Tottenham Hotspur made headlines across the Premier League when they signed Sandro Tonali for £100m and Mateus Fernandes for £85m this season.
The Lilywhites rarely compete for top-tier talent, but after coming dangerously close to relegation, major changes were clearly necessary at the club.
Yet questions about Spurs’ recruitment remain loud, with the north London side yet to score a single Premier League goal this term.
The debate around their striker situation draws uncomfortable comparisons to one of the most damaging transitions in the club’s recent history.
Mousa Dembele remains one of the finest midfielders to represent Tottenham in the last decade, earning extraordinary praise from teammates and opponents alike.
Kyle Walker once described him as “the best dribbler I’ve ever seen,” while Eric Dier called him “a monster” who has “got ballerina feet at the same time.”
Even Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was left stunned, remarking that the former Spurs midfielder’s “dribbling was a joke.”
In the 2016/17 season, Dembele completed 2.6 dribbles per game, placing him alongside the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Wilfried Zaha, and Eden Hazard.
Across 249 appearances for Spurs, Dembele scored ten goals and registered 11 assists, offering a commanding midfield presence throughout his time at the club.
When Dembele left for China in early 2019, Tottenham turned to Tanguy Ndombele as his successor, signing the Frenchman for a then-club record £55m the following summer.
On paper Ndombele appeared to offer everything Spurs needed, combining strength, technical ability, and an elegant ball-playing style reminiscent of Paul Pogba.
However, his spell in north London quickly unravelled, with Jose Mourinho publicly stating: “We [Spurs] had to start with him as a No 10. He didn’t have the discipline, the strength or the stamina to be a midfield player.”
Ndombele was shipped out on loan three times, to Lyon, Napoli, and Galatasaray, before eventually leaving on a free transfer in 2024 having never recaptured his best form.
A strikingly similar pattern has emerged at the top end of the pitch, following Harry Kane’s departure from the club in 2024.
Kane is the greatest goalscorer in Tottenham’s history, having netted 280 goals for the club, placing him 14 clear of the legendary Jimmy Greaves.
Dominic Solanke arrived from Bournemouth in a £65m deal and was tasked with filling one of the most daunting vacancies in English football.
The striker showed some promise in his first campaign at the club, scoring 16 goals, but last season he managed only six goals in 20 appearances due to injury, a return that falls well short of what his price tag demands.
This season the problems have worsened, with Solanke finding the net against Charlton but remaining goalless in the Premier League alongside the rest of his teammates.
Against Everton on Saturday, Solanke played just 63 minutes, taking only 20 touches, completing 12 passes, and failing to register a key pass, a completed dribble, or a single shot.
Tottenham did sign Omar Marmoush in the summer, and the club will hope he can provide the cutting edge that Solanke has so far failed to consistently deliver.