Tottenham Hotspur’s 2025/26 season: How Frank’s attack will look without Son

As Tottenham Hotspur prepare for the 2025/26 Premier League season, the departure of their talismanic captain, Son Heung-min, marks the end of an era. The 33-year-old South Korean, who announced his exit during a tearful press conference in Seoul on August 1, 2025, leaves behind a legacy of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances, including a shared Premier League Golden Boot in 2021/22 and a Europa League title in May 2025. With Son reportedly heading to Los Angeles FC for a modest €25m, new manager Thomas Frank faces the daunting task of reshaping Spurs’ attack without their heartbeat. How will Tottenham’s forward line evolve under Frank’s leadership? This piece critically explores the club’s attacking outlook, analyzing tactics, key players, and the challenges of replacing a legend in a season set for transition.

The impact of Son’s departure

Son’s departure is more than a statistical blow. His speed, two-footed finishing, and ability to link play made him the linchpin of Spurs’ attack, even in a 2024/25 season marred by injuries and a dip in form (10 goals, 8 assists in 32 Premier League games). His partnership with Harry Kane, which yielded a record 37 goal-assist combinations, defined an era, and his captaincy through turbulent times post-Kane cemented his status as a club legend. Beyond numbers, Son’s leadership and marketability, especially in Asia were invaluable, making his exit at 33, with a year left on his contract, a shock to fans and a commercial gamble for chairman Daniel Levy.

Frank, appointed in June 2025 after Ange Postecoglou’s departure, inherits a squad fresh off Europa League glory but facing a Champions League return with a depleted attack. Son’s absence leaves a big hole on the left wing and as a central figure in high-pressing systems. His 2020 FIFA Puskás Award-winning solo goal against Burnley and his ability for clutch moments, like the corner-kick golazo in the 2024/25 EFL Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United, set a bar few can match. Tottenham’s attack, already inconsistent last season (62 Premier League goals, 10th in the league), now faces scrutiny over whether it can sustain its edge.

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Thomas Frank’s tactical vision for 2025/26 season

Frank, formerly of Brentford, has promised a “brave, aggressive, attacking” Tottenham, building on Postecoglou’s high-level philosophy but with a pragmatic twist. His preferred 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 emphasizes fluidity, with wingers cutting inside and a No. 9 acting as both poacher and playmaker. At Brentford, Frank’s teams averaged 1.5 goals per game, relying on quick transitions and set-piece efficiency (15% of goals from dead balls). Spurs’ attack under Postecoglou was dynamic but wasteful, with an xG underperformance of -5.2 in 2024/25. Frank’s challenge is to sharpen this edge without Son’s versatility.

Without Son, the left flank is a glaring weakness. Frank’s system demands wingers who press relentlessly and exploit spaces, traits Son embodied. His 1.8 successful dribbles per 90 and 2.1 key passes last season were unmatched in the squad. Frank’s Brentford leaned on players like Bryan Mbeumo, who thrived as a dual-threat winger, suggesting he’ll seek similar profiles at Spurs. However, Son’s ability to drift centrally or play as a false nine added unpredictability that Tottenham’s current options lack.

Exploring the new attack in Tottenham

Tottenham’s attacking unit for 2025/26 hinges on existing talent, new signings, and youth prospects stepping up. Here’s how the front line might look: Dominic Solanke (Centre-Forward): Signed for £65m in 2024, Solanke has been a bright spot, scoring 12 goals in 2024/25 despite inconsistent service. His 6ft 2in frame suits Frank’s physical No. 9 role, but his 0.42 xG per 90 trails elite strikers like Alexander Isak (0.58). Solanke’s hold-up play and aerial ability (top 10% for aerial duels won) make him a focal point, but he lacks Son’s flair in tight spaces. Expect him to lead the line, with 15-18 goals if service improves.

Brennan Johnson (Right Wing): The Welsh winger, 24, has grown into a key outlet, with 7 goals and 10 assists in 2024/25. His 90+6th-minute winner against Brighton in February 2025 showcased his clutch potential. Johnson’s pace and directness fit Frank’s aggressive style, but his 1.2 successful dribbles per 90 pale next to Son’s output. He’ll likely anchor the right, with room to grow into a 10-goal, 10-assist star.

Joao Palhinha (Loan, Attacking Midfield/Winger): The surprise loan signing from Bayern Munich adds versatility. Primarily a defensive midfielder, Palhinha’s box-to-box energy could see him deployed as a No. 10 or wide playmaker in Frank’s fluid system. His 4 goals in 2024/25 for Bayern Munich suggest untapped attacking potential, but replacing Son’s creativity is a tall order. Youth prospects, with Mikey Moore, an 18-year-old winger, loaned to Rangers, Tottenham’s academy hopes rest on Will Lankshear and Dane Scarlett. Lankshear, a 20-year-old striker, scored 16 goals in 22 PL2 games last season and could back up Solanke. Scarlett, also 20, has struggled for minutes but offers pace and finishing. Neither is ready to fill Son’s boots, but Frank’s youth-friendly approach suggests they’ll get chances.

