Tottenham ready to replace “intelligent” £65 million star who has failed to impress Thomas Frank

Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson. (REUTERS/Peter Powell)

Tottenham’s 2025/26 Premier League campaign has been a breath of fresh air after last season’s chaos.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs finally look like a cohesive, disciplined unit again — third in the table after nine games, with five wins, two draws, and just two defeats. It’s a far cry from the inconsistency of the Ange Postecoglou era, with the North London side playing with more balance and purpose.

Mohammed Kudus has been electric, Lucas Bergvall continues to dazzle in midfield, and Micky van de Ven looks every bit the league’s standout centre-back.

But for all the positives, one issue remains unresolved — the situation surrounding Dominic Solanke, last summer’s £65 million signing who’s been sidelined for much of the campaign.

Now, it appears Tottenham could be preparing to move on.

According to a new report from Football Insider, Thomas Frank has not been convinced by Dominic Solanke since taking charge, and the club could explore striker options when the January transfer window opens.

Sources close to the Tottenham camp suggest Frank “doesn’t fancy” the 28-year-old forward, despite Solanke’s intelligence and work rate — qualities once praised by former Premier League midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, who labelled him “an intelligent striker.”

Solanke’s Tottenham career has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to just 49 minutes of football this season. While Frank is said to admire the player’s attitude, the Dane reportedly wants a more dynamic and consistent No. 9 to lead his evolving attack.

That said, Spurs recognise how difficult it can be to complete major business in January. Unless the right opportunity arises, Solanke may have to fight for his place when he returns to fitness — though given Tottenham’s strong form without him, he could face an uphill battle to regain Frank’s trust.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.