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 implies she could miss at least one game.
Tottenham’s first two games will be at Chelsea on October 1 and at home against Bristol City on October 8, potentially more if she needs time to adjust and understand 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’ll be an interesting season – Spurs should play a totally different brand of football under Robert Vilahamn, but several of the clubs around them have made substantial transfers.
The Spurs have a window to improve, and their summer appears to be unimpressive at first glance. Hopefully, Zhang can assist with this. Eventually
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