Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Tottenham are focusing on signing a centre-forward amid reports suggesting Dominic Solanke is a key target. Spurs struggled for firepower up front last season following the departure of Harry Kane on the eve of the campaign.
Solanke scored 19 Premier League goals for Bournemouth last season, more than any Spurs player managed in the top-flight. Son Heung-min harboured most of the goalscoring responsibility in Postecoglou's squad, scoring 17 times.
The South Korean forward has generally preferred to play on the left wing during his nine years at Spurs, but often found himself deployed through the middle as Postecoglou tinkered his team to find a winning formula.
Postecoglou has preferred a more traditional number nine at his previous clubs and will target a similar profile this summer. Solanke fits that mould, while Spurs’ Australian head coach has confirmed that a striker is the priority in the transfer market.
He said: "It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us."
He added: "At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker. It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him!
"So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould."
Football.London report that Bournemouth are braced for the potential departure of Solanke. The former Chelsea prospect, now 26, could be attainable this summer.
It is claimed that Bournemouth have been tracking Aston Villa's Cameron Archer as a potential replacement for Solanke. Archer joined Sheffield United on a permanent deal last summer, but he has now returned to Villa in a unique deal.
The Midlands side had a buy-back option that was triggered after the Blades' relegation from the Premier League last term. Archer could be sold again if Bournemouth register an interest.
Meanwhile, Spurs are set for a double header of matches against Bayern Munich, although club icon Kane will not participate in tomorrow's friendly in Seoul. The striker may return from an extended break for the rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 10.