The return of Heung-min Son to London next week will be an emotional moment for Tottenham supporters, as he prepares to say a proper goodbye at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
His departure, along with Harry Kane’s exit before him, has left a creative and goalscoring void that the club has struggled to fill. Spurs have worked hard under their new manager, but there is no denying that the team has lacked the presence of a world-class forward who can lift the entire squad through sheer quality and decisive moments.
Players like Kane don’t come around often, and when they leave, their absence sits heavily on a club trying to rebuild.
The difficulty Tottenham have faced becomes clearer when looking at Kane’s numbers and the way he influenced the team far beyond just scoring goals.
He was not only the club’s greatest-ever finisher but also their most reliable creator, capable of dropping deep, linking play, and dictating the rhythm of every attack.
The loss of a player with such range, intelligence, and consistency is naturally going to impact any team, especially one still trying to form a new identity.
To put Kane’s legacy into perspective, his place among Tottenham’s greatest scorers shows the scale of the gap he left behind:
| Tottenham All-Time Record Scorers | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | 435 | 280 |
| Jimmy Greaves | 376 | 266 |
| Bobby Smith | 316 | 211 |
| Heung-min Son | 454 | 173 |
| Martin Chivers | 350 | 167 |
Kane’s reputation has only grown since joining Bayern Munich, where he continues to produce numbers that are almost surreal. With 25 goals in 21 matches this season, he has been described by writer Mitch Fretton as “the best player in the world,” and the argument is not far-fetched.
Bayern have stormed ahead in their league, and once again Kane is the heart of everything. It is no surprise Spurs still feel the impact of losing a player of that quality.
Tottenham’s new manager would love to have a striker of Kane’s level leading his attack, but even without an equivalent forward, he has a different kind of talisman one who operates at the opposite end of the pitch.
Cristian Romero, although nothing like Kane stylistically, has become one of the most influential figures at the club. His impact is not measured by goals alone but by presence, leadership, and moments of inspiration that shift the direction of a match.
Romero has always divided opinion among supporters. His talent has never been questioned he is quick, strong, aggressive, and reads the game brilliantly but his fiery nature has sometimes led to rash tackles or mistimed challenges.
Despite those imperfections, he remains one of the most important players in the squad. His recent performance against Newcastle is the perfect example of his new responsibility. With Spurs struggling, it was Romero who stepped up, scoring twice and dragging the team to an important draw at St. James’ Park.
While he and Kane are completely different types of footballers, they share qualities that define leaders. Kane wasn’t captain for many years because Hugo Lloris held the armband, but everyone in the dressing room knew he set the tone.
Romero now fills that role for the new Tottenham era, wearing the armband with authority and combining courage with aggression in the heart of the defence. His teammates look to him, and he responds with a fierce competitiveness that lifts everyone around him.
Journalist Charlie Eccleshare once called Romero a “monster,” and the numbers support that claim. According to Sofascore, he averages 2.5 tackles per match and wins 64% of his duels, showing dominance in both timing and physical battles.
Micky van de Ven, often praised as one of Tottenham’s best modern signings, still trails behind Romero statistically, averaging just 1.1 tackles and winning 51% of his duels.
Romero’s season becomes even more impressive when compared to other Premier League defenders. FBref data shows he ranks in the top 10% for goals, the top 7% for successful take-ons, and the top 5% for tackles per 90 minutes.
These numbers are not the sign of an ordinary centre-back. They reflect a player who influences the game all over the pitch and takes responsibility during big moments exactly what Kane used to do, but through defensive actions instead of attacking ones.
Spurs may not yet have found a forward capable of filling Kane’s boots, but in Romero they have discovered a different kind of leader, someone who carries the emotional and competitive responsibility of the team.
As long as he stays under Frank’s guidance, Tottenham will have a foundation strong enough to build upon. The head coach will need Romero not just this season, but for many years to come.
