Tottenham’s big-money summer signing, Dominic Solanke, has begun to establish himself within Ange Postecoglou’s system. However, speculation suggests that not everyone at the club was entirely on board with his arrival.
Former Spurs scout Bryan King speculated that Cristian Romero, the club’s vice-captain, might have concerns about Tottenham’s transfer strategy, with Solanke’s signing potentially reflecting broader frustrations.
Romero, who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the club’s progress, criticised management following Spurs’ 4-3 defeat to Chelsea.
Bryan King says Cristian Romero might not be happy with Solanke signing
King interpreted the Argentine defender’s remarks as an indirect critique of the club’s summer recruitment, including the decision to spend £50 million on Solanke.
The former Spurs man further suggested that Romero might question whether Solanke is the type of signing necessary to elevate Tottenham to genuine Premier League title contention. He also highlighted missed opportunities to sign other prominent targets like Ivan Toney or Conor Gallagher, which may have compounded the defender’s discontent.
That said, King also emphasised the importance of Romero focusing on his own performance and fitness, particularly given his recent injury issues, which have limited his availability.
Speaking to Tottenham News, King said:
“To be fair, Tottenham brought in a £50million-plus striker in the summer.
“Therefore, it seems as though Romero is suggesting that Solanke isn’t the kind of player who he feels is going to help Tottenham challenge in the Premier League. If you buy a player who costs more than £50million, I know it was only one player, but surely that is a sign that the club are investing and moving in the right direction.
“However, I do believe that Spurs’ recruitment has been very ordinary, and I think that is what Romero is suggesting with these comments. There were some top players available during the summer who Tottenham could have signed and didn’t, the likes of Ivan Toney and Conor Gallagher.
“Therefore, I think this little dig from Romero is aimed at the club’s recruitment. However, having said that I think Romero ought to concentrate on staying fit first and foremost. He wants to try getting through a run of games because he isn’t doing that much at the moment.”
Despite any speculation about Romero’s reservations, there is no indication of any personal conflict between the Argentine and Solanke. In fact, Solanke has steadily proven his value in Postecoglou’s attacking setup.
While his start at the club was slow, the former Bournemouth striker has delivered seven goals and three assists in 19 appearances across all competitions, offering stability in the number nine role.
With Richarlison sidelined for most of the season due to ongoing injury concerns, including a hamstring issue in November, Solanke’s contributions have been vital in preventing a complete breakdown in Tottenham’s frontline.
Romero’s comments may have sparked discussion, but Solanke’s growing impact underscores the importance of his signing. As Spurs work through their challenges, uniting the squad and focusing on collective improvement will be essential to climbing the league table.
