The start of the new Premier League season is now less than two weeks away – are Tottenham Hotspur ready for it?
So many issues from last term have been addressed, not least in the dugout, with there certainly a buzz around the place again that wasn’t felt under either Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor.
The overhaul of the backline and midfield unit, including the expected sale of polarising skipper, Cristian Romero, can only be viewed as a positive, with Micky van de Ven also set to follow World Cup winner Pedro Porro in penning fresh terms at N17.
And yet, while there is still time left on the clock, the lack of attacking incomings is beginning to ring alarm bells. Roberto De Zerbi needs reinforcements.
Spurs’ dream attacking signings this summer
There has been much made of Spurs’ interest in both Cody Gakpo and Savinho, but neither deal is likely to get anyone out of their seat, with few tears likely to be shed at either Liverpool or Manchester City if the pair are to depart.
Having shown themselves to be major players again with the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes for a combined fee of £185m, shouldn’t Tottenham be setting their sights a little higher?
On the flanks, the expectation is that Bradley Barcola will be on his way out of Paris Saint-Germain before deadline day, with Liverpool currently leading that pursuit.
Considering Spurs’ failure to replace Heung-min Son on that left flank, there would no doubt be wisdom in trying to rival the Reds for the Frenchman’s signature.
While not the star man at the Parc des Princes, Barcola is a two-time Champions League winner and “one of the best left-wingers in Europe“, in the view of Como scout Ben Mattinson. New David Ginola, anyone?
As for the centre-forward berth, the dream target would surely be Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian believed to be a genuine option under consideration by the ENIC regime.
He’s pacy, powerful and prolific, a truly world-class striker in an era where number nines are a dying breed.
Since the start of 2024/25, for instance, he’s scored 59 goals in just 74 games in Turkey, after previously shining at Napoli. In Dominic Solanke‘s two years at Spurs, for comparison, the 28-year-old has scored just 22 goals in 65 games.
Osimhen would be the dream upgrade then, although the Lilywhites might also be looking a little closer to home too.
How Spurs can upgrade on Solanke before deadline day
There have been rather fanciful claims that Solanke is of interest to Nottingham Forest, albeit considering Richarlison’s own future is uncertain at N17, it’d be a surprise to see both men depart over the coming weeks.
Even so, it could be a case of one in, one out, with TEAMtalk reporting that Spurs are among a raft of elite clubs who are interested in Brentford striker, Igor Thiago.
The report suggests that talks have been held regarding a possible deal for the Brazilian, with ENIC reaching out to intermediaries in order to understand the situation.
The Bees, for what it’s worth, are steadfast in their desire to keep hold of the 25-year-old, suggesting that might be a tall order for De Zerbi to get his man.
Even so, Spurs are right to have Thiago in their crosshairs, with the former Club Brugge man now looking like “one of the best strikers in England“, in the view of journalist Zach Lowy.
That praise isn’t without merit, with the South American having been such a force under Keith Andrews’ watch last season, following an injury-disrupted first year in west London.
The second-highest scorer in the Premier League in 2025/26 behind only Erling Haaland, Thiago fired in 22 goals last term, as many as Solanke has scored in total for Tottenham.
|
Premier League 25/26 – Goals per 90 |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Record |
|
Haaland |
0.82 |
|
Osula |
0.78 |
|
Kroupi |
0.70 |
|
Sesko |
0.61 |
|
Thiago |
0.60 |
|
Gyokeres |
0.57 |
|
Chiesa |
0.57 |
|
Flemming |
0.56 |
|
Malen |
0.56 |
|
Ekitike |
0.55 |
In terms of league goals too, Solanke has only scored 12 since the start of 2024/25, ending 2025/26 with just three goals in the top-flight following a year marred by injury.
Of course, the £65m man did flourish back at Bournemouth, although even then, his best season in the Premier League came in 2023/24, when he hit 19 league goals, still below Thiago’s tally.
It’s been an interesting career journey to date that has taken the Brentford talisman from Brazil, to Bulgaria, to Belgium and then to England, a rise that culminated in his inclusion in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
He’s a truly old-fashioned number nine, someone who can lead the line so impressively on his own, yet with the clinical quality to his game to match, having boasted a 26% goal conversion rate last season. Solanke, for comparison, has recorded just a 15% conversion rate in each of the last two campaigns.
Of course, Thiago still needs to prove his 2025/26 form isn’t a mere flash in the pan, but it’s easy to see why he can be considered a real class above Solanke.
