Tottenham Hotspur has enjoyed a fantastic summer this year. Under Ange Postecoglou, the team has shown promise in preseason, with close losses to Bayern Munich and wins against teams like Hearts, Queens Park Rangers, and Vissel Kobe.
However, the excitement isn’t limited to the pitch. Behind the scenes, Daniel Levy and his team have been active in the transfer market, securing players like Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok, and most notably, Dominic Solanke. The £65m signing of Solanke is a strong statement from the North London club, but according to recent reports, they might not be done strengthening their attack, with interest in bringing in competition for the English forward.
Tottenham’s transfer news suggests that FC Porto’s striker, Evanilson, is on their radar. Graeme Bailey reports that Spurs have already had discussions with the Brazilian’s representatives, indicating serious interest. While the report doesn’t specify a price, Evanilson’s contract is rumored to have a €100m release clause, approximately £86m. Given his form last season, signing Evanilson could be a smart move for Tottenham, potentially pushing Solanke to improve further or even forming a dynamic strike partnership with him.
Comparing Evanilson and Solanke, it seems unlikely that Spurs would bench Solanke for the Brazilian. Instead, Evanilson could provide competition, offer Solanke rest when needed, or partner with him to maximize Postecoglou’s attacking style.
Statistically, Evanilson edges out Solanke, but it’s important to consider the difference in league quality. The Portuguese league isn’t on par with the Premier League, yet Evanilson’s record of 25 goals and seven assists in 42 games, averaging a goal involvement every 1.31 games, is impressive. Solanke, in comparison, scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances, with a goal involvement every 1.68 games.
Evanilson also surpasses Solanke in various metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, key passes, and shots on target, among others. While these numbers come from a weaker league, they demonstrate his talent, and there’s no reason to doubt he could replicate some of his success in England.
