Published Jun 5, 2026, 6:15 AM GMT+1

Angus is an opinion and features journalist with Football FanCast.

Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sports Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.

A fervent Liverpool supporter, Angus has covered a range of Premier League clubs, from Liverpool and Everton, to the Old Gold of Wolverhampton and the South Coast of Brighton & Hove Albion. Now, he regularly covers Tottenham Hotspur.

Outside of football, Angus is a voracious reader and plays the piano.

Tottenham have recorded successive 17th-place finishes in the Premier League. It's nowhere near good enough, especially when considering the enormity of the Spurs project and the finances and resources available.

Spurs have not proved themselves masterful strategists in recent years, and that needs to change, with signings needed across the park.

Spurs in talks to sign new striker

Tottenham's attackers have flattered to deceive this season. Dominic Solanke is rarely at full fitness, and thus, rarely hitting his best form. Richarlison is comparatively prolific, but hardly the most convincing number nine, and probably set to depart this summer.

Let's not talk about Randal Kolo Muani, whose loan spell has concluded.

Solanke is one of Tottenham's most expensive signings ever, arriving from Bournemouth for an initial £55m, but he hasn't thrived as Harry Kane's successor. Spurs now need to bring in someone new.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are among the clubs to have helds talks with Dusan Vlahovic's representatives. His contract with Juventus will expire at the end of the month and, as a result, his agency are approaching clubs on the continent to find him a new employer.

The Serbian centre-forward, 26, was once one of the most coveted players in the world, joining Juve from Fiorentina for £67m in January 2022, but injuries and the Old Lady's wider problems have prevented him from reaching his potential.

Becoming the focal frontman for De Zerbi's resurgent Spurs side could be a fortuitous move for both parties.

Why Vlahovic can be a Solanke upgrade for Spurs

They say that the best ability in football is availability, and Solanke has not been available anywhere near enough to have repaid the fee. He has a Europa League trophy hanging up at home, but that triumph in isolation does not make up for a return of 12 Premier League goals since swapping the south coast for north London.

Vlahovic might have struggled with injuries himself, but if he passes a medical and is considered strong enough to make a difference at the Spurs forefront, there's no question that he would be an upgrade on the England international, who has not been picked by Thomas Tuchel for this summer's World Cup.

This season, the Serb has scored ten times across all competitions, only playing 23 games in total. He bagged four goals at the end of the Serie A campaign for an out-of-sorts Juventus side, who failed to qualify for the Champions League, finishing sixth.

This is, after all, a centre-forward with an all-action approach. He is physical and intelligent, willing to to drop deep and influence play, as well as a clinical striker. In the words of Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic he is actually "a more complete player than Erling Haaland."

It's this multi-faceted style that has further led Italian legend Luca Toni to call him “one of the best strikers in the world”. He's certainly someone who could make a difference at the spearhead of De Zerbi's system next season.

One of the biggest issues with Solanke is that he has struggled to bring himself back up to speed after recovering from a setback. Vlahovic's predatory instincts are invariably intact, though, and for that, he would provide De Zerbi with an instant upgrade at number nine.

Tottenham's transfer activity thus far and the ongoing move for Brighton's Van Hecke makes a firm comment on De Zerbi's immediate plans. He wants to shore up his porous backline, adding defenders who are strong on the ball.

However, all the build-up play in the world will fall flat without clinical strikers at the other end, and Vlahovic could fix that by replacing Solanke.