Tottenham Hotspur head into the second half of the season knowing that serious work lies ahead. With Christmas now behind them, Thomas Frank’s side find themselves stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League, a position that does not reflect the club’s ambitions or spending.
While performances have shown flashes of promise, the lack of consistency in front of goal continues to hold Spurs back, and it is becoming clearer by the week that the current striker options are not enough.
Tottenham explored attacking reinforcements earlier but were unable to land Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who instead moved elsewhere. Even if that deal had gone through, it would not have fully solved Spurs’ problems through the middle.
The ongoing struggles of Richarlison and Dominic Solanke as central forwards have highlighted the urgent need for a reliable, out-and-out number nine who can lead the line week after week.
Richarlison has been Thomas Frank’s first-choice striker for much of the season. On paper, eight goals across all competitions is a respectable return, but the reality has been more uneven. When Richarlison is confident and sharp, he brings energy, aggression, and chaos to opposition defences.
However, those performances come in bursts rather than on a regular basis. Too often, he drifts through games, fails to impose himself physically, or struggles with his finishing at crucial moments. For a team aiming to push back into the European places, that level of unpredictability is a major concern.
Solanke’s situation is even more worrying. The former Bournemouth striker has barely featured due to injury problems that have plagued his season. While his ability is not in doubt, fitness has become a serious question mark.
Tottenham cannot afford to build their attacking plans around a striker who is rarely available, especially when the club wants to compete across multiple competitions. Relying on Solanke to suddenly stay fit and carry the goalscoring burden would be a huge gamble.
This is why Tottenham are once again being linked with Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Reports earlier in December suggested Spurs were preparing a move for the Frenchman, and with funds still available after missing out on other targets, that interest could quickly become concrete.
Mateta’s situation at Palace makes the timing ideal. Contract talks have stalled, and the striker is understood to be open to a new challenge, with several clubs across Europe monitoring his situation closely.
At 28, Mateta is right in his prime and has quietly developed into one of the most dependable forwards in the Premier League. Crystal Palace’s recent success, including domestic silverware, has been built in part on his powerful and relentless presence up front.
He is not a flashy striker, but he is brutally effective. Strong, fast, and intelligent with his movement, Mateta gives defenders a constant problem and creates space for teammates around him.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Mateta offers a physical profile that Tottenham currently lack. He can hold the ball up, win aerial duels, and bring others into play, while still having the pace and instinct to get into scoring positions.
Unlike Richarlison, whose form comes and goes, Mateta has shown he can deliver season after season. Unlike Solanke, he has proven he can stay fit and available across a long campaign.
The numbers back this up. Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Mateta has been among the league’s most productive forwards, trailing only a small group of elite attackers.
His consistency is what sets him apart and makes him such an attractive option for Tottenham as they look for a dependable focal point in attack.
Below is a clear look at Mateta’s Premier League output in recent seasons:
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25/26 | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| 24/25 | 37 | 14 | 2 |
| 23/24 | 35 | 16 | 6 |
| 22/23 | 29 | 2 | 0 |
| 21/22 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| 20/21 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
These figures show a striker who has grown year by year, improving his output and influence. Mateta’s journey has not been easy, but that only adds to his appeal.
He has worked relentlessly to establish himself at the top level and is now reaping the rewards with consistent goals and strong performances.
Tottenham’s previous interest in more direct attackers shows exactly what they are looking for. They want power, intensity, and reliability in the final third. Mateta ticks all of those boxes.
He would immediately provide competition and, quite possibly, overtake Richarlison and Solanke as the first-choice striker. His style would suit Frank’s system perfectly, allowing Spurs to play quicker, more vertical football while also giving midfielders a clear target to aim for.
Analysts have already labelled Mateta as one of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League, and it is hard to argue with that assessment based on his recent performances.
With the January window opening soon, Tottenham have a real opportunity to address their biggest weakness. Failing to act could see them drift further away from their goals, but moving decisively for Mateta could transform their attack and give them the cutting edge they have been missing.
If Spurs are serious about climbing the table and restoring belief among supporters, signing a proven striker like Jean-Philippe Mateta feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
