Ange Postecoglou reveals big reason Tottenham didn’t green light Ivan Toney transfer

Tottenham’s £55m summer signing Dominic Solanke is yet to score but Ange Postecoglou has outlined exactly why they preferred him over England international Ivan Toney

Ange Postecoglou admits Tottenham had considered making a summer move for Ivan Toney – but Dominic Solanke was always their top target.

England striker Toney left Saturday’s opponents Brentford for Saudi Arabia club Al-Ahli after the Bees did not receive a fee that met their valuation.

Spurs instead brought in Solanke from Bournemouth in a £55m deal and Postecoglou said: “We did look at Toney but I have said Dom was the one I wanted and it took pretty much the whole summer to get him in because he was the one who fitted the profile of what we were looking for at the time.”

And asked to elaborate on what it was exactly about Solanke’s profile that impressed Spurs so much, Postecoglou added: “It was a combination of things.

“The kind of striker he is in terms of his mobility. Last year Bournemouth changed how they play, a really strong pressing side, and he was at the forefront of that. That’s an important part of what we do. He’s got a real good presence in the box.

“A whole range of things. The kind of person he is, where he’s at with his career. He had some struggles earlier in his career and came through those. It’s not just one or two things. It’s an all round fit that I thought for what we need right now, Dom was the ideal.”

Solanke has only played in two league games and is yet to score for his new club. But Postecoglou says he does not sense any pressure yet from the centre forward to get off the mark.

“He has just played a couple of games. Not even four games. No, I haven’t sensed that. I don’t sense that [anxiety]. In his mind, I think he just wants to be in a good physical condition so he can contribute.

“That is where he is at and the space we want him in. Hopefully he gets a bit of confidence out of the game time he got during the week and builds on that tomorrow. I am sure as the season goes on he will be a real strong contributor for us.”

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