Tottenham make new Dominic Solanke transfer plan as De Zerbi 'fumes'

Tottenham Hotspur are planning to sign a "top-class" striker to replace Dominic Solanke amid concerns about his performances.

The 29-year-old has fearured in every Premier League match for Spurs so far this season and has yet to find the net while his side are still without a win after five games.

Before the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa, they had failed to score a single goal in the league, with their lack of efficiency up front speaking major concerns.

Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Roberto De Zerbi is "fuming" at the club's failure to bring in a new first-choice striker during the summer transfer window.

Despite spending over £300million on new players during the window, they have been left with glaring weaknesses in that squad, making De Zerbi's position increasingly difficult.

They will now go into the mid-season transfer window looking to sign a striker, which is notoriously difficult, and have placed themselves in a very tricky situation.

Why are Tottenham concerned about Dominic Solanke?

Football Insider revealed on 22 September that Tottenham are keen to add a prolific goalscorer to their squad, and could look to cash in on their current options to fund a deal.

Omar Marmoush arrived from Man City in the summer window's closing stages, but De Zerbi has since explained he does not see him as an out-and-out striker.

As a result, Spurs will be forced into the transfer market, with the manager's concerns summed up by Solanke's poor form in the season's early fixtures.

"Solanke has always been held in quite high regard, but he hasn't done it at Tottenham," Brown told Football Insider.

"When you look at the other top clubs in the Premier League, or even some that aren't top clubs, how many of them does Solanke get into at the moment? Not many.

"Yet Tottenham are having to rely on him to score the goals and lead the line, because their other options aren't any better.

"De Zerbi will be fuming that they failed to bring in a top-class forward during the transfer window, because now he's got to work with what he's got, and what he's got isn't good enough.

"If they want to be a top club, competing for trophies and finishing high in the table, then they need to have strikers who can consistently score goals for them.

"But when you spent the money they did on Solanke, and he performs the way he has, I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about it.

"They'll be going into the January window in need of a striker, but it's not as easy as that and it could be difficult mid-way through the season, so it's a very tricky situation."

Which other strikers are causing issue for Tottenham?

Solanke is not the only concern when it comes to Tottenham's attacking options, although he is currently the only senior natural number nine available to De Zerbi.

Richarlison had been an option for the boss, but was not included in their Premier League squad after a public bust-up over his desire to leave the club.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 20 September that Tottenham are now ready to let Richarlison leave for a tiny fee in the January transfer window.

Wyness believes that Richarlison's exit is now on the cards for less than £1million during the winter window, ahead of his contract expiring next summer.

That is despite a reported £35million move to Everton falling through in the summer after the Brazil international turned down the opportunity to return to his former club.