Despite spending over £100m on new additions during the summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur failed to address the issue at the top end of the pitch.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons arrived in North London, bolstering the ranks, but neither are natural centre forwards, which has left Thomas Frank short in such an area.
Richarlison has operated in such a role for the majority of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, but he’s often failed to deliver - as seen by his run of eight games without a goal.
Dominic Solanke is another option the Dane will have been hoping to rely upon, but the club-record addition, who cost £65m last summer, has been sidelined since August after undergoing ankle surgery.
Randal Kolo Muani was added to the Lilywhites squad in the summer, only joining on loan from PSG, but he’s only started one game across all competitions to date.
However, the board could be about to back the new manager during the upcoming January transfer window, with numerous names already appearing on the club’s shortlist.
Latest on Spurs' striker search
Over the last couple of days, Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović has been mentioned as a possible target for Spurs in January, with returning Sporting Director Fabio Paratici likely playing a key role in the deal.
The Lilywhites have been named as one of the sides pursuing a move for the 25-year-old, who’s already found the net three times in Serie A throughout 2025/26.
Any deal for the Serbian international could prove to be a cut-price one, with the talisman’s current contract with the Serie A outfit set to expire at the end of June next year.
However, he’s not the only attacker currently in their sights, with Porto talent Samu Aghehowa another option currently being considered by Frank and Paratici.
According to TEAMtalk’s latest report, the Lilywhites have been closely monitoring the Spaniard over the last couple of months and are considering a potential approach in January.
The article also states that the 21-year-old could be an expensive addition for the Lilywhites this winter, especially considering the talisman has a £87m release clause in his current deal in Portugal.
As previously mentioned, it’s clear the board are targeting a new number nine in the near future, but any addition will have a near-impossible task of filling the void in North London.
Why Spurs’ latest target could be Frank’s own Harry Kane
The likes of Richarlison and Solanke have often been given a hard time by the Spurs supporters over recent seasons - no doubt due to the levels produced by Harry Kane before them.
The England international was so often the key man for the first-team during his decade-long spell in North London, with the figures he produced nothing short of breathtaking.
He netted a total of 280 goals in his 435 competitive outings for the Lilywhites, a tally that sees him sit at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
Breaking down his numbers further adds yet another dimension to his quality, with the England international scoring over 30 goals in 50% of his seasons in England’s top-flight.
However, he was sold to Bayern Munich for a reported £82m in the summer of 2023, leaving the Spurs squad without that clinical centre-forward they so often turned to in moments of struggle.
As a result, Frank has been unable to work with the 32-year-old, but he could be handed his own version of the talisman, should the club complete a deal for Aghehowa.
The Spaniard has become known for his goalscoring ability in Portugal over the last 12 months - as seen by his incredible tally of 36 strikes in his 56 appearances.
He’s already managed to register 11 goals in his first 14 appearances, which has led to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling him as “one of Europe’s most prolific players”.
Aghehowa’s underlying stats further highlight the all-round talent he possesses in attacking areas, subsequently making him the perfect player to fill the void Kane left a couple of years ago.
He’s achieved a total of 2.4 shots on target per 90, a total which ranks him within the top 5% of all players in the Liga Portugal for the ongoing campaign.
The youngster has also completed 81% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst winning 58% of the aerial battles he’s entered - arguably making him the perfect focal point for Frank’s men.
Despite being a target man, the Spaniard has also demonstrated tidy footwork over recent months, as seen by his total of 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 in 2025/26.
It’s unclear if Porto would be willing to negotiate a deal lower than his release clause, but Paratici should be working tirelessly to complete a deal for his signature.
Should he make the move to North London during the winter months, it certainly will hand Frank the talisman he’s craved - potentially allowing the Dane to have his own version of fan-favourite, Kane.