Big-money star now looks “set to join Spurs”

There are many factors behind Tottenham Hotspur‘s decline in recent seasons, although a succession of managers have now all faced the same problem in north London – how do you replace Harry Kane?

The England skipper, alongside partner-in-crime Heung-min Son, was so reliably clinical for almost a decade at the club, so ruthless season-in, season-out.

In his final Premier League campaign in 2022/23, for instance, both he and Son netted 40 goals combined, 30 of which came courtesy of the Englishman. Across 2025/26, for comparison, Spurs as a whole only scored 48 league goals.

Therein lies the issue, something that Roberto De Zerbi will need to fix this summer.

Squad audit – who stays and who goes among Spurs forwards?

First and foremost, the priority will be to get players back fit and firing again, with Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert both sustaining ACL issues in 2026.

A return to action will hopefully come sooner rather than later for Mohammed Kudus, the Ghanaian absent since January having sustained a setback in his recovery late in the season.

That trio, considering those injury doubts and concerns, won’t be going anywhere, although now could be the time to cash in on last season’s top scorer, Richarlison, the Brazilian having just a year left to run on his contract.

As for Dominic Solanke, De Zerbi might well persist, considering Spurs are unlikely to rake in anywhere close to the £65m they splashed out on him, yet a real resurgence is needed from a player who has scored just 12 league goals in two years.

It’s more up in the air for young Mathys Tel, the 20-year-old yet to explode in a Spurs shirt following his Bayern Munich switch, while he could also have new competition down that left flank, should a teenage Mikey Moore stay put this summer.

There has been talk of a return for Randal Kolo Muani, although after netting only one league last term, that appears unlikely. Indeed, the Lilywhites need to set their sights a little higher to try and fill Kane and Son’s void at N17.

Why Big-money target now looks ‘set to join Spurs’

Six signings in the bag for De Zerbi, following the most recent arrival of Sandro Tonali, but the forward line still requires a fresh lick of paint, with only Richarlison reaching double figures for goals and goal involvements in the top flight last term.

That has seen ENIC turn to the likes of Rafael Leao by all accounts, although while the Portuguese forward is believed to be ‘ready to say yes‘ to a switch, there has yet to be any progress on that front.

One deal that does appear more likely is the addition of Bournemouth sensation, Eli Junior Kroupi, with journalist David Schill revealing that the 20-year-old now “looks set to join Spurs”.

That comes amid Schill’s reporting that the Cherries are looking to sign Bayer Leverkusen starlet, Christian Kofane, a deal that could, in turn, see the south coast side cash in on Kroupi.

The promising Frenchman is deemed to be keen to join De Zerbi’s ranks by all accounts, even despite having spent just a solitary season on the south coast.

What a season that was, however, as Kroupi broke the record for the most goals scored by a teenager in their debut Premier League campaign (13), eclipsing Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler in that regard.

He did showcase why he can be the solution to Spurs’ Kane and Son woes, the youngster looking so deadly either off the left or in a number nine berth.

That versatility and fluidity certainly mirror Son in his pomp, while his ability to score on either foot is also very similar to the South Korean, with two of his 13 goals coming via his weaker left.

Where he also mirrors the former Spurs number seven is in regard to his work ethic out of possession, ranking in the top 7% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues last season in terms of recoveries made per 90.

He’s also a player who likes to stretch a defence in behind, much like Son, having ranked in the top 26% for received through balls per 90.

As for the parallels to Kane, well that can be seen in just what a natural finisher he is, already so ruthlessly clinical at such a young age.

Fresh from scoring 22 goals in Ligue 2 for Lorient in 2024/25, Kroupi carried that on in 2025/26, with his 13 goals coming at a rate of one every 130 minutes, as he boasted a 25% goal conversion rate.

The fact he missed just three ‘big chances’ also speaks to that innate finishing prowess, so lethal when given just an inch of space in and around the penalty area.

Looking back to Kane, the Englishman’s breakout 2014/15 campaign did see him better Kroupi’s record with 21 league goals scored, although he was netting at a similar rate, scoring once every 123 minutes for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Kroupi, like Kane, doesn’t appear to be someone who needs to develop their finish technique too greatly, already looking so adept in that regard – as 35 league goals across the last two seasons highlight.

Now, putting pressure on a 20-year-old to be Spurs’ attacking solution might be a little unwise, but the Bournemouth wonderkid could potentially be the club’s next breakout star, in the mould of Kane and Son.