Tottenham Hotspur are looking to score their first goal of the Premier League season at the fourth attempt when they host Everton in north London on Saturday evening.
Having added the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Omar Marmoush, Savio and Mykhailo Mudryk to their attack during the summer transfer window, the expectation would have been that Tottenham wouldn't have had any issues in front of goal.
Instead, they have gone goalless and generally offered little attacking threat, especially in terms of efforts on target, and that needs to change quickly if they are to improve upon last season's 17th-placed finish.
New boy Marmoush has played in the centre-forward role against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, but he has yet to get off the mark for his new employers following his loan move from Manchester City, which will become a permanent £60m transfer at the end of the season.
Richarlison and Dominic Solanke shared the responsibility on the opening day at Brentford, prior to the Marmoush signing, but none of them have managed to make the breakthrough and the former, according to GMS sources, has contacted FIFA as he looks to terminate his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In terms of which other options De Zerbi could turn to if Richarlison does leave? Well, there aren't a lot.
Will Lankshear was the most promising young centre-forward at the club, but he left for Middlesbrough in the summer and has since gone on to score seven goals in seven games for the Championship high-flyers.
The likes of Savio, Mudryk and Mathys Tel are all better suited to playing out wide, but there could be a wildcard option for the position in Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghana international has come on from the substitutes' bench in Spurs' last two games, having been absent since January with a hamstring issue.
De Zerbi confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that the 26-year-old is almost ready to start again, and the Italian manager has even touted him for the centre-forward role.
I wanted Mo Kudus when I was in Brighton. I pushed a lot to bring him before he went to West Ham. He can play as a winger, as a number 10 and as a striker also and he is an amazing player.
What is clear is that if Tottenham have a fully-fit Kudus up to speed imminently, it could be a huge for them.
Kudus Can be the Game-Changer for De Zerbi
There was a lot of excitement at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they prised Kudus away from London rivals West Ham United in a £55m deal last summer, but fans only got to see him for half of the season before he suffered a serious injury.
The 25-year-old still registered two goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances last term, showcasing his talent and ability at the same time.
With a manager who absolutely loves him, this could be the season Kudus really explodes at Tottenham, and his versatility is interesting.
He is more well known for playing as a 10 or on the wing, which has led to previous comparisons with legendary Spurs players.
Writing about the Ghanaian star 11 months ago, Football London correspondent Alasdair Gold had the following to say:
There's a more advanced and goal-threatening Mousa Dembele vibe to Kudus with his ability to twist and turn with the ball at his feet. He's going to become a Spurs star because there's even more to come.
Dembele was one of the most technical and talented players Tottenham have had this century, and being compared to him is a signal of how good Kudus is.
The official Premier League website described him as an 'elite dribbler', while the fact he is left-footed means he also been compared to another Tottenham icon in Gareth Bale.
Journalist Oliver Young-Myles wrote in July 2025 that Kudus is the 'closest thing Tottenham have had to Gareth Bale' since his first spell at the club.
While we should expect to see Kudus in the No.10 position or on the wing more often than not, De Zerbi's admission about him playing as a striker could see him contribute in other ways too.