The bright start to Thomas Frank’s reign at Tottenham Hotspur now feels like a distant memory, as the early excitement has gradually shifted into growing concern. When the Danish manager arrived in the summer to replace Ange Postecoglou, he quickly won supporters over with sharp recruitment and a fresh, energetic approach.
Big names such as Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani walked through the door, and Spurs began the Premier League season with confidence and quality.
But momentum in football can disappear just as fast as it arrives. Over the past few weeks, Tottenham’s results have dipped, performances have gone flat and questions have started to circle around whether Frank can sustain the standards expected at a club of this size.
The heavy 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby added fuel to those doubts. Yet the midweek clash with Paris Saint-Germain offered a glimpse of spirit and resilience, even if the match ended in a wild 5-3 loss. Spurs played with heart, but heart alone is not enough to erase deeper issues.
One of the biggest challenges Frank has faced during these early months is the sheer number of injuries to key players. James Maddison ruptured his ACL before the season even began.
Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma have yet to play under the new manager. Dominic Solanke, who arrived only last year in a £60 million deal meant to elevate his career, has barely managed 80 minutes across three appearances.
When a squad loses so many important figures, partnerships crumble, momentum fades, and the manager naturally leans more heavily on the players he believes he can trust.
Randal Kolo Muani has seized that trust. After battling his own early fitness issues, the French forward is finally making an impact, scoring twice against PSG and showing signs of becoming a central figure in Frank’s system.
Richarlison, who began the season as the first-choice striker, has also rediscovered his scoring touch, netting in three consecutive matches against Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG. Suddenly, both forwards look sharp, dangerous and confident.
For Solanke, this is a major problem. He was signed to be the long-term number nine, a powerful, intelligent striker entering the peak of his career.
But at 28, losing his place now is far more than just a temporary setback it threatens the direction of his entire career. His move to Tottenham was supposed to be the moment he proved he could step up to the elite level.
Instead, injuries and inconsistency have pushed him down the pecking order before he even had a real chance to make his mark.
And the comments from Thomas Frank this week only intensified the uncertainty around the striker’s future. The manager spoke openly about his admiration for Richarlison’s resurgence and praised Kolo Muani’s growing influence in the attack.
The message between the lines is clear: the players who are fit, thriving and delivering will continue to lead the line. There was no real suggestion that Solanke will walk straight back into the team once he returns.
This leaves Solanke at a crossroads. He still hopes to break into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup, but he is miles behind Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and even Danny Welbeck at this point.
Without regular football, his chances of making the squad collapse completely. Given his age, this may be his final realistic chance to appear on the world stage.
If Frank continues with his preferred options in attack, Solanke may be forced to consider a loan move or even a permanent transfer in January.
Tottenham, for their part, might also be open to that possibility if the team continues to function well without him. Football careers can shift quickly, and right now Solanke is drifting further away from the centre of Tottenham’s plans with every passing match.
A player once valued at £60 million should feel central, essential and irreplaceable. But based on Thomas Frank’s recent words and the performances of the players around him, Dominic Solanke’s future at Spurs suddenly looks more uncertain than ever.
