The following Jermain Defoe might be on his option to signal for Spurs

On the entire, this has been a really constructive summer time for Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham Hotspur.

Couple the £100m arrival of Sandro Tonali with the additions of Mateus Fernandes, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke and issues are starting to look slightly rosy.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

But, one factor specifically has been slightly obvious throughout pre-season. This Spurs crew nonetheless lack targets.

How De Zerbi can enhance Tottenham’s ahead line in 2026/27

If there was one benefit of the Ange Postecoglou period it was the frequency with which they scored targets, the electrical and swashbuckling nature of their soccer.

Beneath Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, they lacked any actual pleasure. De Zerbi is threatening to convey again a extra constructive type of soccer for the upcoming season however he can’t do it with the gamers he has at his disposal.

Pre-season has proven that. They have not scored greater than twice in any of their matches so far.

That stated, there have been some encouraging shows. Richarlison, who may nonetheless go away, has scored twice. Mathys Tel additionally seems to be like a unique participant below the tutelage of the Italian, scoring an exquisite free-kick in opposition to Sydney FC and supplying his Brazilian colleague with a purpose in opposition to Auckland FC.

The actual fact the previous Everton man would possibly go away is exceptional if you take a look at the stats. Certain, he is not been nice in Tottenham colors, however he did nonetheless end as their prime scorer final time period with 12 targets to his identify.

That slightly sums up Tottenham’s struggles. They want extra ahead gamers and De Zerbi may take the Spurs attacking line to the subsequent degree by finishing strikes for each Cody Gakpo and Savinho.

They’re the main targets proper now, valued at £70m and £60m apiece. A transfer for the latter is transferring alongside however the Dutchman’s future is slightly extra unsure. Liverpool usually are not vastly eager on letting him go.

Nonetheless, with Gakpo and Savinho both aspect of gamers like James Maddison and Mohammed Kudus, the Spurs assault would start to essentially motor once more.

What they nonetheless require, nonetheless, is a centre-forward. Precedence goal Eli Junior Kroupi is off the desk after he sustained a prolonged damage however there have been whispers surrounding Victor Osimhen. Would not that be fairly the signing?

£51m striker may head to Spurs as a substitute of Osimhen

The final couple of years have been significantly painful for supporters, notably after they take a look at their ahead line.

Tottenham have a wealthy historical past for housing a number of the best strikers to grace the English sport. From the likes of Jimmy Greaves to Teddy Sheringham, to Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Harry Kane, Spurs have historically at all times had a prolific frontman on the prime of the assault.

Within the present day, they don’t have that. Dominic Solanke’s injury-hit 2025/26 solely noticed him rating six occasions. It explains hyperlinks to Osimhen and it additionally explains hyperlinks to a participant who may properly develop into their new Defoe; Folarin Balogun.

A product of Arsenal’s Hale Finish academy, Balogun left the Gunners behind again in 2023 and hasn’t appeared again. Within the phrases of Saul Isaksson-Hurst, his private coach, the English-born USA worldwide is “is likely one of the most fun younger quantity 9s in world soccer”.

He proved that through the World Cup. Excusing all the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s purple card intervention, Balogun caught the attention for all the proper causes on the pitch, scoring three targets in 4 video games for the host nation.

It has attracted loads of suitors, notably Spurs. In line with stories in France, the Lilywhites have already held early discussions with Monaco over a transfer. Balogun favours an exit and is eager to check himself elsewhere.

The most recent comes from Foot Mercato who reveal that the attacker has really inexperienced lit a switch to the membership and is eager on making the change.

That is important for De Zerbi. He wants a striker and in Balogun, he may discover a participant able to upgrading on the likes of Solanke and Richarlison.

Whereas the previous Arsenal man nonetheless wants to ascertain a bit extra consistency, he has develop into some of the prolific strikers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues. He scored 19 targets in 43 outings final time period and whereas he solely bagged 12 within the two seasons previous to that, throughout a mortgage spell with Reims in 2022/23, the USA star discovered the web on 22 events.

A poacher, there are many similarities between Balogun and the aforementioned Defoe. The latter was by no means probably the greatest round, actually he was actually slightly underrated. But, they mix instinctive ending with intelligent motion contained in the penalty space.

Like Defoe, the previous Arsenal man has the tempo to get in behind and he is a very progressive participant. They don’t seem to be a Kane-type striker, somebody who will usually drop deep and hyperlink the play. They don’t seem to be Solanke-type strikers both. He’s very rather more of a goal man.

Balogun can drop deep, actually not as strongly as Kane, however that isn’t his essential talent. His essential attribute is to stay on shoulder of the final defender, simply as Defoe did in his prime.

It appears like that for a while, Spurs have missed a striker able to doing exactly that. Consequently, this potential signing might be a game-changer for De Zerbi’s assault.