INCOMING Tottenham striker Krzysztof Piatek is a boyhood Arsenal fan who grew up idolising Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
The 24-year-old is set to sign a three and a half-year contract with Spurs and scheduled to complete a medical in the next 24 hours.
Krzysztof Piatek is set to sign a three and a half-year contract with SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Piatek is a boyhood Arsenal fan who grew up idolising Thierry Henry and Dennis BergkampCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But Tottenham fans will be reminded that Piatek admitted to growing up a Gunners supporter studying Arsene Wenger’s prolific strike partnership of Henry and Bergkamp.
The man drafted in to save Spurs’ season after Harry Kane’s horror hamstring injury told Italian outlet Tuttosport in March: “When I was a child I was an Arsenal fan.
“I loved the style of Wenger and I admired players like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.”
But it will matter little to Spurs, who were left scrambling for a goalscorer as it was confirmed hitman Kane will need an operation on his hamstring and will be out until April.
Kane limped out of Tottenham’s clash with Southampton clutching his left leg and is racing to be fit for Euro 2020 with a ruptured tendon.
Jose Mourinho’s North Londoners will pay Milan an initial fee of £23.8m — with a further £4.2m to come in add-ons for Piatek.
Aston Villa, Newcastle and Crystal Palace were interested in the striker but Spurs are in pole position to land the ace, who is keen to stay at a big club.
The Polish forward arrived at the San Siro from Genoa for £30m in January last year after scoring 13 goals in his 19 games for them following a £3million move from Cracovia.
But Piatek has only scored four times this season and is keen to move after Milan re-signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which has pushed him down the pecking order.
Mourinho has also lost Moussa Sissoko until April with the midfielder undergoing knee surgery.
No1 stopper Hugo Lloris is recovering from injury, along with summer signing Tanguy Ndombele and full-back pair Danny Rose and Ben Davies.
Harry Kane is sidelined until April after sustaining a hamstring injuryCredit: Rex Features
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk