Following Sunday’s defeat away at Sunderland, new Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi may properly be asking the identical query as his predecessors – why, oh why, did Daniel Levy promote Harry Kane?
Shedding the England skipper was maybe an inevitability contemplating he had only a yr left on his contract on the time, with arguably the larger concern having been the membership’s plan to interchange him.
Certainly, it took 12 months earlier than a direct centre-forward successor was signed, albeit with that club-record deal for Dominic Solanke having since backfired, with the injury-hit Englishman scoring simply six occasions throughout 2025/26.
As was evident once more on the Stadium of Mild, the 28-year-old merely cannot be relied upon as Spurs’ beginning striker. One thing wants to alter.
Solanke is beginning to seem like one other James Maddison at Spurs
For probably the most half, there’s been no doubting Solanke’s high quality, with the ex-Bournemouth man arriving after netting 19 Premier League targets in his remaining season on the south coast.
A complete file in north London of twenty-two targets in 62 video games, virtually one in three, is not a catastrophe both, with the larger concern having usually been preserving him match and obtainable for a lot of the final two years.
He definitely matches within the James Maddison class in that regard, the kind of expertise who may properly have kicked on even additional, had it not been for repeated harm setbacks.
Like Solanke, when Maddison does function, he’s a centre-piece of this aspect at his finest, having totalled 37 targets and assists in his 75 video games since signing from Leicester Metropolis.
And but, the playmaker hasn’t been seen because the days of Ange Postecoglou, whereas notably lacking the Europa League remaining, proving sadly unreliable for a workforce in such a predicament proper now.
Solanke is in that camp too, whereas even his return to motion of late hasn’t impressed a dramatic turnaround, notably registering simply 18 touches of the ball on the Stadium of Mild.
Contemplating Spurs usual only a solitary ‘large likelihood’ on the weekend, De Zerbi’s attacking configuration was definitely not efficient, making certain a brand new answer may now be wanted.
De Zerbi may now exchange Solanke with £73m-rated Spurs star
If there was to be any optimistic from the loss on Wearside, it’d properly have been the efficiency of the 2 males on the flanks, with Randal Kolo Muani wanting shiny down the appropriate.
The brand new Richarlison: De Zerbi should drop Spurs star who made 4 passes all recreation
Tottenham’s relegation fears have been exacerbated following defeat towards Sunderland on the Stadium of Mild.
The Frenchman got here near incomes a penalty for his aspect within the first half, whereas on the other flank, Richarlison was his ordinary chaotic self, getting himself into promising openings, but solely managing to fireplace straight at Robin Roefs.
Having these two recognised strikers making driving runs inside from a wider position did look to be a smart choice, albeit with Solanke failing to knit issues collectively within the centre.
|
Solanke vs Sunderland |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Report |
|
Minutes |
90+ |
|
Touches |
18 |
|
Cross accuracy |
67% |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Succ. dribbles |
0 |
|
Photographs |
4 |
|
Massive possibilities missed |
1 |
|
Ball misplaced |
7 |
|
Floor duels gained |
1/3 |
|
Aerial duels gained |
2/3 |
With that in thoughts, one alteration that would please all events can be the introduction of Xavi Simons in one thing of a brand new position as a false 9, with the Dutchman having been a shocking absence once more from the beginning lineup.
Additionally ignored in Igor Tudor’s remaining recreation in cost, the 22-year-old simply hasn’t discovered any consistency in a Spurs shirt up to now, even whereas having fun with the highs of his good brace at house to Atletico Madrid not too way back.
Working as a quantity ten that evening, Simons showcased what an efficient hyperlink man he will be, registering three ‘key passes’ in what was arguably his most interesting outing in north London up to now.
The shift to Premier League life has been far harder, whereas discovering a constant place within the aspect has additionally been a continued downside, with the ex-RB Leipzig star flitting between a left-wing position or a quantity ten berth.
He might not have the physicality to function as a lone striker, however as a false 9 who drops deep to hyperlink play, Simons may properly flourish, having operated in that position a handful of occasions throughout his time at PSV Eindhoven, in addition to within the Paris Saint-Germain youth ranks.
Nearly in an analogous vein to Kane in his pomp, having Simons drawing out the centre-backs may then vacate area for the advancing Richarlison and Kolo Muani in behind, with the Netherlands star boasting the inventive high quality to string the ball in behind for the pair.
Solanke, in contrast, accomplished solely 4 passes final day trip and misplaced the ball seven occasions from his 18 touches, hardly the cell, progressive centre-forward that De Zerbi is more likely to be in want of.
Simons – now valued at £73m, as per CIES Soccer Observatory – is in peril of becoming a member of the Englishman because the membership’s newest costly switch blunder, but a shift into a brand new position could possibly be a possibility for a resurgence.
De Zerbi can drop Solanke by unleashing Spurs star who’s “Defoe-esque”
Dominic Solanke had a day to overlook for Spurs on Sunday.
