Tottenham Hotspur has had an intriguing summer so far. With four wins out of five in pre-season and the exciting additions of Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, there’s plenty for fans to be optimistic about.
However, with less than two weeks until the Premier League season kicks off and less than a month until the transfer window closes, there’s a growing sense that Ange Postecoglou’s squad still needs reinforcement.
In recent days, Tottenham has been heavily linked with Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke, who could potentially be a valuable addition to the Lilywhites’ frontline. However, Spurs are also exploring other options, with another promising striker now emerging as a target—one who could arguably be an upgrade on Solanke.
Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have maintained their interest in LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David. The report suggests that this interest has gone beyond mere speculation, with Spurs reportedly holding talks with contacts close to the Ligue 1 star.
While the story doesn’t specify a potential transfer fee, a report from Football Insider last month revealed that David could be available for as little as £25 million, largely due to his £27k-per-week contract expiring next summer.
Though this is still a significant sum, it’s far more economical than the reported £65 million price tag for Solanke. Considering David’s impressive form over the past couple of seasons, the Canadian forward appears to be a more sensible and cost-effective option for Tottenham.
How Jonathan David Compares to Dominic Solanke
When evaluating strikers, their goal-scoring and assist records are often the most critical metrics. So, how do David and Solanke stack up against each other?
Last season, Solanke made 42 appearances for Bournemouth, scoring 21 goals and providing four assists. This gave him an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.68 games.
On the other hand, David scored 26 goals and provided nine assists in 47 appearances for Lille last season, averaging a goal involvement every 1.34 games. This superior output puts him ahead of Solanke, even when looking at their form from the previous season.
| David vs Solanke | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | David | Solanke |
| Appearances | 40 | 35 |
| Goals | 26 | 7 |
| Assists | 4 | 7 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.75 | 0.40 |
| 2023/24 | David | Solanke |
| Appearances | 47 | 42 |
| Goals | 26 | 21 |
| Assists | 9 | 4 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.74 | 0.59 |
| All Stats via Transfermarkt | ||
In the 2021-22 season, Solanke managed seven goals and seven assists in 35 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 2.5 games. In contrast, David, described as “mind-blowing” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 26 goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances, averaging a goal involvement every 1.33 games.
David not only outperforms Solanke in raw output but also in various underlying metrics. For instance, David ranks higher in non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions, and key passes per 90 minutes.
| David vs Solanke | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats per 90 | David | Solanke |
| Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists | 0.67 | 0.55 |
| Non-Penalty Goals + Assists | 0.77 | 0.58 |
| Progressive Passes | 2.70 | 1.63 |
| Progressive Carries | 1.49 | 1.41 |
| Shots | 2.76 | 2.97 |
| Shots on Target | 1.54 | 1.02 |
| Passing Accuracy | 82.4% | 73.5% |
| Key Passes | 1.09 | 1.06 |
| Shot-Creating Actions | 2.59 | 2.14 |
| Goal-Creating Actions | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 0.75 | 2.63 |
| All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Season | ||
To Solanke’s credit, he does excel in areas like shots and aerial duels won per 90 minutes, but these are exceptions rather than the rule.
so: David Over Solanke?
While Solanke would be a decent signing for Tottenham, his overall performance and underlying numbers fall short when compared to Jonathan David. Given that David could be available for less than half the price of Solanke, Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy and his team should focus their efforts on securing the Canadian international this summer.
Ultimately, signing David could be a more strategic move, providing Spurs with a more prolific and versatile attacker at a significantly lower cost. As the transfer window deadline approaches, Tottenham will need to act swiftly to reinforce their squad and ensure they are well-prepared for the challenges of the upcoming Premier League season.
