Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has suggested the club will look to sign another forward after admitting his frustration at Richarlison‘s ongoing fitness issues.
Spurs confirmed last month that the Brazil striker, 27, had suffered a “significant hamstring injury” and would be out “long-term” having only just returned from a two-month absence due to a groin problem.
Richarlison has battled various injuries including calf, hamstring and knee problems in recent seasons, leading to doubts over his ability to stay fit for long periods.
Spurs used Son Heung-Min as a centre-forward against Fulham on Sunday with Dominic Solanke sidelined due to illness, joining Richarlison and summer signing Wilson Odobert, who last month underwent surgery on a hamstring problem. Promising teenager Mikey Moore is also likely to be missing for at least another fortnight after suffering with a virus.
When asked whether the club would look at their forward options amid uncertainty over Richarlison’s reliability, Postecolgou said on Wednesday: “Yeah, there is no doubt because when you add Wilson to that, even Mikey… we had Dom out on the weekend, you kind of hope that alleviates although with Wilson it’s long-term. Hopefully Mikey by the turn of year will be back as well, but he’s 17.
“With Richy it has been frustrating because I see the potential in him and to be fair when he’s been fit he’s always made an impact, for me anyway.
“I think back to the start of last year and when he came back into the team during the year he went on a scoring run.
“Even the little games he’s played this year, he’s made an impact. So that’s what you kind of hold on to, but there’s no doubt we need some bolstering in that front third over the course of the next couple of transfer windows.
“Dom coming in has been great, but again we can’t overload him either, because ultimately even if he stays fit and nothing happens, performance will invariably drop if his energy levels drop. So it’s something we’re aware of and need to plan for.”
Solanke was due to train on Wednesday and could be available to face his former club Bournemouth on Thursday but Cristian Romero is still out with a toe injury.