Richarlison’s 10-goal haul exposes Tottenham’s striker crisis in 2026

Richarlison fired **10 Premier League goals** for Tottenham in 2025/26: the only player to hit double digits for the Lilywhites.

What happened?

Tottenham Hotspur landed three proven starters this summer: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke: to fix a defence that shipped goals in back-to-back 17th-place finishes. But their attack still lacks firepower. **Richarlison’s 10-goal haul** in the Premier League last season made him Spurs’ top scorer by a mile, while centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero also chipped in.

The club’s only other senior striker is Dominic Solanke, whose lone 19-goal season in 2023/24 stands as a career outlier. That leaves Tottenham short on proven finishers heading into the 2026/27 campaign.

Why it matters for Richarlison

Richarlison’s future at Tottenham remains unsettled. His contract expires in 2027, and Spurs have yet to secure a clear replacement. Sporting director Johan Lange now faces pressure to break the club’s decades-long habit of signing “budget” strikers.

Spurs paid a record £65m for Solanke in 2024, yet he’s still seen as a cut-price option compared with the caliber of player needed to challenge for Europe. The maths sting: Solanke plus Richarlison cost £120m combined: more than one elite No.9.

What comes next?

Lange must address the striker void this window or risk repeating history. Tottenham lost Harry Kane and Son Heung-min for a combined £200m-plus in transfer fees and wages, yet their total outlay on forwards since then totals well under £100m.

Mathys Tel is touted as a future goal threat, but the 19-year-old isn’t ready yet. The club also rolled the dice on Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus last summer; both delivered despite injuries under different managers.

Can Tottenham finally spend big?

Tottenham’s recent transfer policy has favoured “cheap” signings over marquee strikers. That approach cost them league position and prize money in 2025/26. Lange’s job may hinge on proving he can break the cycle: or risk losing Richarlison for nothing next summer.