Former Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton has suggested that Igor Thiago of Brentford would be an ideal replacement for Harry Kane, urging the club to pursue the Brazilian striker this summer. The recommendation comes as Tottenham, now managed by Roberto De Zerbi, continue to reshape their squad with recent defensive additions including Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Spurs struggled for consistent goalscoring last season, with Richarlison finishing as top scorer with 12 goals across all competitions. Dominic Solanke, hampered by injury, managed only six, and loanee Randal Kolo Muani failed to impress in a central role. Tottenham have been linked with several forwards, including Dusan Vlahovic, Jonathan David, Ivan Toney, and Liam Delap, but Anderton believes Thiago represents the best option.
Thiago enjoyed a prolific 2025/26 campaign with Brentford, scoring 22 Premier League goals – second only to Erling Haaland in the golden boot race. Currently with the Brazil national team at the World Cup, the 24-year-old joined Brentford in 2024 from Club Brugge for a fee of £28.5 million, though his debut was delayed due to injury. He has scored 88 club goals in 226 appearances and has two goals in five international caps.
Anderton, speaking to Standard Sport via Ivy Bet, acknowledged the difficulty of directly replacing a player of Kane’s calibre but believes Thiago could be a strong fit for De Zerbi’s system. He stated that Tottenham may need to “take a gamble” on a striker and expressed his admiration for Thiago’s performances. Anderton also expressed confidence in De Zerbi’s ability to guide Tottenham back into the Champions League, provided he receives the necessary support in the transfer market, highlighting the signing of Senesi as a positive step.
Tottenham have also allowed a young winger to depart on loan this summer, according to TEAMtalk sources, as De Zerbi continues to refine his squad. Thiago’s arrival would address a clear need in Tottenham’s attack and provide a focal point for their attacking play, potentially reigniting their challenge for European qualification.
