Spurs have a “Kane regen” who can end Solanke’s Tottenham career for good

Last summer, Thomas Frank’s appointment was warmly welcomed by those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion. It would be a shift away from the erratic style of Ange Postecoglou, a tilt toward a more pragmatic and stable way of football.

But to dare is to do, and Frank was hardly an exponent of that approach, sacked after a torrid eight-month tenure. Sadly, ENIC Group did not deal with the former Brentford boss’ dismissal very well, with Spurs devolving into relegation-threatened conditions under Igor Tudor.

Now, Roberto De Zerbi is leading the way, but 18th-place Tottenham are still two points adrift from West Ham United above them, and they need more snap and sparkle in the final third if they are going to turn this ship around.

Sadly, it doesn’t look like the solution is going to come in the shape of Dominic Solanke.

Why De Zerbi must drop Solanke

Solanke was forced off after 40 minutes at Molineux, sustaining a muscular injury that has not yet revealed the extent of his anticipated layoff. It is not thought to be serious, but with only one month of the campaign remaining, the 28-year-old faces a fight to return before the culmination of Tottenham’s relegation dogfight.

In any case, Richarlison is probably the preferable option at number nine. No Spurs star has outscored the Brazilian in the Premier League this season, and his tenacity could come up trumps as the fight for survival ramps up.

As far as Solanke goes, it’s hard to argue that he hasn’t been a flop in north London. Tottenham signed the former Bournemouth striker for an initial £55m in 2024. That figure could rise to £65m, but Solanke hasn’t done enough to have checked all the boxes.

In the long run, he needs replacing, and while ENIC will be inclined to dig into their pockets this summer, should Spurs survive, they do actually have a talented goalscorer out on loan who has been referred to as the next Harry Kane.

De Zerbi must unleash Spurs’ new Harry Kane

It’s a hard ask, hoping that Tottenham find the new Kane. The England skipper is a one-of-a-kind player, sure to go down in history as one of the best in the business.

Solanke has probably fallen by the wayside as his compatriot’s belated replacement, but a youngster like Will Lankshear could emerge as a shrewd option to step in and make an impression in the final third.

He’s actually been described as a “Harry Kane regen” by one scout, Lankshear is clever with his link-up play and his timing in the danger area.

The young forward certainly isn’t lacking in physicality, and he would likely manage to withstand the pressures of Premier League football, the pace intense and the defenders both brains and brawn.

If Tottenham are relegated, Lankshear is expected to be drafted into the first-team set-up, but maybe they should consider welcoming the out-on-loan talent back to the fore regardless. He has the potential to play a role in the Premier League.

This season, while the 21-year-old Lankshear has fronted an Oxford United side who have been pulled back into League One after two years in the second tier, he has impressed, a clinical outlet and a physical presence in attacking areas.

Kane spent several seasons out on loan in lower-league settings before finally emerging at Tottenham toward the end of the 2013/14 season.

There are similarities between the two, for sure, and while it would be wise to invest in a new high-class striker this summer, Lankshear might just have the right skillset to impress under De Zerbi in the Premier League.

Will Lankshear match Kane’s accomplishments for Tottenham and in the Premier League? Perhaps not, but the up-and-coming attacker might be an interesting solution at number nine next season, someone whose emergence could see Solanke search for a new club.