Reports from inside Tottenham Hotspur suggest that manager Thomas Frank is not entirely convinced by Dominic Solanke, despite the striker once being a key figure under former boss Ange Postecoglou.
Sources close to the club have indicated that Frank “doesn’t fancy” the £60 million forward, and the Danish manager is already considering alternative attacking options ahead of the January transfer window.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Solanke was a consistent starter and one of the most trusted players in Tottenham’s attack. He featured 45 times in all competitions last season, finding the back of the net 16 times and playing a major role in Spurs’ high-tempo system.
However, things have taken a sharp turn since Frank’s arrival. The new manager appears unconvinced that Solanke fits his tactical vision, and injuries have only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the striker’s future at the club.
Solanke’s 2024–25 campaign has been plagued by fitness problems. After completing a high-profile move from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, the England international has barely featured for Spurs this season.
His only appearance came during Tottenham’s 2–0 win over Manchester City on 23 August, where he played just 49 minutes before injury struck again. Following that brief outing, he underwent ankle surgery and has been sidelined ever since.
This setback has left Tottenham light in attack and forced Frank to rethink his forward options.
At 28, Solanke should be entering the prime of his career, but constant injuries and a loss of rhythm have disrupted his progress. Sources say Frank, who values mobility, pressing, and tactical discipline in his forwards, has serious doubts about Solanke’s long-term suitability.
The manager reportedly believes that Spurs need a more dynamic striker capable of leading the line with consistency and adapting quickly to his style of play.
Tottenham’s recruitment team has been exploring potential replacements, but signing a proven striker midway through the season will not be easy. January is traditionally a difficult window for major transfers, with clubs often reluctant to part with their key players unless offered an inflated fee.
Financial fair play considerations and existing wage commitments could also complicate matters further for Spurs, who spent heavily in the past two windows.
Frank faces a delicate balancing act. With Solanke out injured and other attacking options struggling for form, Tottenham’s attack has looked short of cutting edge in recent weeks.
The manager would ideally like to bring in fresh talent, but given the constraints of the January market, he may be forced to rely on the players already at his disposal.
This could see him experimenting with tactical tweaks, perhaps pushing one of his wingers into a more central role or rotating his front line more frequently to find a temporary solution.
The situation is frustrating for Solanke, who was full of promise after his move from Bournemouth. He arrived with the expectation of leading Tottenham’s attack for years to come, yet a combination of injuries and managerial changes has stalled that ambition.
His recovery timeline remains uncertain, and while he is expected to return before the end of the season, regaining full match fitness will take time. Frank’s apparent lack of confidence in him only makes the challenge steeper.
For Tottenham, the coming months will be crucial. The club must decide whether to persist with Solanke as a long-term option or cut their losses and pursue a new forward who better fits Frank’s vision.
As things stand, the manager appears intent on reshaping his squad in his own image and that could spell the end of Solanke’s brief chapter as Spurs’ leading man.
While nothing has been confirmed publicly, the growing sense around the training ground is clear: Thomas Frank wants change up front, and Dominic Solanke may soon find himself on the periphery if Tottenham can identify and secure a replacement.
