Harry Kane left Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich last summer after over 15 years of shattering
personal and national records in English football.
Kane exited Spurs as the club’s highest goalscorer, having netted over 250 goals. The pressure was
on chairman Daniel Levy to invest in a suitable replacement.
However, Levy shelled out money to bolster other positions but didn’t buy a recognised centre-
forward, leaving new manager Ange Postecoglou short-staffed up front.
The Australian manager tried to be creative with what he had in his squad and converted Heung-min
Son to a centre-forward.
The move has worked to a degree.The South Korean attacker has bagged 15 goals in 28 league appearances, but there is still a lingering feeling that Kane has not been adequately replaced.
Many people feel that Spurs need a new striker to lead the line and allow Son to move back to the
wing, but do they need a Kane replacement when their captain is performing admirably well?
The former Bayer Leverkusen forward has been operating in a world-class realm and could help fire
Spurs into the Champions League next season after missing out on European competition this year.
Son has been Tottenham’s talisman and continues to play a pivotal role for Postecoglou, but he lacks
the presence of a number nine.
His aerial ability leaves a lot to be desired, and he does not have the
sort of penalty box presence required to handle bigger and stronger opponents.
Despite Son’s performances, Spurs need more firepower.
They need a striker that can worry defenders physically and strike fear into the heart of opposition backlines. While replacing Kane is undoubtedly a conundrum, there are several options Tottenham could potentially target in the summer transfer window.
Evan Ferguson
Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson was one of the players linked with Tottenham after
spearheading the Seagulls to the Europa League for the first time.
After biding his time with the Brighton youth teams, the teenage striker burst onto the scene with
the senior squad. His efforts soon attracted attention in his homeland.
Ferguson has been tipped as the man who will lead the Republic of Ireland into a new era in
international football.
Qualifying for the 2026 is seen as a genuine possibility.
Ireland have not qualified for the global showpiece since 2002, and online bookmakers do not fancy
their chances of ending that barren run. Several leading betting sites rate them as 1000/1 shots to
win the tournament, highlighting the size of the task they face.
However, Ferguson’s presence in the team could make Ireland a value bet to book a spot at the
World Cup, although there are several question marks regarding his development.
Ferguson has struggled to replicate last season’s impressive performances. He has netted just six
league goals this season and has looked a far cry from the young player that people were tipping to
be the scourge of the bookies this term.
He has struggled in duels, winning only 40% of them in the league, lacking the sharpness required at
the top flight. On that basis, leading the line for Tottenham may be too much for the youngster.
Brighton chiefs Tony Bloom and Paul Barber will likely demand a jaw-dropping amount for their
prodigious talent – a fee Levy will likely baulk at knowing his aversion to spending money.
Ferguson is not quite ready to be the man for Spurs and needs more experience before he can
dream of leading a team with title aspirations.
Lois Openda
Tottenham have also been linked with a move for RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda after his terrific
debut campaign in Germany.
The Belgian has been in scintillating form for Die Roten Bullen, netting 21 goals in the Bundesliga. He
has also bagged another four in the Champions League. These numbers won’t surprise anyone who has followed Openda from his early days with Vitesse
Arnhem and Lens. He has always been a prolific forward.
Openda certainly has the pedigree to replace Kane and should be one of the names on the club’s list
of potential replacements for the England captain.
The 24-year-old could potentially form a ruthless frontline with Son. They would be the scourge of
many Premier League defences, but it will not be easy for Spurs to pull off a deal. He has a release
clause of around €80 million, but it only kicks in 2025.
Openda could fit in at Spurs like a glove alongside other technically gifted attackers, but it could be
difficult to lure him away from his current club.
Ivan Toney
Amongst the many players linked to replace Kane is Brentford and England centre-forward Ivan
Toney. He is the most similar to Kane stylistically. They are both strikers who love to come out of the box to link play, and he could be the glue that holds Tottenham’s attack line together.
Toney was in excellent form before receiving his ban for betting breaches and has returned in decent
nick.
He would have earned a big money move if not for the ban and could seal a transfer this
summer. Spurs could be the perfect landing spot. He could connect Tottenham’s exciting attackers with his elite link-up play and provide the goals needed for the club to challenge for silverware.
Postecoglou says he wants the club to compete for the league title next term, and he will need a
reliable striker they can depend on. Toney fits the bill.
