Dominic Solanke and James Maddison ‘to leave Tottenham’ after developments
Tottenham Hotspur know their season now hinges on the Europa League and whether they can go all the way.
Spurs are anticipated by many to have a successful run in Europe which will culminate in the final in Bilbao on 21 May.
Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham side take on AZ Alkmaar in a two-legged last 16 tie starting on Thursday in the Netherlands (6 March), with any kind of achievement in the Premier League now long gone, and the domestic cups finished.
Tottenham star expected to leave after just one year
Tottenham are widely expected to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 2007-08 – ironically the last season in which they managed to lift silverware.
Daniel Levy spent a fee which could rise to £65million to bring Dominic Solanke in last summer in a bid to smooth over the void left by Harry Kane the previous year, but without European football, Spurs may already have to cash in.
TV commentator Ian Darke believes the injured Tottenham striker Solanke will not be short of suitors if his teammates do not qualify for Europe next season, which can only now be done by winning the Europa League and subsequently booking a place in the Champions League.
“They’ve got plenty of new and younger players who I think would stick around regardless. Tel looks like he’ll be at Tottenham permanently, and then there’s Danso; Brennan Johnson should stay,” Darke analysed, exclusively with Tottenham News.
“Solanke is one of the top four or five strikers in the Premier League and I’d say he will likely be a target when fit if they’re not in Europe; Micky van de Ven might have a lot of admirers and then there’s James Maddison too.
“I’m not sure if too many of them, based on this year’s form, have forced themselves onto the radar of many big clubs. I would lean towards Solanke having the most admirers.”
Dominic Solanke to leave Spurs in summer?
For Tottenham, it’s either Champions League or nothing next season as far as European competition is concerned.
Missing out on Europe altogether might not be good enough for the likes of record signing Solanke, whose former club Bournemouth now instead look likely to compete on the continent in 2025-26 for the first time.
| Year | Tottenham record signings | Fee |
| 2024 | Dominic Solanke | £53.5m |
| 2019 | Tanguy Ndombele | £51.2m |
| 2022 | Richarlison | £48m |
| 2023 | Brennan Johnson | £45.4m |
| 2022 | Cristian Romero | £43m |
It could also be a dealbreaker for Levy on spending money of that ilk on players too often again, which clearly has not come to fruition this season – but Spurs continue to need investment into their squad and into wages.
Tottenham maintain a star-studded squad, and it will be interesting to witness how that takes shape should the Lilywhites be forced back to the drawing board.