adminFormer Spurs midfielder Darren Anderton believes he’s identified the Premier League striker who could finally end Tottenham’s long hunt for a successor to Harry Kane—three years after the club legend departed.
While Spurs have moved swiftly to reinforce Roberto De Zerbi’s squad with defensive additions Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke, major attacking gaps remain unresolved.
Last summer, Tottenham also failed to properly replace another iconic figure, Son Heung-min, after his move to LAFC. But the bigger concern has been the lack of firepower up front.
Richarlison managed just 12 goals in 43 matches across all competitions, while Dominic Solanke, hampered by injuries, scored only six in 20 outings. Loanee Randal Kolo Muani offered little impact when deployed as a central striker.
Numerous names have been linked with a move to north London, including free agent Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus’ Jonathan David, England international Ivan Toney, and Chelsea’s Liam Delap.
Yet Anderton is convinced the answer lies closer to home: Brentford’s Brazilian forward Igor Thiago. The 24-year-old, also tracked by Manchester United and Arsenal, netted 22 times in the 2025/26 Premier League season—finishing second only to Erling Haaland in the golden boot race.
Currently on World Cup duty with Brazil, Thiago started against Morocco but was benched for the subsequent win over Haiti.
Anderton backs Thiago move
In an exclusive chat with Standard Sport via Ivy Bet, Anderton suggested Thiago could go a long way toward filling Kane’s sizable boots.
When asked about Spurs’ striker woes, he said: “I don’t think anyone can [replace Kane] as such. Are we going to go out and buy the best striker in the world and pay him crazy money? I don’t think we are. It’s more likely we take a gamble on someone—and I love the boy at Brentford, Igor Thiago. I think he’s done great.”
He added: “I don’t see why Igor Thiago wouldn’t fit the system.”
Thiago joined Brentford from Club Brugge in 2024 for £28.5 million, though two long-term injuries delayed his debut until August 2025. Overall, he has 88 career goals in 226 club appearances, plus two in five senior caps for Brazil.
On De Zerbi’s prospects in his first full season, Anderton remained optimistic: “Honestly, as bad as it was, I think De Zerbi can get us back into the Champions League. I really do. He’s that good. If he gets the right players—and Senesi is one—he wants us to play a certain way, passing the ball correctly.”
Meanwhile, TEAMtalk sources exclusively reveal that Tottenham have approved another loan move for a highly-rated young winger this summer.
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