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Solanke’s Struggles at Tottenham Echo Ndombele’s Decline

Tottenham Hotspur fans have seen mixed results this season, but the performances of Dominic Solanke have raised concerns. After a high-profile £65 million move from Bournemouth in 2024, expectations were high, yet Solanke's impact has been underwhelming.

The team had a tough opening stretch, sitting bottom of the Premier League after five games with just two points and only two goals scored. A recent upturn includes a last-minute 1-1 draw at Manchester United followed by back-to-back wins against Coventry City and Chelsea, both by two-goal margins, suggesting some progress under coach Roberto De Zerbi.

Tottenham’s 2026-27 Premier League Stats So Far

  • Matches: 8
  • Wins: 2
  • Draws: 3
  • Losses: 3
  • Win Percentage: 25%
  • Goals Scored: 8
  • Goals Conceded: 10

De Zerbi is close to settling on his ideal starting lineup, especially with the returns of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. Still, the centre-forward role remains a puzzle. Richarlison has fallen out of favor, while Marmoush and Solanke have only recently netted their first league goals of the campaign.

Solanke’s Performance and Future at Spurs

Solanke did not start on opening day; Richarlison was preferred. His first Premier League start came later in a goalless draw with Everton. His performances have been forgettable, aside from scoring a late equalizer against Manchester United, a game where he otherwise struggled to make an impact.

  • Solanke’s Tottenham Record:
  • Games: 75
  • Goals: 24
  • Assists: 9

After playing the full match against Coventry without scoring, Solanke was benched for the game against Chelsea due to fatigue and tactical reasons. De Zerbi commented, "He felt fatigue after the Coventry game. But also because I am lucky to have a big squad, many solutions, many different solutions in terms of characteristics and physical characteristics. I took this decision but the game is 90 minutes." Fatigue five days post-match raises questions about Solanke's stamina and reliability.

Comparing Solanke to Ndombele

Tensions rise as many wonder if Solanke is following a similar path to Tanguy Ndombele, once Tottenham's record signing. Ndombele showed early promise but soon became inconsistent and unreliable. Fans and analysts worry Solanke might be heading down the same road given his price tag and sporadic contributions.

Although both players have undeniable talent, their inability to deliver consistently on the pitch limits Tottenham’s progress. If Spurs aim to climb the Premier League table under De Zerbi, upgrading the centre-forward position seems necessary rather than relying on current options like Solanke or Marmoush.

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