new players.
And he reckons Higuain would have taken less wages at Spurs because they were playing in Europe’s elite club competitions.
“What are Spurs going to do?” Saunders continued.
“Harry Kane’s injured, I’ve said all along they’ve finished in the Champions League twice on the bounce, which in their recent history they haven’t done that.
“They’ve got a great young manager, a great squad.
“They had an advantage over Chelsea at the start of the season because Chelsea weren’t in the Champions League, Spurs were in the Champions League.
Gonzalo Higuain transfer to result in Piatek move says expert
“So Higuain, if he had an option in the summer for what club to go for, he maybe would have taken less wages and gone to Spurs because they were in the Champions League.
“That’s where Spurs had an advantage and they never capitalised on it for me.
“That’s when they had the chance of signing the top players.
“But now they’re in a bidding war on wages, which they can’t compete with Chelsea.”