‘Solanke packs his bags’ – Three players Tottenham could sell after Reading win
Thomas Frank will have gleaned valuable information from Tottenham’s 2-0 victory against Reading.
Frank was afforded the luxury of fielding 22 players over the course of the game, allowing him to witness his new squad in action for the first time.
The Dane will have been pleased with the work rate and commitment of the team to secure a clean sheet, while the performances of Mohammed Kudus and Luka Vuskovic were hugely encouraging.
However, the fixture also exposed some of the squad’s weaknesses, with three players in particular showing why their futures may lie elsewhere.
Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma’s performance was precisely what Tottenham fans have come to expect from the Mali international: a mixture of excellence on the ball, intertwined with very sloppy moments.
The 28-year-old’s potential has never been in doubt, as shown by his exploits in the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League, where he masterfully shielded the defence.
However, inconsistency paired with off-field issues has made the former Brighton man a liability in the team, and he almost ruined Spurs’ clean sheet against the Royals by needlessly losing possession in a dangerous area late on.
Juventus and Fenerbache are interested in Bissouma, and with one year left on his contract, he is likely to be moved on by Frank.
Alfie Devine
Alfie Devine was given the number 10 role behind Dominic Solanke after spending last season on loan at Westerlo, along with Vuskovic.
Initially a defensive midfielder, the Spurs academy graduate has gradually moved up the pitch in a more attack-minded role and showed a few neat touches against Reading, including one that almost put his striker through on goal.
However, Devine’s influence was underwhelming and is vastly inferior to what James Maddison or Dejan Kulusevski can offer in that position.
With Spurs still chasing Morgan Gibbs-White, the Englishman’s days at Spurs are numbered, and he is expected to be sold this summer.
Dominic Solanke
Tottenham pinned a lot of hope on Solanke when they broke their transfer record to sign the striker from Bournemouth last summer.
Despite quickly integrating into the first team and becoming the focal point of the attack in Richarlison’s absence, the England international struggled for goals last season.
| Competitions | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
| Premier League | 27 | 9 | 3 | 2,206′ |
| Europa League | 13 | 5 | 4 | 804′ |
| Domestic Cups | 5 | 2 | 1 | 383′ |
Familiar patterns emerged in his first pre-season game, where Solanke scooped a shot over the bar from a promising position and failed to properly test the keeper during his 45-minute appearance.
Frank may decide that Solanke should pack his bags and be moved on this summer, as at 27 years old, Spurs could still recoup a large portion of his fee and reinvest it into a more reliable striker who the manager can depend on for goals.
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