Tottenham Hotspur are embroiled in a relegation battle and since taking over from Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor has wasted no time in hammering the brutal truth into the team.
After being dispatched by Arsenal for his first game in charge, the Spurs manager said he had never faced such a tough challenge and that dropping into the second tier would surely have devastating consequences for the Londoners.
Tottenham are in 16th place in the Premier League and moving closer and closer to the relegation zone, and changes need to be made, and despite scoring in the north London derby, Randal Kolo Muani doesn’t seem to be the man to turn things around in ninth place.
Why Spurs must sack Kolo Muani
It’s a long way from the days of Harry Kane managing Tottenham. The club’s record goalscorer left a huge hole in the front line that has yet to be filled.
Dominic Solanke is a talented and powerful centre-forward, but his fitness levels have been in murky waters since leaving Bournemouth and signing for Spurs in an initial £55m deal. He returned, but Tudor supported Kolo Muani in his first match in office.
Kolo Muani, 27, has had his ups and downs in recent years, but is still a quality forward who is fast and dynamic. The Frenchman, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, scored his first Premier League goal last weekend and played under the Croatian at Juventus last season, scoring six goals in 12 games under Tudor.
Kolo Muani is not obligated to sign him within his contract with the club, but that doesn’t mean the door isn’t ajar. Given that PSG signed the French international from Eintracht Frankfurt for around £71 million, it will likely be costly for the Lilywhites to catch up in the future.
Solanke is coming back to form after his injury, but it probably isn’t the best option, especially given the London squad has a number of talented academy forwards vying for spots.
One young player in particular has the potential to play for Spurs’ first team, but that won’t happen until next season as he is currently on loan in the Championship.
Kolo Muani’s stay could end due to Spurs’ ‘Harry Kane regeneration’
Kolo Muani was considering leaving Tottenham in January. Italian suitors were keen to acquire him for the remainder of the campaign. However, injuries were widespread in every corner of N17, and it would have been disastrous to have such a player sent off.
However, sporting director Johan Lange has not even taken part in any discussions about a possible permanent transfer, meaning manager Kolo Muani will need to be allowed to leave at the end of his term.
The path to the first team must be closed to a talented striker who could more than fill in as Solanke’s replacement, but Spurs’ future manager may find just the perfect option in Will Lankshar.
Lankshear, 20, is currently playing this season at Oxford United, making 35 appearances and scoring six goals. At face value, this isn’t anything to write home about, but Lankshear’s strength and the recognition and expectations for one of the bottom contenders in the division highlight his potential.
After all, he has been described by one scout as a ‘reborn Harry Kane’, emulating the English legend by leaving Arsenal’s youth ranks for Tottenham as a youngster, and then developing that potential through a series of loan spells.
Number 9, Ranksia, who exists to finish off build-up sequences, is a naturally gifted finisher whose strength suggests an old-school style of play. However, he is not without modern flair, completing an average of 0.7 key passes per game, effectively meaning he is regularly linking up with those around him and creating for his team-mates.
A key pass is a pass that directly leads to a shot at the opponent’s goal.
Oxford are not the most free-spirited side in the Championship, with Lankshear averaging less than 20 touches per game, so this is a huge endorsement of his potential in a team like Tottenham.
What’s most impressive is the prospect’s physical ability. Although Lanxia is young, it is powerful and strong, and its stocky build allows it to withstand the harsh conditions of the second tier.
Will Lanxia end up emulating someone like Cain? It is too early to talk about such things, but there is no doubt that he has the potential to play a key role at Tottenham and keeping Kolo Muani next year would only hinder him.
As dire as the situation is, Spurs are not without a way out of their current mess.
Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer | ||
|---|---|---|
player | app | the goal |
harry kane | 435 | 280 |
jimmy greaves | 376 | 266 |
bobby smith | 316 | 211 |
son heung min | 454 | 173 |
Martin Chivers | 350 | 167 |
They need to end worries about their place in England’s top flight. Tottenham are one of England’s biggest clubs and a youngster like Lankshear has a better chance of breaking into Tottenham’s first team next season if they make it to the Championship, but he has something of Kane in him and needs to play at the highest level.
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Tudor needs to sort out Tottenham’s porous defense quickly.
