Tottenham Hotspur have lacked a prolific centre-forward since losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, but this painful wait for a serious replacement may finally be close to coming to an end.
The Lilywhites have gone big this summer in an attempt to resurrect their broken squad and provide Roberto De Zerbi with the tools to commence a full-scale rebuild. Sandro Tonali has arrived for £100 million as the marquee addition, and the Italian has been accompanied by Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi in a statement window.
That said, Spurs are yet to address their highly flawed attacking unit. They continue to be linked with Savinho and Cody Gakpo as wide options, but there is an acknowledgement that a striker is also needed to propel De Zerbi's side towards the European places.
The void left by Kane is still keenly felt in N17, although the divisive Victor Osimhen could be on the verge of filling that void.
Tottenham Haven't Adequately Replaced Harry Kane
Kane was the centrepiece of Spurs' side for a decade, leading the North London club to punch above their weight. Netting 20 goals or more in nine consecutive seasons, the Englishman carried Tottenham through a golden era in which they were unfortunate to emerge with no silverware.
In 2023, Spurs allowed their greatest ever player to leave the club so that he could play at the highest level for a side competing for the Champions League. Bayern Munich swooped in, landing the then-30-year-old for around £82 million.
Since then, Tottenham have tried and failed to source a replacement. Richarlison was initially identified as the man to succeed Kane, but the Brazilian managed just 12 goals in the 2023/24 season — his first as the number nine in the England international's absence.
Then, Dominic Solanke was acquired for £55 million in the summer of 2024. The former Bournemouth star enjoyed a relatively productive debut campaign for the Lilywhites, netting 16 goals and registering eight assists across all competitions, but an injury-plagued second season has seen his Spurs career slip by the wayside.
Tottenham are now seeking a new potential solution in this position.
Victor Osimhen is the Answer for Tottenham
Spurs reportedly made an approach to sign Osimhen earlier this month. The Nigerian has spent the last two years plying his trade in Istanbul for Galatasaray, but is reportedly eager to return to a top-five league this summer.
While his wage package might be astronomical, this is certainly a deal Spurs should be doing everything in their power to pull off. Like Kane, Osimhen has enjoyed fruitful season after fruitful season in front of goal, and would therefore finally provide the Lilywhites with a dependable frontman again.
The 27-year-old may not be capable of replicating some of Kane's playmaking skills. He's not renowned for dropping into the midfield and spraying passes to on-rushing wide players, or being involved in neat combination play in and around the box.
However, he is extremely effective at getting on the end of moves inside the box. His physicality and intelligent movement allows him to create separation from defenders, meaning he doesn't need elite service to still find the back of the net on a regular basis.
His international manager, Eric Chelle, has been full of praise for the striker too:
I love him. He is the best striker in the world. But I’m proud of all the players because everybody brought something to this team. I’m especially proud of my captain because he scored a great penalty (in the last match). They all gave everything.
Spurs are never going to be able to truly replace Kane. The Leytonstone-born man is a generational talent and a unique profile who cannot simply be unearthed in a new player every ten years.
However, the Lilywhites can find a player who will score goals at a similar rate, who can operate in a slightly different way to Kane. Osimhen is the best option on the market for the North London club, and De Zerbi ought to be pushing his board to make the deal happen.