Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a number of players since the summer transfer window opened, but none of them have the ability to fix one of the club’s biggest problems.
Nothing else matters when your team wins the Europa League, but up to that point, last season was a total nightmare for Tottenham supporters. Spurs recorded a 17th-place finish, their worst ever in Premier League history.
The defence was certainly at fault for much of the torrid campaign. Injuries to key players saw Tottenham line up with a back two of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin, while four different goalkeepers made appearances in the league, including Fraser Forster.
However, things were far from ideal up the other end of the pitch. Tottenham recorded their lowest tally for goals scored in the Premier League since the 2019/20 season and 10 fewer than Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.
Away matches were particularly challenging, as Spurs 1.53 goals per match, compared with 1.84 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham need a prolific goalscorer this transfer window
There is nothing wrong with goals being spread out across a team, rather than one player bagging them all. However, the number of goals scored by Tottenham’s star attackers last season leaves much to be desired. Brennan Johnson was top scorer in the league and he only netted 11 times.
What is particularly worrying is Dominic Solanke as a lone striker. He is a forward with many abilities, but based on last season, being clinical is not one of them. Scoring nine goals in a league campaign is simply not good enough, no matter what else he is bringing to the table.
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Say what you will about his lack of support, but the 27-year-old missed more big chances than he scored. Also, his expected goals figure of 10.97, which was superior to his actual tally, shows he underperformed in front of goal.
Bryan Mbeumo is the only player to have been linked with Tottenham who has an exceptional goal record. This is frustrating, considering a lack of attacking threats is clearly an issue in the current Tottenham first-team squad.
Spurs have agreed a £55m fee to sign Mohammed Kudus, and he is a good player, but he is arguably not the full answer to Tottenham’s goal problems.
Spurs still have not replaced Harry Kane
Directly replacing Harry Kane is a non-starter because Spurs will not find a player with his skillset. Not only does the England captain score goals for fun, but he is also able to drop deep and play tremendous long balls. His level of vision and intelligence would come at too high a price to the Spurs board.
However, Tottenham could be looking to sign an out-and-out striker who will consistently deliver in front of goal. A player who will bang in around 20 league goals per season would be the ideal signing. He does not need to be perfect in every other area; he just needs to have that end product.
There were so many matches last season when Tottenham desperately needed someone who could change the game. Kane often came up with a goal when all hope seemed lost, and that is exactly what Thomas Frank needs.
Arsenal could be about to land Viktor Gyokeres and that should be a transfer wake-up call for Tottenham to realise the exact type of player they so badly need.