Spurs flop who was ruthlessly sold in 2022 by Conte, now has been outscoring Solanke after leaving

Tottenham Hotspur has experienced a mixed start to their Premier League season, with results ranging from a hard-fought draw against Leicester City, a solid victory at home over Everton, and a disappointing loss away to Newcastle United.

Despite their inconsistency, the football displayed by Ange Postecoglou’s side has been entertaining, showing potential for growth. However, their finishing has left much to be desired, a weakness compounded by the absence of their new £65 million striker, Dominic Solanke, who has missed the last two matches due to injury.

Tottenham’s opening matches have exposed both their strengths and weaknesses. In both away games, Tottenham created numerous chances but failed to capitalize, echoing last season’s struggles in front of goal.

The inability to convert opportunities has become a familiar issue for Spurs, but the absence of Solanke might explain some of the shortcomings. Solanke, who has shown great promise in previous seasons, is expected to add the clinical edge Tottenham has been lacking. The hope is that his return from injury will significantly bolster the team’s attack.

Tottenham made a substantial investment this summer by signing Dominic Solanke for £65 million, aiming to improve their goal-scoring efficiency. Solanke, formerly of Bournemouth, is expected to lead the Spurs frontline and turn the numerous chances created by Postecoglou’s system into goals. His goal-scoring record speaks for itself, especially in the 2022/23 season when he was one of the Premier League’s top performers.

In the 2022/23 season, Solanke scored 21 goals in 42 appearances for Bournemouth, averaging a goal involvement every 1.68 games. His ability to score and assist made him a standout player, and Spurs fans have high hopes for his contribution.

However, it’s worth noting that in the previous campaign, Solanke’s form was less impressive, with just seven goals and seven assists in 35 games, averaging a goal involvement every 2.5 games. Tottenham will be hoping that they see the Solanke of last season, rather than the inconsistent form of the year before.

While Tottenham has invested in Solanke to improve their attacking options, it’s interesting to compare his performance to former Spurs player Steven Bergwijn. Bergwijn joined Tottenham from PSV Eindhoven in 2020 for £25 million but never truly established himself in North London.

During his time at Spurs, he scored eight goals and provided nine assists in 83 appearances, failing to break into the starting lineup regularly under Antonio Conte.

In 2022, Bergwijn returned to the Netherlands to join Ajax, where his form has been nothing short of impressive. During the 2022/23 season, Bergwijn scored 16 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 2.04 games.

His performances were even more remarkable in the 2023/24 campaign, where he scored 13 goals and provided five assists in just 31 matches, averaging a goal involvement every 1.72 games. This level of consistency and effectiveness has made Bergwijn a sought-after player, culminating in a transfer to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

Bergwijn’s exit from Tottenham may have been seen as a loss at the time, but his success at Ajax and subsequent move to Saudi Arabia indicates that both the player and the club may have benefited from the split. Bergwijn has flourished since leaving, while Tottenham has turned their attention to new attacking options, including Solanke.

The pressure is now on Dominic Solanke to replicate the form he showed at Bournemouth and justify the £65 million price tag. Tottenham has been in desperate need of a clinical finisher, and Solanke has the opportunity to establish himself as the main man in Postecoglou’s attack.

However, with comparisons to players like Bergwijn, who has gone on to achieve significant success after leaving Spurs, the challenge is clear.

For Tottenham to succeed this season, Solanke’s ability to stay fit and perform at his best will be crucial. With his track record from last season, there’s every reason to believe that Solanke can thrive in Postecoglou’s system.

However, he will need to hit the ground running once he returns from injury if Spurs are to avoid the same goal-scoring frustrations that have plagued them in recent years.