Tottenham 'target' Italy ace Andrea Belotti as solution to striker issue

Tottenham Hotspur are still uncertain as to whether Harry Kane will still be on their books ahead of next season but with it in mind that he will be, they are eyeing up a move for his next potential back-up this summer.

Spurs have struggled to find the perfect candidate for the role in recent years, with many strikers unwilling to play second-fiddle to a reliable goalscorer such as Kane, and it has often caused problems when the England international has been out of the side.

But according to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, the north London club could turn to Italy international and Torino striker Andrea Belotti to solve their striker crisis, with his current contract expiring this summer.

Kane has spearheaded Tottenham 's attack since he broke into the first team picture in 2014 and has become one of the most lethal strikers in the country, scoring 243 goals in 377 appearances in all competitions whilst in north London.

But in a strange way, that has been part of the club's downfall when recruiting strikers, with plenty of top targets turning down the opportunity of moving to the club to play as back-up to someone who produces as regularly as Kane, knowing that game time is sure to be limited.

This left them with the likes of Roberto Soldado, Fernando Llorente and more recently Carlos Vinicius, to cover for Kane whenever he was out of the side, and none could quite step up to the plate whenever they were called upon.

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But it is now hoped that Belotti could be the answer to that problem. The 28-year-old's current contract with Torino expires at the end of this season and it looks set that he will leave as a free agent in the summer, having mustered only four goals in an injury-hampered season.

However, the 5ft 11in striker has gained a notable reputation in Serie A since joining Torino nearly seven years ago, scoring 109 goals in 244 appearances in all competitions for the Italian side, including 12 in 41 appearances for his country.

And Belotti was part of the Italy side that won Euro 2020 last summer, meaning he has plenty of experience on the international stage too, and was tipped for a move to one of Europe's football heavyweights before injuries ruined his current campaign.

The deciding factor on a move to north London is what next step Belotti wants to take in his career. At 28-years-old, he is entering his prime years, but four goals this season will make it hard for him to attract interest to become a regular at one of Italy's biggest clubs.

Playing as a back-up to Kane isn't ideal, but it may have to be a route he evaluates, particularly knowing that should the England striker eventually move on, he may get more opportunities in north London than initially expected. And with current manager Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici holding an advantage with their Italian connections to Belotti, it could certainly tempt him, and favour the club, when attempting to strike up a deal this summer.