As Tottenham Hotspur gears up for the 2025/26 campaign, early pre-season results hint at familiar challenges. With a clear need for a consistent goalscorer, the club faces a pivotal decision regarding its frontline. Is Dominic Solanke truly the long-term solution, or does the statistical evidence point to an undeniable need for an upgrade, such as the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic?
Dominic Solanke, Tottenham`s current number nine, faces an uphill battle to convince.
Pre-Season Ponderings and a Persistent Problem
Tottenham Hotspur`s pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 season have offered little in the way of definitive answers, particularly concerning their offensive firepower. A split schedule saw the Lilywhites held to a goalless draw by Luton Town and a 2-2 stalemate against Wycombe Wanderers. While these fixtures typically serve as opportunities to integrate new signings – such as Mohammed Kudus, who arrived from West Ham United – and assess squad depth, they also inadvertently highlighted a lingering issue: the absence of a reliable, clinical finisher.
Conspicuously absent from these early fixtures was the club`s designated senior number nine, Dominic Solanke. The reason? A minor ankle injury, a setback that, while seemingly small, casts a long shadow given his recent history. Solanke missed a not-insignificant 14 games during the 2024/25 campaign, raising legitimate questions about his durability and the wisdom of entering another season with him as the sole primary striking option.
The Solanke Conundrum: A Question of Consistency
The term “monster” has been bandied about in reference to Solanke, a moniker usually reserved for players who dominate statistically and physically. However, a closer look at his debut season with Spurs in 2024/25 reveals a different narrative. Despite featuring in 45 matches across all competitions and bagging a respectable 16 goals, his Premier League output was less convincing. He failed to hit double digits in the league, netting only nine times.
What truly sets off analytical alarm bells is Solanke`s performance against his Expected Goals (xG) metrics. In the Premier League, he scored 9 goals from an xG of 10.97, indicating a slight underperformance. More glaringly, his record shows he missed 12 “big chances” in the top flight. For a team aiming for consistent success, leaving such significant opportunities on the pitch can be the difference between three points and one, or even none. It suggests a striker who gets into good positions but struggles with the decisive final touch. This pattern of wastefulness, even in the Europa League where he scored 5 goals from 5.58 xG, underscores a fundamental need for a more clinical edge.
Last season, the Lilywhites` top Premier League scorer was Brennan Johnson, with a modest 11 goals. This statistic alone underscores the team`s collective struggle to find a consistent source of goals, a void typically filled by a top-tier centre-forward. Without a prolific striker, the burden falls disproportionately on wide players and midfielders, a strategy that often proves unsustainable over a demanding Premier League season.
Dominic Solanke`s 2024/25 Premier League Stats
| 24/25 Premier League | Dominic Solanke |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 27 |
| xG | 10.97 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Minutes per goal | 245 |
| Big chances missed | 12 |
| xA | 1.15 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Stats via Sofascore | |
While capable of scoring, Solanke`s efficiency has been a concern.
The Search for a Superior Scorer
The glaring deficiencies in consistent goalscoring and Solanke`s recurring fitness woes necessitate proactive action from Tottenham`s hierarchy. The whispers from within the club indicate that the form of established attackers like Richarlison and Heung-min Son has also been subject to scrutiny regarding their consistent offensive output. This collective challenge in the final third highlights a strategic imperative: acquire a proven, reliable number nine.
Enter Aleksandar Mitrovic. Reports suggest that Tottenham Hotspur is among several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United and Manchester United, who are “exploring the possibility” of a deal for the Al Hilal centre-forward. Mitrovic, a Serbian international, presents a compelling profile for a club in Tottenham`s position.
Aleksandar Mitrovic`s prolific scoring record makes him an attractive prospect.
Al Hilal, his current club, is reportedly seeking a fee in the region of €30 million (£26 million) to sanction a summer transfer. This price point, while substantial, might be considered a worthwhile investment for a player with Mitrovic`s track record. Known for his aerial prowess, physical presence, and, crucially, his ability to convert chances consistently, Mitrovic offers a stark contrast to Solanke`s recent struggles with “big chances missed.”
Mitrovic: The Prolific Upgrade Spurs Need?
While the Saudi Pro League is a different challenge to the Premier League, Mitrovic`s history in English football, particularly his prolific Championship campaigns and respectable Premier League returns with Fulham, demonstrate his capability to score goals in a highly competitive environment. His imposing physical stature could also offer Ange Postecoglou a different dimension in attack, providing a focal point that can hold up play and bring others into the game, something that Tottenham`s current forward line sometimes lacks.
Acquiring Mitrovic would not only provide much-needed competition and an alternative to Solanke but could also alleviate the goalscoring pressure on players like Johnson, Son, and Richarlison. A robust, proven finisher at the spearhead of the attack could unlock Tottenham`s full attacking potential, transforming promising build-up play into tangible results. The £26 million valuation, therefore, isn`t just for a player; it`s for a potential solution to a persistent, debilitating problem. Whether Spurs will commit to this “big upgrade” remains to be seen, but the narrative clearly suggests it`s a move they desperately need to consider.
