Why Spurs could replace Solanke with the new Lewandowski

What a rip-roaring summer this has been for Tottenham Hotspur supporters.

They have seen their club splash over £200m on the likes Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, much to the surprise of the rest of the division after finishing 17th.

More could be on the way. Spurs are seemingly not satisfied with Dominic Solanke and have earmarked Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi as their next big-money addition.

Why Spurs are keen to move on from Dominic Solanke

When it comes to moving on from a legend, it is never easy. Unai Emery and David Moyes quickly lost their jobs after replacing Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson at Arsenal and Manchester United.

In the case of Harry Kane at Spurs, the Lilywhites have suffered from similar misfortune. No one in world football is capable of replicating the level of output the striker gave to Tottenham. He has proven that since scoring 146 goals in 147 matches for Bayern Munich.

On that evidence, Solanke seemed destined to fail in north London. The centre-forward was never going to be able to live up to Kane’s reputation but he did, at least, have a decent first season under Ange Postecoglou.

Indeed, the former Bournemouth man netted 16 times in 2024/25. Yet, like most players at the club last season, he struggled.

The Englishman was injured for 29 games and only scored three goals in 15 Premier League matches. It is hard to point the finger at Solanke alone but if the Lilywhites are to really rise up the table quickly, they need to sign a more potent threat in the final third.

The 28-year-old has his limitations and it’s time for Roberto De Zerbi to move on and find a more dynamic player to spark the Spurs attack into life.

It’s all well and good spending a shedload on the likes of Tonali and Fernandes but they certainly need more goals. Solanke is not offering that/

How Spurs could replace Solanke on the cheap

Kroupi is the number one target for Tottenham this summer and understandably so. Before the Frenchman had come along, no teenager had ever scored 13 or more goals in their debut Premier League season.

However, due to that, the Cherries are not keen on selling and if they are to let him go, it could take the best part of £85m.

Consequently, according to TEAMtalk, an alternative in the form of Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani has been lined up. A target for Barcelona, Spurs are said to have held initial talks over a move, making an enquiry to understand whether a move would be possible.

While a price tag has not been mooted, he would certainly be cheaper than Kroupi. In a market of inflated fees, bringing in the 23-year-old would be a smart move.

Sure, he’s not quite as exciting as a player like Kroupi but Asllani is still a mighty fine young player in his own right. Over the last two seasons, the striker has really come into his own, netting 18 times in 35 games on loan at 2.Bundesliga side SV 07 Elversberg throughout 2024/25.

Having earned a place in the Hoffenheim senior team for 2025/26, he caught the eye with 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions. Those may not be jaw-dropping numbers but there is more to Asllani than initially meets the eye. Last season, only seven players aged 24 or under registered more goal involvements in Europe’s top five leagues.

Meanwhile, in the words of the Secret Scout, he plays like something of “a young Robert Lewandowski”. Standing at 6 foot 3, there is a strong physical presence to the Kosovan’s game while his versatility – the ability to play as a striker, second striker or on the left wing – has seen him compared to Hugo Ekitike too.

His profile certainly looks better than Solanke’s. The current incumbent of the striker position at Spurs feels very limited. He doesn’t run in behind regularly enough, nor does he hold the ball up well enough.

Asllani, however, defies his height. He’s got a deft first touch like Lewandowski, he can run in behind and he’s a competent carrier. A lot of his goals (video above) actually see him fashion an opportunity for himself. It really does seem as though he can find the net in a whole host of different scenarios.

Asllani, therefore, could represent an upgrade on Solanke. His movement is intelligent and he’s particularly keen to get involved in the build-up phases of play. He’s a multi-faceted centre-forward and someone with immense potential.

While he is very much a project striker, much like Kroupi, that should not be a turn off for Spurs. They need more unpredictability in the final third and the Hoffenheim star would give them that.