Dominic Solanke to Spurs and how will it work?
The signing of Dominic Solanke by Tottenham Hotspur from Bournemouth can be considered a masterstroke as the team was in desperate need of a new striker after Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich last summer and Richarlison has been inconsistent. Solanke, who has joined Spurs on a six-year deal, arrives in the best form for the new season after scoring 19 goals in the Premier League for Bournemouth.
While the deal is reported to be as high as €65 million, for both clubs it established a new record, which proved Tottenham’s desire to have a prime and promising Solanke as their new star striker.
How Solanke Fits into Tottenham’s System
Current Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is gradually metamorphosing Tottenham into a more fluid attacking side. Solanke is a player who would perfectly fit in this system due to his ability to adapt to various positions. While Kane would sometimes pull into the deeper role as a playmaker, Solanke is more of a target man with forward runs. His traits of high pressing and the tendency to chase defenders fits Postecoglou’s pressing concept of targeting opponents and regaining the ball.
Solanke has improved a lot at Bournemouth, especially after Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil joined the team as coaches. Much improved finisher and positioning, his height also enables him to act as a foil who can hold up the ball and also a striker who is able to occupy the space behind defenders. This dual capability will make it possible for Postecoglou to change the manner in which Tottenham attacks, making them less predictable.
The Impact of Tottenham’s Attack
Solanke’s arrival has also reduced the burden on Richarlison who has been in and out of the team due to injuries since joining the Spurs. Thus, Solanke would be the first striker while Richarlison is the second striker who can play also as a winger. This versatility in approaches to attack will come in handy for Spurs, especially in their treacherous congested calendar.
Apart from Richarlison, Solanke will be backed up by playmakers such as Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski. These wide Tottenham players are expected to provide good crosses and this is something that Solanke has been good at in finding such spaces in the box. His presence could also contribute to the creation of more goal-scoring chances for Tottenham as defenders will be forced to mark him which frees up space for the other players.
Potential Challenges
However, the move is not without risks. Solanke will need to adapt quickly to the higher expectations and pressure that come with playing for a top-six Premier League club. Spurs community is in dire need to find any sort of success and their hopes will be hanging on the broad shoulders of Dominic Solanke.
Overall, if Solanke can replicate his Bournemouth form and adapt to Postecoglou’s system, he could be the catalyst Tottenham needs to reestablish themselves as serious contenders in the Premier League.