Tottenham Cruise to 5-0 Victory, but £65m Striker Fails to Impress

Tottenham Hotspur secured a much-needed 5-0 win against Southampton on Sunday, easing pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou. However, the performance of £65 million summer signing Dominic Solanke left much to be desired.

Spurs dominated from the outset, taking the lead in the first minute and racing to a 4-0 advantage by the 25th minute. Heung-min Son, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski were instrumental in the rout.

Yet while his teammates flourished, Solanke struggled to make an impact. The striker touched the ball just 13 times in 82 minutes, completing only 5 passes. He failed to register a shot on target or win a single duel before being substituted.

Solanke’s role extends beyond just scoring, as he’s tasked with bringing others into play. However, Postecoglou will want to see more involvement from his big-money signing, especially in the penalty area.

The 27-year-old’s ineffectiveness was highlighted by the fact Tottenham scored five times without his direct contribution. While one quiet game isn’t cause for major concern, Solanke will need to step up his performances to justify his hefty price tag and cement his place in Spurs’ attack.

For now, Tottenham can celebrate a commanding victory that keeps them in the hunt for Champions League qualification. But to truly compete at the highest level, they’ll need all of their star signings firing on all cylinders.