Tottenham Hotspur's second-striker conundrum has plagued the club in recent years as the likes of Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente have struggled to play the bit-part role which has been expected of them. 

There are similarities to be drawn between Janssen and Llorente: both are players who have never relied on pace to succeed in their footballing careers, but that factor has served to stagnate their development at Spurs.

Whilst playing the role of Harry Kane's understudy, both of the aforementioned players have failed miserably to step into his shoes when called upon, despite their relative success prior to joining the club.

The main problem for both players relates to Harry Kane's brilliance; Tottenham are a team who thrive with Kane at the spearhead of the attack, so Pochettino has been reluctant to introduce either Janssen or Llorente when his first-choice centre-forward has been fit and ready to play.

There is only one obvious solution to the problem: to sign a versatile attacker who can play in multiple roles within Pochettino's free-flowing system.

Indeed, there are plenty of players in European football who are able to play at centre-forward and within other positions across an attacking midfield-three.

Son Heung-min, for example, adapted excellently to a centre-forward role last season when Kane suffered an injury, proving that the presence of a natural centre-forward is far from necessary within Tottenham's squad.

Although Daniel Levy will be eager to hold off on securing the signings of any new players until Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele provide some clarity with regards to their futures, he should be willing to finance the acquisition of a new attacking player to solve a major club problem this summer.

With that in mind, here are two players who Tottenham should target to support Kane in his centre-forward duties next season...

Marko Arnautovic has spent the vast majority of his career cutting inside from the left-wing, but he practically saved West Ham from relegation all by himself last season at the spearhead of their attack.

Combining brute power with flair and determination, Arnautovic was a menace for the Hammers in the final-third and he finished the season with 11 goals and 6 assists to show for his efforts from just 31 appearances in the top-flight.

Following a summer spending spree which has seen 7 players arrive at the London Stadium, talkSPORT believe that West Ham are open to offers for the Austrian this summer, so the opportunity is certainly there for Tottenham to sign him up this summer.

Arnautovic thoroughly justified his price-tag last season with his commendable performances in a lone-striker role and, considering he possesses ability to play out-wide or in a number ten role, he could be the perfect solution to Tottenham's attacking problem.

Like Arnautovic, Mertens made his name in European football for his blistering speed in an inside-left position, but in recent seasons he has successfully adapted to a centre-forward position.

Under Maurizio Sarri's leadership Mertens bagged 22 goals and provided 12 assists from 49 appearances last season, but his manager's decision to join Chelsea could encourage him to make a move to the Premier League.

At 31-years-of-age Mertens will not represent the best value for money, but on the evidence of his performances for both Napoli and the Belgium national side in a variety of attacking positions, he would be well worth forking out for this summer.