Tottenham’s big money summer signing, Dominic Solanke, has been challenged to demonstrate a “ruthless” edge to reach his full potential and help push Spurs into serious contention this season.
Teddy Sheringham, a former Spurs striker, has highlighted the importance of Solanke, who joined the club on a six-year deal last month for a reported £55 million, with an additional £10 million in bonuses.
Sheringham believes that Solanke needs to make a significant impact, particularly in the Premier League and UEFA Europa League, to prove his worth.
The pundit stressed that Solanke is expected to be a key player for Tottenham, with the club relying on him to be the decisive factor in closely fought matches.
The substantial transfer fee adds an element of pressure, and Sheringham noted that Solanke must rise to the challenge of competing at a higher level with Spurs.
Tottenham are known for creating numerous scoring opportunities, and Sheringham pointed out that Solanke’s ability to finish these chances will be vital, especially during busy periods when the team faces a congested fixture schedule.
Speaking to Prime Casino, the 58-year-old stated:
“I think Dominic Solanke will be Tottenham’s most important player this season.
“He’s the man that Ange and the club have placed a lot of faith in, to add the finishing touch.
“There’s an expectation that he will score the goals we need and will be the difference-maker in games that are tight.
“[But] he’s joined for a large fee and that adds a certain amount of pressure. He’s also making a step-up in his playing level.
“Tottenham create so many chances. When the games come thick and fast, when the energy levels are low, you need to take those.
“Solanke will need to be ruthless in front of goal. Tottenham will create the chances for him, [but] he has to take them.”
Solanke made his debut in Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Leicester, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Despite getting into promising positions, he was unable to score. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old has since been sidelined with an ankle injury, causing him to miss the next two games.
Manager Ange Postecoglou will be keen to have Solanke return to action as soon as possible, as Tottenham aim to build momentum in the early stages of the season.