Tottenham already have Kane replacement as pundit ‘would not write off’ forward coming good | OneFootball

Richarlison, Oliver Skipp, Sergio Reguilon celebrate pre-season goal

Frank McAvennie feels Ange Postecoglou should give Richarlison “a chance” at filling the void left by Harry Kane at Tottenham, and he “would not write off” the forward coming good.

When Kane left Spurs after 10 separate seasons in the Premier League, he took with him 213 league goals. That he’s the second-highest scorer in the history of the league shows how hard he’ll be to replace.

Postecoglou signed two players that are capable of playing the central striker role after Kane left: Brennan Johnson and Alejo Veliz. Both are young and could well progress to being top players, but it’s unclear as yet if the manager feels he’s got Kane’s replacement.

McAvennie feels he has, but it’s a player who was already at the club: Richarlison.

“I like Richarlison and I think Ange will have a look at him and see if he can fit in,” McAvennie told Football Insider.

“They have got a Brazilian up the top who can hold the ball, why would you not want to play that or at least give him a chance.

“I think the way Tottenham are playing now they are going to get chances so I would not write off Richarlison.”

While Richarlison played 27 times in the league last season, only 12 of those came from the start. And with Kane and Heung-min Son for company, it’s unsurprising that his output wasn’t great – one goal and four assists – with most of the good chances going to his teammates.

The Brazilian has started three of Tottenham’s four league games so far; of all of their league outings they’ve won three and drawn four. While Richarlison hasn’t found the net or assisted yet, things are going right in attack, with 11 goals so far.

That begs the question of whether his presence is helping, or whether another forward playing through the middle would make the wins even easier, with more goals.

McAvennie feels Postecoglou has his Spurs side playing good football.

“The team have been totally different in the last five matches than what they have been under different managers. The possession that they have got in their own half is incredible,” he said.

While that’s true, the football might be even better with more players who are able to score, and that could mean without Richarlison, and the chances he’s given may not last too long.