da aviator aposta： Tottenham Hotspur need a striker. How many times have we heard that one over the past couple of years?
da jogodeouro： Replacing Harry Kane at number nine was always going to be an onerous task, a glaring spotlight against Ange Postecoglou at the start of his tenure.
After all, no man has ever scored more goals in a Tottenham shirt than the England captain, who is also far and away the Three Lions’ record scorer, with 76 strikes from 110 matches.
Harry Kane
435
280
Jimmy Greaves
376
266
Bobby Smith
316
211
Heung-min Son
454
173
Martin Chivers
350
167
After a year, Dominic Solanke was signed for a £55m fee, but he has struggled with injuries, and is out now under Thomas Frank’s wing until December, at the earliest.
What the Lilywhites needed was for loanee Randal Kolo Muani to maintain fitness and find form as the club’s leading striker over the coming months.
However, he too has fallen victim to a cruel injury blow.
The latest on Kolo Muani's fitness
In August, Tottenham added Kolo Muani to their ranks for the duration of the 2025/26 campaign. The Paris Saint-Germain forward had fallen out of favour in the French capital and spent the second half of last season on loan with Juventus, where he scored 12 goals and impressed with dynamic and stylish forward play.
Spurs felt they had sealed a shrewd signing for the season, and perhaps they have, but the France international spent the early weeks of the term out injured, and though he’s started three of the club’s past four matches in the Premier League, he has yet to score or assist.
And he won’t anytime soon. Withdrawn at the interval against Manchester United last weekend, it has since come to light that the 26-year-old has fractured his jaw and will need to see a specialist. This will rule him out of action for six to eight weeks.
Mathys Tel scored in the draw to the Red Devils, but Frank actually has another Spurs prospect who could not only fill in at number nine but realise his potential as the club’s next Kane.
Spurs' new version of Harry Kane
Kane devastated Premier League defences for so many years before leaving Tottenham for Bayern Munich in 2023. His time in Germany has been laden with goals, and he has convinced the few detractors that he is one of the greatest forwards of his generation.
How Dane Scarlett would love to emulate his idol. The Tottenham forward has already mimicked his countryman in spending a series of terms out on loan with lower-level clubs, and he has now found a place in Frank’s first-team squad, coming off the bench as Spurs beat Copenhagen in the Champions League last week.
The 21-year-old graduated from Tottenham’s youth academy several years ago, making his senior bow under Jose Mourinho in 2021, the Portuguese coach even hailing the youngster as a “diamond” of a prospect.
He is fast and sharp-witted and a “fantastic finisher” besides, something that has been picked up by Frank this season, who then spoke of the player’s potential and his need to play games.
In a fully-fit Spurs squad, this might be somewhat difficult, but he has been handed a golden opportunity to impose himself with Kolo Muani and Solanke both out of action for the foreseeable future.
Did Scarlett not score his first senior goal for Tottenham under Postecoglou’s wing in the Europa League last term? This could be the mood-lifting gambit the club needs after a difficult, yet somewhat progressive, start to the campaign.
From an attacking standpoint, Tottenham have left plenty to be desired across the opening weeks of the season. However, by unleashing the new version of Kane in the homegrown Scarlett, they might just turn the tide and realise their potential under Frank’s wing.
Spurs flop who's been "swallowed in the PL" must be dropped for Odobert
Thomas Frank can unleash Wilson Odobert by ruthlessly dropping this Spurs flop.
2 ByDan Emery