DONE DEAL: The Spurs have signed China forward Zhang Linyan on a loan.
Tottenham Hotspur Women have been caught off guard by Beth England’s injury and subsequent surgery, as well as Nikola Karczewska’s season-long loan. Spurs’ striker depth has dwindled to the point that Ellie Brazil, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury, is the most experienced player at the tip of the spear.
Something has to be done, and the Spurs have done so. At least, mostly. In a way? Spurs Women announced today on their website that they had signed China international forward Zhang Linyan from Super League club Wuhan Jianghan University on a season-long loan.
Zhang is a full China international who started all three of China’s World Cup games in New Zealand and Australia this summer before they were eliminated in the group stage. Zhang primarily played as an attacking left winger for her country, although she started as No. 9 in a front three while on loan with Grasshopper Club Zurich last season. (I had no idea I’d be using the phrase “Grasshopper” so much in football articles this month, but here we are.)
But there’s a catch. Zhang will not join Spurs until after the Asian Games, which are being hosted in Hangzhou until October 8. That means she could miss at least Tottenham’s first two games, at Chelsea on Oct. 1 and at home against Bristol City on Oct. 8, and possibly more if she requires time to adjust and learn the system.
Zhang isn’t a true striker, but she’s a talented offensive player, and Spurs could use any potential source of goals they can get right now with England out forever. It’s going to be an interesting season – Spurs should be playing a totally different type of football under Robert Vilahamn, but many of the clubs surrounding them have made huge moves in the transfer market to improve, and Spurs’ summer appears to be quite unimpressive at first glance. Hopefully, Zhang can assist with this. Eventually.
Tottenham and the NFL have announced an extension of their agreement through the 2029-30 season.
Thursday, September 14th, The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham News and Links
Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris have been included to Tottenham’s final 25-man first-team squad. Richarlison speaks up about his mental health and says he will get help when he returns to England.
Wednesday, September 13th, The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham News and Links
Thankfully, Son Heung-Min was not injured while serving in Korea.
