Analysis: Solanke on brink of becoming an elite centre-forward

Adrian Clarke examines the key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 11.

Player analysis: Dominic Solanke (Spurs)

Scoring four times in eight Premier League starts as Tottenham Hotspur’s centre-forward, Solanke is beginning to command as much respect for his goal threat as he does for his work-rate.  

Rightly regarded as an industrious striker who always puts in a shift for the team, the 27-year-old is in the process of convincing Spurs supporters he can also become a prolific marksman under Ange Postecoglou.

Chances flowing at Spurs  

Moving from AFC Bournemouth to north London has certainly enhanced Solanke's prospects of reaching the 20-goal mark that eluded him by just one strike last season.  

After 10 Matchweeks, Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland are the only forwards to have received more big chances per 90 minutes than Solanke, who has seen his numbers shoot up from 0.76 last season to 1.27.

According to Opta’s Expected Goals (xG) per 90 metric, he has also enjoyed an uplift from 0.53 last season to 0.65 since making the switch to north London.  

Goal threat stats 24/25

Solanke’s next challenge is to improve on his 20 per cent conversion rate that is respectable, but isn't marking him out as outstanding.  

That said, his brace last time out against Aston Villa was beautifully executed.  

His first goal in that match, angling his run to latch on to a Dejan Kulusevski pass, was dinked over the goalkeeper with tremendous confidence.  

Solanke's first goal v Aston Villa

Extra intensity at Spurs

Working for Postecoglou in the Australian’s high-octane set-up has extracted extra physical output from Solanke, who will join up with the England squad after Sunday’s match at home to Ipswich Town.  

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Across the last two seasons combined - 2022/23 and 2023/24 - at Bournemouth, the striker averaged 20.1 sprints and ran 10.82km per 90 minutes.  

With Spurs, who are demanding even more intensity from him, those figures have risen to 25 sprints and an average distance of 11.19km.  

Forwards' sprinting stats 24/25*

*min. 500 minutes played

Forwards' distance covered 24/25*

*min. 500 minutes played

No other Premier League forward runs harder than their summer signing, who is constantly on the move, in and out of possession.  

Lack of touches in the box   

Frustratingly for Solanke, there are 23 forwards, with a minimum of eight starts, who are averaging more touches inside the opposition box than he does, with 6.46 per match.  

The ex-Cherries star would love to increase his penalty-area involvements, but it is not for the lack of trying on his part.  

Always darting into the area, regularly targeted by team-mates, it feels like only a matter of time before he latches on to the ball in that domain a lot more often.  

A pressing machine 

Postecoglou builds so much of his tactical identity around pressing with hostility inside the final third.  

Always squeezing up, applying pressure on opposition defenders or deep-lying midfielders, they can be very difficult to play against when they are on top of their game.  

Identifying Solanke as his preferred centre-forward option will have felt a pretty easy call for the Spurs head coach, as the England international is a fearsome presser.  

Final-third pressures 24/25

Without question the most intense off-the-ball worker among top-flight forwards, Spurs recruited a striker who will help them earn a stream of high turnovers.  

With transitions such a key part of their play, his value as a ball-winner is almost as important as the need for him to score regular goals.  

Solanke is almost always the trigger for Spurs to press as a unit, and from his many pressures inside the final third, he leads the way with the greatest number of turnovers with 40, ahead of Kai Havertz on 34.  

Final-third pressures and counter pressures 24/25

He also instinctively wants to regain the ball as soon as it's lost, registering way more counter pressures than anyone else in the division.  

Fresh from another goal in midweek against Galatasaray, taking his season tally to six, Solanke is sure to be a highly-dangerous presence for Ipswich, with and without the ball on Sunday afternoon.  

He has added tremendous value to his new side.

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