How Spurs can upgrade on Dominic Solanke

Well, there we have it. Mateus Fernandes will become a Tottenham Hotspur player.

Not in their wildest dreams would supporters have expected to obliterate their transfer record after finishing 17th in the Premier League. Alas, under Roberto De Zerbi, the winds of change are sweeping through Spurs.

There is something about different the current regime. They are finally behaving like a big club.

£85m is the magic number for Fernandes but they could yet break their new transfer record again. £100m-rated Sandro Tonali is on the radar and the hope for Spurs is that they will be able to sign two midfielders. It’s quite the summer for the Lilywhites, isn’t it?

There could still be room for a striker too, with former club-record man Dominic Solanke potentially on the chopping block.

Spurs exploring move for World Cup star

It would appear that after nearly being relegated, the penny has finally dropped at Tottenham. To rise from their ruins, they need to strengthen significantly and throw the kitchen sink at things.

Fernandes, of course, is not the only new face to join. Spurs have already spent £52m to bring Jan Paul van Hecke to north London.

He has been joined by fellow defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to create a newlook backline that will no doubt improve on their dire defensive record from 2025/26. Only the relegated sides shipped more goals.

That said, De Zerbi also needs more goals. It’s why they could look to upgrade on Solanke in the forthcoming weeks. Who could arrive? Well, there has been some chatter of a return for Troy Parrott but a World Cup star has now appeared on their radar.

That’s according to reports in France who discuss the future of Monaco forward Folarin Balogun. They report that he has become a target for PSG after they sold Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan.

Yet, Tottenham are also at the table to sign the USA international, making him a “priority” target. Chelsea are also said to be interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

It has previously been revealed that it could take £43m to prise him away from the principality.

How Balogun compares to Solanke

When Spurs signed Solanke in the summer of 2024, the previous regime had followed the exact same recipe as they are using now, to sign a Premier League-proven player.

Spending £65m on the former Bournemouth man did raise eyebrows, but he was coming off the back of a campaign in which he had fired home 21 goals for the Cherries.

Yet, since arriving, he has endured two very different seasons in north London. During his debut term with Tottenham, he scored 16 goals. That’s not a bad return but you would expect more from a £65m player.

2025/26, however, was a wretched one for the England international. He played just 15 times in the league and on 20 occasions in all competitions due to injury. Only six goals came his way.

While it was a struggle for the centre-forward to find form due to his injuries and indeed Spurs’ own plight, he did not convince all too much. Tottenham found it difficult to get him into the game and he only took 22.7 touches per game. Viktor Gyokeres, for context, who was lamented for also not being involved enough, had just 18.1 touches.

Now, the volume of touches does not matter if you are scoring plenty of goals but Solanke is not. It’s why Balogun, the former Arsenal man, could be an ideal replacement and upgrade.

Now aged 24, it was with the Gunners where the striker learned his trade but due to a lack of football, he headed to France. Balogun initially exploded onto the scene with a 22-goal year on loan at Reims before signing permanently for Monaco. He only bagged 12 goals across his first two years but returned to form last season with 19 strikes in 43 matches.

Slowly but surely, the USMNT star is starting to become one of the most clinical strikers around. His form at the World Cup has demonstrated that, scoring a fabulous brace against Paraguay. But, how does he compare to Solanke?

Well, Balogun certainly had a better year in front of goal. The main difference between the two is that in one striker, you are getting a more progressive player and in the other, you are getting more of a physical presence.

Throughout 2025/26, Spurs’ current leader of the attack won a lot more duels, notably in the air. He’s very valuable in that regard.

Yet, you would have to say that Balogun suits De Zerbi’s progressive ball-playing and carrying style of play more. The American completes 0.97 more progressive actions per game and is a much better carrier in possession.

Surrounded by other ball carriers like Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison and Fernandes, expect Spurs’ style of football to look a lot prettier next term.