Potential Signings: Tottenham’s £25m from Son’s sale, plus Champions League revenue, fuels transfer talk. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze (£60m) is linked as left-wing replacements. Eze’s 11 goals and 4 assists in 2024/25, plus 2.3 key passes per 90, mirror Son’s playmaking, while Neto’s speed fits Frank’s counter-attacking ethos. A marquee signing is crucial, but Levy’s frugal history raises doubts about splashing out.

Critical analysis of Frank’s Tottenham 2025/26 attacking line

Regardless of Son’s departure, the attacking line for Frank still has significant strength to navigate the storms of the upcoming season. Depth in transition, Solanke and Johnson provide a solid base, with Palhinha’s versatility adding flexibility. Frank’s system, proven at Brentford, thrives on quick transitions, which suits Spurs’ pacey attackers. Again, set-piece threat is still a weapon that the current front line has despite Son’s departure Frank’s Brentford scored 20% of their goals from set pieces, and Spurs’ 2024/25 tally (12 set-piece goals) could rise with Solanke’s aerial prowess and Palhinha’s physicality. Finally, young potentials like Lankshear and Scarlett offer long-term upside, and Frank’s track record with young players bodes well for their integration.

However, some shortcomings persist ahead of Frank with his current attack for the 2025/26 season. The lack of star power, Son’s departure leaves Spurs without a proven 20-goal winger. Solanke and Johnson are reliable but not elite, and Palhinha’s attacking output is untested at this level. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the left-flank crisis, without a direct Son replacement, Spurs risk over-relying on Johnson or unproven youngsters. Eze would help, but neither matches Son’s two-footed lethality. Another major weakness is inconsistency, Spurs’ 2024/25 attack faltered in big games. Frank must address this to compete in the Premier League and Champions League. Finally, is the commercial trouble, Son’s exit dents Spurs’ Asian marketability, potentially impacting revenue for transfers.

What to expect from Frank’s attack in the 2026/25 season

Frank’s Spurs will likely pivot to a more balanced attack, blending Postecoglou’s high press with Brentford’s pragmatic counters. Expect a 4-3-3 with Solanke as the pivot, Johnson cutting in from the right, and a new signing (Eze) or makeshift option (Dejan Kulusevski, despite injury) on the left. The midfield trio of Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Palhinha will prioritize energy and ball recovery, freeing attackers to exploit spaces. Set pieces will be a weapon, with Solanke and Cristian Romero targeting corners.

However, the loss of Son’s versatility, able to play left, right, or central limits Frank’s options. Spurs’ 2024/25 xG of 58.4 was mid-table, and without Son’s 2.1 key passes per 90, creativity could stall. Frank’s Brentford averaged 12 shots per game; Spurs must match this to compensate. The Champions League will test this setup, as Son’s absence was felt in past European campaigns.

For Spurs fans, reeling from Son’s exit, face a season of uncertainty. The Europa League win was a high, but finishing sixteenth in 2024/25 exposed attacking frailties. Fans will demand a top-four push and a deep Champions League run, but without a Son-caliber replacement, a transitional 5th-7th place finish feels likely. Solanke could hit 15 goals, Johnson 10, but the left flank remains a question mark. Frank’s “brave” philosophy will excite, but his lack of elite-club experience, Brentford never finished above 9th raises doubts about handling Spurs’ pressure cooker. The €25m Son fee feels like a misstep; a player of his caliber, even at 33, warranted £40m-£50m in today’s market. Levy’s decision to let him go, possibly to fund more transfers, risks backfiring if signings don’t materialize.

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Final take

Tottenham’s attack in 2025/26 will be industrious but incomplete. Frank’s aggressive, set-piece-heavy system suits Solanke and Johnson, but Son’s departure leaves a creative and emotional void. Without a marquee signing, Spurs risk a step back in a competitive Premier League. The potential of Eze or Neto offers hope, but their cost and availability are hurdles. Frank’s track record suggests he can maximize limited resources, but replacing a legend like Son whose 173 goals rank him among Spurs’ all-time greats requires more than tactics. It demands audacity. As Spurs face Newcastle in Seoul on August 3, potentially Son’s farewell, the focus shifts to Frank’s ability to forge a new attacking identity. The road ahead is thrilling but treacherous.[]()