Don't listen to the doubters - Dominic Solanke is exactly the striker Tottenham need

Tottenham Hotspur have not shied away from their desire to sign a new striker before the summer transfer window closes.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou confirmed such reports during their recent tour of Asia, and it appears the club are working hard behind the scenes to snatch a number nine.

Dominic Solanke is the latest name linked with Spurs. The 26-year-old's contract contains a £65m release clause and he is said to be open to a north London move.

Considering whichever striker Tottenham do sign will effectively be a belated replacement for club legend and all-time leading scorer Harry Kane, it's fair for supporters to feel underwhelmed at links to the talisman of Bournemouth.

But that ultimately detracts from what kind of player Solanke is and the level he is capable of playing at.

Here's the lowdown on Solanke, how he would fit in at Spurs and why such a move makes sense for all parties.

Why should Tottenham fans want Solanke?

If Spurs are searching for an outright number nine, then Solanke is pretty perfect. He's fantastic at putting the ball away from central positions in the box, and though his link-up play isn't a particular strength, the assist numbers he's posted throughout his Bournemouth spell are still generous.

Solanke ranks highly among strikers for aerial duels (2.63 per 90) and clearances (1.16 per 90) and isn't afraid to do the dirty work from the front. He'd fit into an Ange-ball system seamlessly and would take little time to blend into the team.

What would Solanke bring to Tottenham that they currently lack?

Solanke boasts a physical presence in and around the box which Tottenham simply do not have at the moment.

In Bournemouth's system, he is incredibly reliable in set-pieces and off high, floated crosses - something that Spurs could definitely utilise more heading into the new season.

His ability to read the game and create chances from pressing is similar to Richarlison, but Solanke ranks higher in terms of goals and is a more reliable scorer from other types of chances - most notably Spurs' trademark low crosses which pierce the six-yard box.

The simple enough theory is Solanke managed to score with ease for Bournemouth last season, so in a system like Spurs' he could easily add many more strikes to that tally. If Postecoglou really wanted to, he could play Solanke and Richarlison together like the many Tottenham partnerships of old, with one pushing high and the other more stationary.

Solanke's fitness record should also be seen as a plus for Spurs, given he played all 38 Premier League games last season and the north Londoners at times found it hard to field a coherent XI.

What are Solanke's weaknesses?

One of the biggest weaknesses for Solanke is his passing - he's statistically not a great passer at all and ranked in the bottom seven-percentile among Premier League forwards for passes completed per 90 last season.

This worked in Bournemouth's system as he didn't really need to do an awful lot of passing. He's very much a modern day forward who is set and ready, and if he is allowed to just stand in the right places and await chances, then he will score them.

Too many times last season did Tottenham play low crosses without a centre forward to attack them, or shy away from getting the ball in the area quickly for a target man to bring it back to Earth. Solanke would fix both of these issues without needing to be extraordinary at everything else a la Kane.

Is Solanke ready to make that step up to a bigger club again?

The feeling from a Bournemouth POV is it's now or never for Solanke at the very top level.

He's coming off the best season of his career - 19 Premier League goals, 21 in all competitions - rivalling some of Europe's top names.

His time at Liverpool and Chelsea may not have been tangibly fruitful, but on the south coast he's developed into a composed player who understands his role in the system.

Solanke has taken all of his experiences on board and at 26 is now a leader on the pitch. He acts like a player who doesn't need to prove himself anymore - we know who he is.

Is Solanke good enough to play for England?

Solanke is categorically good enough for England and should not be overlooked. It was clear that he wasn't going to get a shock call-up to Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate with Kane, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins ahead of him, but there is scope to be part of the World Cup 2026 team for sure.

A move to Spurs would highlight Solanke's ambition to play for England and give him the necessary platform to impress the next Three Lions boss.

What would a fair price be for Solanke?

If Spurs are to steal Solanke this summer, they will have to stump up a decent amount for him, both as a good player and one crucial to Bournemouth.

The value of his release clause, £65m, is a fair valuation for the player. He also comes with a potential to break into the England squad, which is why Tottenham would have to pay a premium.

But at £65m, Solanke would immediately become Spurs' record signing, moving above Richarlison and Tanguy Ndombele who came in at around the £60m mark. That's extra pressure, but one he has the mentality take on.

Bournemouth would have to find a replacement quickly if Solanke is to leave. He's so much more than goals - he's the reason the Cherries had a shot of achieving European football last season. That's why the release clause is in place, that's why Tottenham will have to cough up.

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