Dominic Solanke joined Tottenham Hotspur from Bournemouth in August 2024 for a club-record £65 million (including add-ons), signing a six-year deal as the long-term successor to Harry Kane.
His arrival was hailed as a smart, pragmatic move. Solanke had just enjoyed a breakout 2023/24 season at Bournemouth, scoring 19 Premier League goals and earning an England call-up. In his debut 2024/25 campaign under Ange Postecoglou, Solanke adapted well, contributing 12 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, including a milestone 100th career goal in a 2-0 away win on May 8, 2025. He played a key role in Tottenham’s Europa League triumph that season, starting in the final and scoring twice en route to the trophy.
Stability over show business
This success helped stabilise Spurs’ attack post-Kane and earned him widespread praise as a “reliable, no-nonsense No. 9.” However, the lack of glamour, goals and glitz left most fans craving some real entertainment, like a Xbox Ultimate Game Pass; something that didn’t require a ton of patience and goodwill, but just worked and made everyone happy.
Fast-forward to November 2025, and the narrative has shifted dramatically under new manager Thomas Frank (appointed in June 2025 after Postecoglou’s sacking). The 2025/26 season has been a disaster so far for Solanke and Tottenham, who sit 14th in the Premier League after 11 games (W3 D2 L6, 11 points as of November 10). Spurs have scored just 12 league goals, the joint-third worst in the division, amid a broader team malaise that’s put Frank’s job under threat.
Make-shift management
No goals or assists in under 50 minutes isn’t damning on its own—his early sub appearances showed promise, like a near-miss chance against Burnley—but the prolonged absence (now over 10 weeks) has exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth up top. Richarlison has managed just 2 goals in 9 starts, and the team has relied on makeshift options like Son Heung-min, dropping deep.
Solanke’s injury timeline remains murky; Frank recently called the November international break a “big decider,” hinting at a potential return before Christmas, but insiders suggest it could stretch into the new year with fitness concerns.
Manager’s View:
Frank has “lost some trust” in Solanke’s ability to lead the line, per reports, and is pushing for attacking reinforcements like Ivan Toney (£40m from Al-Ahli) or Jarrod Bowen (£60m from West Ham). However, he’s publicly urged patience, stating post-Newcastle (October 29): “The international break will push him for the next steps—it’s going forward.”
Pundit/Fan Sentiment:
buzz since October shows frustration, with fans labelling Solanke “fragile mentally and physically” and calling for a sale to fund upgrades.
Pundits are split: GiveMeSport warns selling in January would be a “big mistake,” citing his Europa heroics and adaptation time needed under Frank’s more defensive setup. Conversely, Football Insider reports Frank views Solanke as “not quite good enough,” with Spurs open to offloading him alongside Richarlison for £80m combined to chase Porto’s Samu Omorodion (£50m).
