Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou backs Dominic Solanke to hit new level with transfer 'help' | OneFootball

Postecoglou is wary of overloading Solanke as Spurs target a new forward this month

Ange Postecoglou believes there is more to come from Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke - provided the club "get him some help" in the transfer window.

Solanke has impressed since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £65million in the summer, scoring 11 times, but Postecoglou is wary of overloading the England international, who was needed from the bench to help rescue Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at non-league Tamworth.

"With the way we play, we put a lot of demands on that position. It’s not just him standing up there scoring goals, it’s working hard for the team. I really think if Richy was available, I think [Dom] would have been able to contribute even greater for us in terms of his output in goals.

"I really love what he brings to us as a team from a football perspective, from a cultural perspective. The only growth we’ve seen in recent times is him and Deki [Dejan Kulusevski] becoming on-field leaders in the team.

"With Dom being a new player, it probably would have been easier for him to slip in and do his job but he’s taken on the responsibility of helping the whole team. He’s been great for us. I really feel there is more to him and his game. We’ll be able to get more out of him if we can him some help."

Randal Kolo Muani was of interest to Tottenham but will join Juventus

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Arsenal are also in the market for a new forward in January following Gabriel Jesus' knee injury, with Mikel Arteta's side currently struggling to convert chances into goals and Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri also sidelined.

But Postecoglou reminded his own club and their neighbours that signing a proven forward like Solanke will not come cheap.

"I don’t know who else was in for [Dom], I’m just glad we got him," the Australian said. “In terms of outlay, if you’re trying to sign a striker with proven pedigree these days, it’s pretty hard not to spend. Clubs know how difficult it is to get those types.

"For me, Dom was proven in that sometimes when you look at players in other leagues, you think how are they going to do it in the Premier League?

"But he had already done it in the Premier League. He’d shown some real growth in his time at Bournemouth.

"Nothing is a sure thing, but I really thought he was a real safe bet for us. We knew what we were getting. We were getting a proven Premier League striker who was going to fit into our style of play which is the most important thing. But even in terms of what I was hoping for, he’s exceeded that in my mind."

Lucas Bergvall has impressed this season

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Solanke set up Lucas Bergvall's winner in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool and the teenager is pushing for another start at the Emirates.

The Swede, 18, excelled in a more advanced role last week, having played No6 in his two Premier League starts against Southampton and Newcastle.

"He does seem to have that unique trait of being able to play those different roles in midfield," Postecoglou said of Bergvall.

"Usually, midfielders will tend to be one or the other, but he seems to cover the defensive side of the game, have the technical ability to dictate tempos but also have the running capacity to break lines.

"I think he’s got goals in him as well. He scored his first one but from what we’ve seen in training, he’s a good finisher. That’s the exciting bit. We’ve got temper that with the fact that he’s 18 and still got a lot to learn.

"But from my perspective, that’s exciting. The fact that there’s a few players in this team that are multifunctional in that way, it just gives you great scope for what we’re trying to create moving forward."