Darren Bent thinks Tottenham Hotspur may have made a mistake by signing Dominic Solanke over Ivan Toney, insisting that the Brentford striker offers more than the Spurs newcomer.
Tottenham sign Dominic Solanke
Solanke became Tottenham’s latest addition, with the striker completing a big-money switch to the Lilywhites on Saturday before being presented to the home fans on the same day ahead of the club’s friendly against Bayern Munich.
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that the 26-year-old was the striker he really wanted to bring on board, insisting that the former Cherries star is a good fit for Spurs’ system (Football.London).
Various reports have indicated that Tottenham also considered a move for Ivan Toney and saw him as a potentially cheaper option since he was available for just £40m, but they settled on Solanke instead (GiveMeSport).
Dominic Solanke vs Ivan Toney
While Bent acknowledged that the new Spurs star is on the up and might have turned a corner in his career, he opined that the Bees star would have offered more to Postecoglou’s side.
The pundit told talkSPORT: “I almost feel like now that Solanke has found himself at the Premier League level. Under this Ange football, it will be interesting to see what a proper centre-forward could do.
“It’s actually quite similar (their age). I just think looking at the stats sheet and the way Toney plays and the way Solanke plays. I just feel maybe you know you are getting more with Toney. I know Solanke has had an unbelievable season – I just think you know what you are getting with Ivan Toney.
“His last three seasons. He has four goals last season, but we know he had the ban. He scored 20 the year before that and 12 when he first got to the Premier League. You need someone up there who will score you goals and is comfortable with their back to play and can bring others into play.
“Also, someone who has that arrogance to go ‘I am here now. I am the main man. I can score goals. Not somebody who can shrink a little bit and I think Ivan Toney could do that.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While one can argue that Toney offers the bigger goal threat out of the two and is better on the ball than Solanke, the latter is undoubtedly a better fit for Ange’s system than the Brentford star.