De Zerbi has a “Harry Kane regen” who can end Richarlison’s Spurs stay

Tottenham Hotspur could secure their place in the Premier League next season with a win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.

No tall order, then. Roberto De Zerbi has done a fantastic job since replacing the beleaguered Igor Tudor during the March international break, securing priceless back-to-back away victories in the Midlands to escape from the relegation zone at West Ham United’s expense.

While all of a Lilywhites persuasion are on tenterhooks at the end of this exhausting season, it’s crucial that Tottenham and ENIC Group do not let this disaster happen again, and with forward additions needed in the summer transfer window, Spurs must also prepare for the departures of high-profile stars like Richarlison.

The latest on Richarlison’s Spurs future

Richarlison, 29, will soon enter the final year of his contract in north London, and even if Tottenham manage to avoid relegation from the Premier League, it feels like he could be sold.

It has been reported that the Brazil international expects to be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season, regardless of Spurs’ fate.

This makes sense, in fairness, with the outfit needing to recoup some funds ahead of a significant transfer window that will not be buttressed by the financial support that comes from qualifying for Europe. Tottenham are far from such territory.

Richarlison might be their top scorer this season, but he’s not averse to a dismal miss, and with only ten goals in the Premier League, Spurs’ attacking struggles have been illustrated there.

Richarlison has certainly ebbed and flowed through his Tottenham career, but his goals have been important this season, and if he is to leave, replacing him efficiently is crucial.

Should Tottenham survive the pull of relegation, they will need to target a new forward on the transfer market, but they do already have their next playing out on loan.

De Zerbi can replace Richarlison with Spurs’ new Kane

Kane is Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer, and one of the finest forwards of his generation. Replacing him was never going to be easy,

Dominic Solanke has fallen flat in that regard, but maybe a left-field route is required here, with Will Lankshear showing he has what it takes to star in De Zerbi’s squad

Well, successful to a point. Oxford have been relegated to League One this season, but the 21-year-old scored 11 goals across 44 Championship matches this season (34 starts), and has impressed with his physicality and hold-up play in the danger area.

It’s too premature to suggest that he could fill Kane’s boots, but the Lilywhites academy graduate has actually been described as a “Harry Kane regen” by one scout, not only lethal in the danger area but endowed with intelligence and strength and sharp passing when in transition.

Lankshear has, after all, created 0.7 chances on average each game, and while he is nowhere near as experienced as someone like Richarlison, the hope here is that ENIC ensure a more high-profile striker is signed and that Lankshear is given an opportunity to rise in importance across the course of the campaign.

Is he ready? After a prolific season in the second tier, shining for a side who could help but fall down into League One, he has certainly become accustomed to the adversity that Tottenham are plagued by at the moment.

Kane once cut his teeth out on loan in lower-division outfits, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City all helping him toward the world-class platform he occupies today.

Could Lankshear be the second coming of the Three Lions skipper? He has the quality to play a big role in the Premier League, and if Richarlison leaves, this could be a shrewd and effective way to replace him.