Solanke’s Struggles at Tottenham Draw Unwanted Comparisons to Ndombele
Tottenham Hotspur and their supporters are cautiously optimistic following three improved Premier League results. Without the distraction of European competition this season, expectations were high for Roberto De Zerbi to steer Spurs away from consecutive 17th-place finishes.
After five league matches, Tottenham languished at the bottom with just two points from 15 and only two goals scored. Things have shifted recently; after a narrow 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, Spurs earned a late 1-1 draw at Manchester United. They then secured back-to-back wins against Coventry City and Chelsea, both by two-goal margins.
Premier League 2026-27: Tottenham Summary
- Matches played: 8
- Wins: 2
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 3
- Win percentage: 25%
- Goals scored: 8
- Goals conceded: 10
De Zerbi seems closer to establishing his best lineup, helped by the returns of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, though Maddison may face another injury setback after the Chelsea game.
The Centre-Forward Puzzle
Finding a reliable centre-forward has been one of De Zerbi’s toughest challenges. Richarlison is no longer a key figure, while Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke have only recently scored their first league goals this season.
Solanke, who joined Spurs from Bournemouth in 2024 for £65 million, continues to disappoint fans and staff alike. He was overlooked on the opening day in favor of Richarlison, only making his first Premier League start in a goalless draw against Everton in mid-September.
Solanke's impact has been minimal, yet De Zerbi surprisingly handed him the captain's armband during the match against Manchester United, where he scored an equalizer but otherwise wasted chances.
Dominic Solanke’s Tottenham Record
- Games: 75
- Goals: 24
- Assists: 9
After playing the full match against Coventry without scoring, Solanke was relegated to the bench for the recent Chelsea game due to fatigue and tactical reasons. De Zerbi said, "He felt fatigue after the Coventry game. I am lucky to have a big squad with many options, so I made this decision. The game lasts 90 minutes." This raises eyebrows considering a five-day gap between matches.
Is Solanke Following Ndombele’s Troubled Path?
The club’s need for a more dependable striker than Solanke, Richarlison, or Marmoush is growing more urgent. Ndombele, once Tottenham’s record signing, showed early promise but quickly faded into an unreliable player despite the hefty investment.
Solanke’s current trajectory mirrors that frustration. Despite his price tag and some flashes of ability, many fans doubt he can consistently perform at the level Spurs require. Like Ndombele, his sporadic contributions do little good if they cannot be regularly repeated on the pitch.
Tottenham might be better off seeking an upgrade rather than relying on Solanke to meet expectations going forward.
