Dominic Solanke is a superb signing for Spurs (Picture: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
One player doesn’t make a team but Dominic Solanke’s arrival at Tottenham could make a huge difference to their forthcoming season.
Spurs finished fifth in the Premier League last term, a position which would have been gratefully accepted by supporters before a ball was kicked but which slightly underwhelmed after their flying start.
Ange Postecoglou’s first season at the helm was unhinged by the 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea in November with momentum lost by long-term injuries to James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie picked up suspensions.
Five defeats in their last seven matches then meant they failed to finish in the top four, with Aston Villa pipping them for the final Champions League place.
Until Spurs signed Solanke in a £55million deal with Bournemouth, it may have appeared they had not been busy in the transfer market but the recruitment of teenagers Archie Gray in a £30m deal with Leeds and Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall is not to be underestimated as both could make impacts from the start.
Tottenham also have a glut of promising youngsters like Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, Tyrese Hall and Ashley Phillips waiting to take their chance and they should be given plenty of minutes with a hectic schedule looming in Europe.
Spurs could do with the addition of a marquee star – Eberechi Eze would be perfect – but Solanke’s arrival brings new dimensions to an attack which lacked height and a proven goalscorer last season with Heung-Min Son now able to settle back into his best position, cutting in from the left.
Ange Postecoglou will be all smiles at the end of the season (Picture: Getty Images)
Tottenham should make progress this term and could finally end the long drought without a trophy by winning either the FA Cup, Carabao Cup or the Europa League where their chances are boosted with clubs no longer dropping into the tournament after finishing third in their Champions League groups.
Tottenham have had a season to get used to Big Ange’s entertaining style of play and are 9/4 with Bet Victor, SpreadEx and Sporting Index to finish in the top four and are 3/1 with bet365 to win a major trophy.
• Sheffield United, Doncaster, Rotherham, Portsmouth and Birmingham form a Carabao Cup acca which should cash if they select strong teams.
• Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth are sailing into troubled waters if Sunday’s 4-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday is anything to go by. Back them to be relegated from the Championship at 15/8 with Paddy Power and Betfair.
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