Following Sunday’s away defeat to Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur’s new supervisor Roberto De Zerbi could also be asking the identical query as his predecessors – why did Daniel Levy promote Harry Kane?
Shedding the England captain was maybe inevitable given he solely had one yr left on his contract on the time, however maybe the larger concern was the membership’s plans to interchange him.
Certainly, it took 12 months to signal a direct substitute at centre-forward, however the club-record deal for Dominic Solanke subsequently backfired, with the injury-hit Englishman scoring simply six targets all through the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
As was made clear on the Stadium of Mild, the 28-year-old is totally unreliable as Spurs’ beginning striker. One thing wants to alter.
Solanke is beginning to appear like one other James Madison for the Spurs.
For probably the most half, there was no doubting Solanke’s high quality, with the previous Bournemouth man arriving having scored 19 Premier League targets in his remaining season on the south coast.
His 22 targets in 62 video games for North London, a complete of virtually one each three video games, is not any large deal, however the greater concern has often been conserving him wholesome and accessible for almost all of the previous two years.
In that regard, he undoubtedly suits into the James Madison class, the kind of expertise who may very effectively have made even larger strides had he not been set again by repeated accidents.
Like Solanke, Maddison is at his greatest when he comes on and has develop into a key participant within the group, scoring a complete of 37 targets and aiding in 75 video games since becoming a member of from Leicester Metropolis.
Nevertheless, the playmaker has not been featured for the reason that days of supervisor Ange Postecoglou and has notably missed the Europa League remaining, proving sadly unreliable for a group at the moment in such straits.
Solanke has additionally been in that camp, however even his current return hasn’t led to a dramatic turnaround, particularly as he registered simply 18 touches on the ball on the Stadium of Mild.
On condition that Spurs created their solely ‘large likelihood’ on the weekend, it’s sure that De Zerbi’s attacking set-up shouldn’t be efficient and a brand new resolution could also be wanted.
De Zerbi may substitute Solanke with Spurs star price an estimated £73m
If there was any optimistic to remove from the defeat at Wearside, it may need been the efficiency of the 2 flankers, with Randall Kolo Muani shining on the suitable.
New Richarlison: De Zerbi should drop Spurs star who accomplished 4 passes in each recreation
Tottenham’s relegation fears worsened following their defeat to Sunderland on the Stadium of Mild.
The Frenchman got here near successful a penalty for his facet within the first half, however Richarlison on the different finish was in his normal chaotic kind and, regardless of a promising opening, solely fired straight at Robin Roofs.
Although Solanke was unable to carry the group collectively within the center, having these two famend strikers drive inside from a large function appeared like a wise choice.
Solanke vs Sunderland | |
|---|---|
standing | file |
minutes | 90+ |
contact | 18 |
Cross accuracy | 67% |
key go | 0 |
It was profitable. dribble | 0 |
shot | 4 |
missed a giant alternative | 1 |
ball misplaced | 7 |
Gained a floor duel | 1/3 |
gained an aerial battle | 2/3 |
With that in thoughts, one change that would fulfill all events could be to introduce Xavi Simmons into a brand new function because the False 9. The Dutchman was once more surprisingly absent from the beginning lineup.
The 22-year-old, who was additionally missed in Igor Tudor’s final recreation in cost, has not discovered any consistency in a Spurs shirt thus far, even when he loved a positive brace at dwelling to Atlético Madrid not way back.
Symonds, working as a quantity 10 that night time, proved what an efficient link-man he was, making three “vital passes” in what was maybe his greatest outing in north London thus far.
The transition to the Premier League is way more tough, however discovering a secure place within the group additionally stays a problem, with the previous RB Leipzig star floating between a left-wing function and a quantity 10 slot.
Though he could not have the physicality to operate as a lone striker, Simmons may flourish as a false 9 who drops deep for hyperlink play, a job he performed a number of instances throughout his time at PSV Eindhoven and in Paris Saint-Germain’s youth group.
A lot in the identical vein as Kane’s majesty, Simmonds’ means to deliver out the centre-backs freed up house for Richarlison ahead and Kolo Muani on the again, with the Dutch star boasting his creativity in threading the ball in behind them.
In distinction, Solanke accomplished simply 4 passes within the final match, shedding the ball seven instances out of 18 touches, and is way from the cellular, progressive centre-forward that De Zerbi would wish.
Simmons, who’s at the moment valued at £73m by the CIES Soccer Observatory, is unsure for the English facet following the membership’s current failures in big-money transfers, however a transfer into a brand new function may very well be a chance for a comeback.
De Zerbi may drop Solanke by releasing a ‘Defoe-esque’ Spurs star
Dominic Solanke had an unforgettable afternoon for Spurs on Sunday.
