Tottenham Hotspur may have to alter their plans for the remainder of the January transfer window after they were hit with a big injury blow this week.
Thomas Frank confirmed that Richarlison is expected to be out of action for almost two months with a hamstring injury, which means that they will be without their first-choice number nine for a significant run of games.
The Brazil international's presence at the top end of the pitch will be missed because he is currently their top goalscorer in the Premier League, with seven goals in 21 appearances, per Sofascore.
His expected absence for two months could cause the club to consider accelerating plans to bring in another forward, particularly with Mohammed Kudus also out through injury.
Spurs leading the race to sign Serie A star
Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Richarlison's injury will force them to speed up their plans, they are reportedly looking at an attacker from the Serie A.
According to Sports Boom, Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs eyeing up a possible move for Juventus centre-forward Jonathan David in the January transfer window.
The report claims that Spurs, Wolves, Newcastle United, and West Ham United are all keen on signing the Canada international to bolster their squad this month.
It adds that Tottenham and Newcastle are the two teams currently leading the race to secure his signature, although it does not reveal how much money it would take to convince Juventus to cash in.
Sports Boom claims that David has expressed an interest in playing in the Premier League, which will come as a boost to these interested sides, but Juventus are not keen to lose him midway through the campaign.
Why Spurs must sign Jonathan David
The Lilywhites must win the race to sign the former Lille marksman because he could be the perfect replacement for Richarlison, and eventually be the player who ends the Brazilian's career in North London.
Richarlison has already missed 74 games through injury for Spurs since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, per Transfermarkt, and that number is set to increase with this latest absence.
That is why Spurs must use this window to finally replace the Brazilian striker with a more reliable option, both in terms of availability and goalscoring, and that option can be David.
The Juventus star, unlike Richarlison, has an unbelievable fitness record in his career. Per Transfermarkt, he has only ever missed three matches through injury, highlighting his impressive durability.
This suggests that he would be available far more often than Richarlison, who misses too many games through injury, and that would make him even more reliable for Frank in the number nine role.
David has had a difficult time at Juventus since his move from Lille last summer, scoring three goals in 20 Serie A games, but he has scored two goals in his last three league outings for the Old Lady.
The 26-year-old's form for Lille across his five seasons in France before his move to Italy is the real reason why he is such an attractive target as a replacement for Richarlison, though, as he was incredibly prolific throughout that period of his career.
As you can see in the table above, the Canadian star hit at least 25 goals in each of his last three seasons in France, and 13 or more in all five years, which is a sublime return.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig described David's form for Canada as "mind-blowing" and he has since gone on to score 37 goals in 73 caps for his country, per Transfermarkt, which is an impressive haul.
The centre-forward has consistently scored goals for club and country throughout his career, and finally looks like finding his feet in Italy after two goals in his last two matches.
That is why the former Lille star could be a phenomenal addition to Frank's squad for Spurs in the January transfer window, because his fitness and goalscoring records suggest that he could be a supremely reliable signing and a perfect replacement for Richarlison.
If David can carry his goalscoring form over to English football, his arrival as the main number nine for Spurs could force Richarlison to consider his long-term future at the club if it means that he struggles to start many games when he is back from injury.