Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly at the forefront of the pursuit for a significant striker to bolster manager Thomas Frank`s squad in the upcoming January transfer window. This development comes amidst increasing concerns over Dominic Solanke`s ongoing fitness issues, which have cast a shadow of uncertainty over his long-term future at the club.
Solanke, a club-record signing, has managed only 49 minutes across all competitions this season. An persistent ankle problem has kept him sidelined since Tottenham`s 2-0 victory against Manchester City in August.
The ankle injury necessitated minor surgery. While Frank has confirmed that the English forward is making good progress and could soon return to action, a definitive timeframe for his full fitness and availability remains elusive.
“It`s all good from the guys who played on Sunday,” Frank said in his latest injury update before Newcastle.
“Dominic – steps forward, it`s step by step. Cuti is on the pitch, no timeframe, but on the pitch. Destiny is on the pitch as well, so, three steps forward.”
| Player | Problem | Estimated Return Date |
|---|---|---|
| Dejan Kulusevski | Knee | 22/11/2025 |
| James Maddison | ACL | 01/06/2026 |
| Radu Dragusin | Knee | 22/11/2025 |
| Ben Davies | Thigh | 23/11/2025 |
| Yves Bissouma | Ankle/Foot | 08/11/2025 |
| Cristian Romero | Groin | 01/11/2025 |
| Destiny Udogie | Knee | 08/11/2025 |
| Dominic Solanke | Ankle | 08/11/2025 |
| via Premier Injuries | ||
Fitness struggles have plagued Solanke since his £65 million transfer from Bournemouth last year, preventing him from demonstrating his full capabilities to Frank. Despite finishing the 2024/25 season as Tottenham`s second-highest goalscorer with 16 goals across all competitions (behind Brennan Johnson), his availability was severely curtailed by a series of knee, thigh, and ankle issues.
According to a report from Football Insider this week, Frank`s patience may have worn thin. It is understood that the manager has grown dissatisfied with Solanke`s situation, and a January departure for the striker is becoming increasingly likely as Frank seeks to bring in a new attacking option.
In the lead-up to the upcoming transfer window, rumors have surfaced about the potential loan return of Ivan Toney to the Premier League from Al-Ahli. Frank`s former player at Brentford is reportedly keen to regain his place in Thomas Tuchel`s England squad. While some media outlets suggest Frank has personally contacted Toney about a temporary switch to Spurs, other alternatives are also being considered. Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, whose contract expires in 2026, is another prominent name linked with Tottenham.
A significant update comes from Christian Falk, a respected Bundesliga journalist and Bayern Munich expert, and it appears to favor the North London club. Despite continuous links between Bayern and Vlahović, it is actually Tottenham who are now “leading the race” for his signature, as Falk informed Bayern Insider that Vincent Kompany`s side has withdrawn their interest.
“It is true: Dušan Vlahović is no longer part of the club’s transfer plans, for the moment,” said Falk.
“There was interest in the Serbian, but I think the club’s thought process at the moment is revolving around Harry Kane’s brilliant form and performances. Having two big strikers at the club isn’t always so easy, as Vlahović will undoubtedly want frequent game time as well, and he’d want a big salary, even as a free agent.
“The other thing we heard is that many Premier League clubs are behind them, Tottenham is leading the race. Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested. So, you know, if such clubs are already at the table, it then becomes a question of money (potentially a lot of money).”
The 25-year-old Vlahović, reportedly earning a substantial £375,000 per week in Turin, has consistently scored at least 14 goals per season since his breakthrough campaign at Fiorentina in 2020/2021.
Vlahović has also proven himself to be a big-game player, scoring in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City over the past two seasons, as well as in crucial Serie A fixtures against teams like Inter Milan. A free transfer or a reduced-price deal in January for Vlahović could represent a significant coup, though he would almost certainly need to accept a substantial pay cut.
Rupert Fawcett
