Tottenham must sign replacements for superstar duo in last weeks of window - Spurs insider
Tottenham Hotspur and Roberto De Zerbi's big job in the last month of the window is replacing Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
That is the opinion of former senior Spurs scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The duo were the superstars of North London in their day, combining for countless goals and constantly firing the team to victory.
Tottenham lost Kane to Bayern Munich for a fee in the region of £100million in 2023, with Son joining Los Angeles FC last summer.
The Lilywhites have attempted to replace them with the likes of Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons, but nobody has come close.
This summer has presented another opportunity, with De Zerbi targeting Cody Gakpo and Savinho amid an overhaul of his squad.
Tottenham told to sign the 'best centre-forward in the world'
In truth, there are only a handful of players on the planet capable of replicating what Kane did for Tottenham, each and every season.
Between 2014 and 2023, not a single season went by that the striker did not score more than 20 goals across all competitions.
And he seems only to be getting better - last season, Kane scored a truly staggering 64 goals in 56 games for Bayern.
"They certainly haven't replaced him yet, have they? I think that's going to be an impossible task to try and replicate that player and what he meant to Tottenham," King told Football Insider.
"Not only him, I mean, Son. Those two had a great understanding up front, didn't they? And to lose both of them and then try and replace them, Christ, I think you've got to go... where do you go?
"I mean, who's the best centre-forward at this moment in time in the world? Because that's the sort of player you're going to have to be looking at to replace Harry Kane.
"When you have somebody who's grown up at a football club like he has and is an iconic player for that football club, broke every record, and was then sold at the grand old age of 30 for £100m.
"He's done everything he could for Tottenham. I know everybody was upset that he left, but it gave him the chance to further his career as such with a big German club.
"But it also gave Spurs money to go out and purchase players in other positions, or as they've used most of it, in forward positions, by buying Richarlison, [Mathys] Tel and Solanke. £160m worth of forwards, all three put together haven't scored as many goals in a season as what Harry Kane did. Or Son."
Could Cody Gakpo be Son Heung-min's replacement?
Replacing Son is just as big a job as replacing Kane. The winger was a deadly finisher and registered a 37 goal contribution season at his best.
A move for Gakpo would represent the best efforts Tottenham have made since the South Korean left, but any replacement may well need their Kane, too.
"I think what we're forgetting a little bit is that Son was a great foil for Harry and Harry for him," King continued.
"You know, Harry could hold it up, turn and play the ball forward, and Son would make the runs. You know, he was a lot quicker than Harry.
"But where Harry's strength was, of course, was in the box. And one of the great players playing with his back to goal. I mean, you can go on and on about the things that Harry Kane is, you know."