Tottenham Hotspur made a surprise announcement on the deadline day when they secured the signing of French striker Randal Kolo Muani on a loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain. It was a transfer that was multiple windows in the making, given how the North Londoners held long-term interest in securing the 26-year-old’s signature.
While the North Londoners’ supporters expected that the French striker would be a regular in the lineup, he has barely featured for his temporary employers this season given his consistent spells on the sidelines. And while he just got back from one injury and was building minutes and sharpness, Muani has suffered another spell in the treatment room.
Thomas Frank has been dealt a dilemma of selection going into the game against Arsenal and beyond, given that Dominic Solanke is still getting back from his ankle injury. And then there’s the fact that Richarlison has not been as much of a menace as he was at the commencement of the campaign.
Three #9 options that Frank can use in Muani absence
Mohammed Kudus
While Kudus has been a phenomenon on that right channel, the former West Ham man has what it takes to play down the middle. If Thomas Frank wants to play someone who is more direct than Richarlison and has that higher tempo upfront, then the summer signing would be an underrated option.
Off the ball, he is possibly one of the best pressers in the current roster. So if the Dane head coach is looking to keep more tempo in the game and he wants to have things more direct, then Kudus is the closest option that he is going to get in the current roster.
Ideally he will start on the shoulder and try to attack the inside-right channels. He will try to feint in behind the centre-backs when Tottenham go vertical. And when it comes to off-the-ball structure, Kudus gives you that option which triggers the pressing line, and given his rapidness, he forces play wide, and that is where he tries to turn clearances into second balls for Bentancur/Palhinha to hoover up.
Xavi Simons
If Thomas Frank is expecting the opponents to remain compact and in a rehearsed block, then he can deploy Xavi Simons into the roaming false 9 role. This is the cleanest way that the Dane head coach can add control and chance creation.
Given how Simons likes to drop between the lines, he will at least drag a centre-back out and create the 10-vs-9 overload that lets Tottenham play through the middle.
With Simons coming on the inside, you can have the likes of Odobert in a more inside role where he attacks the back post, and Pedro Porro can underlap into the box. Suddenly the opponents’ penalty box will have that compound of cut-backs and late arrivals instead of crosses onto centre-halves.
The big risk with this is physical presence in the opponent’s final third. Simons will not just have to lay off but also need to arrive to get on the end of sequences.
Mathys Tel
Given how much Tel did against Manchester United in his cameo, he deserves a look-in. The French sensation managed to cause more problems for Senne Lammens’ goal than Richarlison did all game.
And he is someone who loves depth; times curved runs well and attacks the front post with conviction. He is ideal if Tottenham are trying to cross from advanced full-back positions or hitting early diagonals.
And given his abilities, Tel gives you that one-chance, one-shot classic striker vibe. Much like what we saw from him against United.
And his hold-up is improving every game. He just needs more close support around him, be it in a #10 with Simons or a runner from the right (Kudus) to reduce his back-to-goal burden.
He does deserve to start for the Lilywhites come that Arsenal game.
Which of the above three would you consider starting upfront after the ongoing international hiatus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.