Journo advises Tottenham Hotspur to address the No.9 position next year
Having played across the front three during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, Richarlison has taken advantage of his run up top under new boss Thomas Frank.
With three goals in five Premier League matches, the Brazilian has helped the Lilywhites to a strong start to the 2025/26 season. Thomas Frank’s side have won three, lost one and drawn one in their opening five games and currently occupy the Champions League spots. So far, Richarlison has led Tottenham’s attack well, benefitting from club-record signing Dominic Solanke’s niggling ankle problem.
Dominic Solanke endured an injury-hit debut season in N17 after moving from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024. He was brought in to fill the void left by club legend Harry Kane, but the former Liverpool man failed to supply goals at a consistent rate. Much of that was down to injury issues, with the England international spending time on the sidelines owing to ankle and calf issues.
And Solanke’s calf issues has seemingly got carried onto this season, opening up an opportunity for Richarlison to impress and the Brazilian has done that.
TalkSPORT correspondent advices Tottenham to address their No.9 woes
Given injury problems of both Richarlison and Solanke, Spurs were very much interested in recruiting a new striker during the summer transfer window. After trying all summer to get one, they ended up landing Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Apparently, Solanke sustaining an ankle injury in training led to the Lilywhites ramping up their efforts to sign Kolo Muani on the transfer deadline day.
Unfortunately, Kolo Muani has been restricted to just one cameo appearance in a Spurs shirt due to a dead leg injury. The Frenchman and Solanke will not be available to face Wolves on Saturday, meaning Frank must manage with Richarlison and Mathys Tel up front.
Now, talkSPORT chief football correspondent Alex Crook feels Tottenham have got issues in the No.9 position. He feels neither Solanke nor Richarlison are answer to their problems and has advised the Lilywhites to address the area of the pitch.
“I think the number nine is a problem for Spurs. Um, obviously with Dom’s fitness problems, didn’t score a lot of goals last season anyway. Richarlison is either brilliant or useless. And it depends how the game starts because he has a tendency if things don’t go his way early on that he goes hiding. He can sulk a little bit,” Alex Crook said on the Premier League’s All Access podcast.
“So, I think it’s an area that long-term Spurs are going to have to address.”
Tottenham must try to reunite Ivan Toney with Thomas Frank
It is clear Tottenham need a reliable No.9 to provide them with regular supply of goals. Spurs broke their transfer record to sign Solanke from Bournemouth, but injuries have not allowed him to get regular minutes on the pitch and garner momentum.
Richarlison, too, due to his patchy injury record, cannot be trusted to lead the attack week in, week out. And as Kolo Muani is on a dry loan from PSG, the Lilywhites do need to spend on a potent goalscorer next year. Ivan Toney, in that regard, could be a good option.
At 29, the English striker is operating at the peak of his powers for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. He’s got good experience of Premier League football, and if he is ready shed his exorbitant wages at Al-Ahli, Tottenham could try to reunite him with Frank in the January transfer window. All in all, Toney has the potential to be a game-changing acquisition for the north Londoners.
