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Tottenham’s £60m January Call on Richarlison Signals Shift in Squad Planning

Tottenham’s preparations for the January window have taken a decisive step, with fresh reporting indicating that the club are ready to cash in on Richarlison despite his status as the team’s current top scorer. The original SpursWeb piece highlights the tension at the heart of this story, that balance between productivity and suitability. It is a storyline that often shapes elite clubs and the futures of their forwards.

Growing Pressure on the Forward Line

This season has seen Spurs use several players through the middle. Thomas Frank has rotated Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani in a search for a reliable focal point. Yet Richarlison’s numbers remain respectable. He has six goals in all competitions and continues to deliver when asked. Journalist Pete O’Rourke summed this up cleanly in his comments, saying: “He’s doing the best he can right now, Richarlison, to try and score goals for Tottenham.”

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Even so, the mood around the club suggests that Frank is planning a different type of centre forward for the long term.

Push for an Out and Out Number Nine

The heart of O’Rourke’s argument, as cited by SpursWeb, is Tottenham’s preference for a more traditional striker. He added: “Tottenham’s top goalscorer this season, six goals and two assists in 21 appearances in all competitions but, I still don’t think he is probably the answer to Tottenham’s issues.” His stance is grounded in tactical identity rather than emotion. Richarlison can operate wide, he can press, he can battle, but he is not being viewed as the ideal solution for Frank’s structure.

An additional quote from the reporting further underlined this strategic push: “I think Tottenham would prefer an out and out number nine to be playing as their main striker in the team.”

The absence of Solanke has also influenced thinking. Injuries have restricted him to minimal involvement and Spurs have lacked the physical reference point they hoped he would become.

Our View, EPL Index Analysis

Tottenham supporters will read this situation with mixed emotions because Richarlison divides opinion more than most forwards the club have had in recent seasons. His energy, his commitment and his instinct to scrap for every loose ball make him a favourite for some, but others feel that his technical profile limits the fluidity Spurs can reach when facing deep defensive blocks.

Fans will recognise the truth in O’Rourke’s comment that he is probably better suited as a wide forward. That role lets him drive inside, take on defenders and attack the box from unpredictable angles. When he plays as the main striker, supporters often notice his heavy first touch in crowded spaces and the difficulty he sometimes has in linking play with midfielders. Those moments feed the growing belief that Tottenham need a cleaner finisher and a more composed No. 9.

The mention of Dominic Solanke’s absence will also hit home. Many fans had high hopes for him after his arrival but injuries have meant frequent reshuffles in attack. Tottenham’s structure under Frank thrives on patterns, rehearsed movements and a stable set of roles. Constant change in the middle disrupts rhythm and supporters understand that deeply.

Whatever happens, January feels pivotal. Fans are ready for clarity and ready for the club to make the attacking identity sharper than it has been over the past few months.