This year's English Premier League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly targeting Watford striker Troy Deeney in the coming transfer window with the aim of making the Englishman their primary backup to resident goalscorer Harry Kane next season.

The Sun reported that the Spurs are "lining up a shock swoop for Troy Deeney" as the team prepares to "strengthen their squad ahead of next season's Champions League campaign".

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Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is said to be particularly looking for another striker to utilize as Kane's reinforcement or start alongside him for a potential two-pronged attack when they begin competing in Europe's premier club competitions next season.

While the 27-year-old Birmingham, England native is allegedly not the team's first choice for the spot, he is definitely "one of the players they are looking to sign" this offseason as part of their roster improvement.

Deeney's "formidable work-rate and willingness to lay on goals for his Watford team-mate Odion Ighalo" are said to be the main factors why Pochettino wants the Hornets captain to play together with his top scoring option Kane.

Caught Offside noted that the 6-foot forward is also "tactically versatile" as he can play in both the striker and attacking midfielder positions, where he had sometimes led the frontline or played behind Ighalo in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

This is said to be something that the Spurs badly needs to be more efficient in their attacks as Deeney can continue to perform his role this time with Kane in front of him and sometimes being the lead attacker to give this year's Premier League top scorer much-needed breathers if necessary.

The report said that even if they fared well in the domestic top flight last season, Pochettino's offense still lacked the option of having two or three scorers up top, which could be a difference-maker in the continental matches.

Deeney could more than cover that weakness for the Spurs moving forward.

He just finished his sixth season with the Hornets, his first in the first division, scoring 13 goals in 38 appearances in the Premier League this term.

Tags Football Transfer Rumors, Football Transfer Rumors 2016, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Watford FC, Troy Deeney