Chelsea & Tottenham Hotspur linked with USA striker swoop

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are amongst the clubs being linked with a move for USA international striker Jozy Altidore.

The 23-year-old forward – who spent a disappointing season on loan at Hull City during the club’s brief spell in the Premier League – has been in fine form this term for AZ Alkmaar, with nine goals in seven matches for the Eredivisie outfit.

Altidore has built on his efforts in the 2011/12 campaign, and is now attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe – including the Blues and Spurs.

"Jozy is developing fantastically, is a real targetman for the team and translates that into goals," director of football Earnest Stewart told the club's official website, according to The Daily Star.

"Something like that isn’t missed abroad. Also this season scouts from big clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have visited AZ games.”

The transfer situation at Stamford Bridge is currently unclear, after Rafael Benitez replaced Roberto Di Matteo at the Chelsea helm.

That hasn’t stopped speculation over Altidore moving to west London however, and the former New York Red Bulls starlet would join a thin strike-force containing Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge at Chelsea if he made a move in the New Year.

Tottenham Hotspur are also light in the attacking third, with Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor the only senior strikers on the books at White Hart Lane.

Altidore would add an additional option to manager Andre Villas-Boas, and would also join compatriots Brad Friedel and Clint Depsey in the Spurs squad.