Tottenham Hotspur are in dire need of attacking reinforcements during the current transfer window, especially if Thomas Frank is to succeed in north London.
The Dane has certainly struggled in his role since taking over in the summer, as the Lilywhites currently sit 14th in the Premier League.
However, his attacking line-up has become a little tired in recent weeks and he needs to resolve the issue before the end of the transfer window.
Mohamed Kudus limped off against Sunderland and will be sidelined for several months, while Brennan Johnson has left the club to join Crystal Palace.
As a result, many players have been mentioned as reinforcement candidates, but it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the acquisition of new talent.
Spurs hope to move towards signing £87m talisman in January
In an attempt to strengthen their attacking department, Spurs identified Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen as a possible addition before the end of the January period.
The Norway international has also attracted interest from a number of other Premier League clubs this month, with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest also showing interest in the 25-year-old.
However, any deal is likely to cost a significant amount of money, with Rob Edwards’ side currently demanding a fee in the region of £40m to unload the talisman over an extended period.
Strand-Larsen isn’t the only No. 9 the Lilywhites are eyeing at the moment, with Porto sensation Sam also currently another highly lauded star in the division.
According to A Bola via Sport Witness, Spurs bosses have been monitoring his progress in recent months and were even spotted watching the Spaniard earlier this week.
The report also states that while Frank’s men are open to the possibility of a move, the 21-year-old would be an expensive addition, as it would cost €100m (about £87m).
Why Sam is the perfect upgrade for Richarlison
Since Frank took over in the summer, Brazilian forward Richarlison has been the club’s starting No. 9, with Dominic Solanke missing much of the season due to injury.
The 28-year-old has appeared in 21 league games so far, scoring seven goals, the most of any player on the team, but it looks like he will be out for an extended period of time.
Frank confirmed the striker would be sidelined for the next two months after he limped off in the 31st minute of the FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa and underwent tests.
Randal Kolo Muani will likely take over the starting role until Solanke reaches full fitness, which shows the lack of depth in the centre-forward position.
As a result, the Porto star will end his current No. 9 stock, and there is no doubt that Sam will be more likely to move on before the market closes in January.
He has had an excellent performance in the Portuguese Liga, helping his side move to the top of the table and then opening up a seven-point gap over second-placed Sporting CP.
Comparing his subsequent results to Richarlison’s in 2025/26, Sam has dominated in a number of key areas, highlighting why he could solve his current problems in the final third.
Dubbed a “monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sam has scored more goals than the Brazilian this season, while also being more accurate on target.
Numbers like these are a testament to his uncanny ability to trouble opponents in front of goal, and they give Frank a clinical quality that has been missing since taking the reins.
Comparison of Sam and Richarlison in 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | search | Richarlison |
games played | 16 | twenty one |
Number of points scored | 12 | 7 |
Accuracy of shots on target | 54% | 36% |
Pass accuracy | 71% | 60% |
The action that creates the shot | 2.6 | 1.4 |
Successful take-up | 45% | 43% |
aerial won | 47% | 37% |
Goals per 90 points | 0.96 | 0.47 |
Statistics by FBref | ||
The Spaniard has also broken the record for goals per 90 this season, and has managed to score almost twice as many goals per game so far as Richarlison.
But apart from his goalscoring record, the Porto star has further demonstrated his all-round qualities, as evidenced by his high number of completed passes and aerial wins.
The aforementioned areas could allow the Lilywhites to secure a play-off focus, which in turn could allow other forwards to improve their performance.
£87m was a huge sum that would later break the club’s record, but it was a sum that would protect him at elite level for at least the next 10 years.
If he can replicate that level in North London, Sam could easily end Richarlison’s career at the club, with no chance of the Brazilian returning to the role upon his return.
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