Tottenham Hotspur have had some knockout forwards over the years, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min coming to mind.
But whether the Londoners currently have a forward with superstar quality is another question. This past year, Spurs sat on the side of the road, narrowly avoiding sliding into oncoming traffic, and survived a shock relegation battle with a win over Everton in the final game of the season.
One thing is for sure: Roberto de Zerbi has proven to be an inspired appointment for the Lilywhites so far, replacing Igor Tudor during the season.
The March international break will energize the team. Since then, Tottenham have finished ahead of Aston Villa and Liverpool on points.
However, even if the Spurs don’t achieve their summer spending plan as planned, their recent improvements could make a difference. Tottenham need to sign some talented attackers if they want to follow up on their run of 17th place in the Premier League.
Spurs in talks to replace Sabinho
Replacing the likes of Kane and Son wasn’t easy, but Tottenham are still failing to make the most of the cards handed to them. Now they need to make a change and Manchester City’s Sabinho appears to be marked as a potential winger who could change the script.
Less than a year later, he extended his contract with Etihad Airways. However, the chances are slim for the 22-year-old and negotiations are currently underway between the two clubs, with the expectation that an agreement will be reached.
However, Sabinho is not the only Premier League forward that ENIC Group is keeping an eye on. He has started just seven league games for Josep Guardiola’s side this year, but has scored twice over two spells in England’s top flight.
They can’t get this wrong, but at £60m Savinho is a huge talent, but will he make much of a difference at this stage of his career?
Instead, Tottenham could sign a sharper attacking threat with Liverpool’s Codi Gakpo. According to TEAMtalk, the London club is in talks with representatives about a transfer for the Dutch international, but the exact level of interest has not yet been determined.
Gakpo, 26, has been a mainstay for Liverpool in recent years but his place in the Anfield first team has been in jeopardy since Arne Slott was sacked earlier this month.
Still, his value is around the same as Sabinho’s at £60m, and his experience in the Premier League and international games means he could make even bigger waves in the N17 next season.
Why Gakpo could be Spurs’ best winger since Son
Gakpo may not always have been Liverpool’s most popular player of the month, but he is an established player in the Premier League, positionally dynamic and a constant threat in front of goal. Former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders once praised his “special skillset” and he definitely brings something special.
However, given that he usually plays on the left wing, he could certainly cement his place as Tottenham’s best player since Son, who left the club after winning the Europa League title a year ago. The 33-year-old modern-day legend has spent 10 years in London, with the likes of Mohamed Kudus and Matthijs Tell struggling to replace him.
Gakpo is not Song. He will never be able to match the skill, dynamism and consistency of the Korean Regnedo. Son is one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history.
But that’s not to say the Dutch player can’t make big changes to De Zerbi’s attire. He scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions in Liverpool’s Premier League-winning season in 2024/25, and could bring something of Son’s combination of directness and support, if not his athleticism and world-class technical ability.
premier league form | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | Steel (25/26) | Son (24/25) |
Match (start) | 36(32) | 30(24) |
Goal + Assist | 7+5 | 7+9 |
touch* | 36.6 | 40.6 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 2.4(0.6) | 1.9 (0.9) |
Exact path* | 16.4 (79%) | 23.3 (84%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 10 | 16 |
Key pass* | 1.5 | 1.7 |
Successful. dribble* | 0.9 | 1.0 |
Ball recovery rate* | 2.4 | 2.8 |
Tackle + Interception* | 1.2 | 0.8 |
Win a duel* | 4.5 | 2.7 |
Gakpo wasn’t the quickest or most persistent dribbler, but he was a strong, physical forward who could make a real difference, creating chances and scoring goals.
Whether he will emulate Prime Minister Son is another question that Mr Gakpo may not be able to answer, but it could still outshine his rivals and provide Londoners with an edge they have lacked over the past year.
The truth is, Gakpo may not have the superstar qualities to achieve the same level of success as Son in north London, but there is no denying that he is one of the Premier League’s most talented forwards and could make a big difference for Tottenham in the coming years.
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