Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to add another attacker before the transfer deadline become considerably easier to understand after one alarming statistic emerged ahead of the new Premier League season.
Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a side still searching for greater attacking reliability, despite Spurs spending heavily on rebuilding other areas of the squad.
Fresh Opta data suggests the problem runs considerably deeper than simply adding another big-name winger.
Tottenham relied heavily on set-pieces last season
According to Opta Analyst’s new Tottenham season preview, 39.6% of Spurs’ Premier League goals last season came from set-pieces.
That was the highest proportion recorded by any club in the division.
Tottenham also generated 36.9% of their expected goals from set-piece situations, another Premier League-high figure.
Those numbers become particularly concerning when looking at who provided some of those goals.
João Palhinha scored five times, Cristian Romero contributed four and Micky van de Ven also scored four. Palhinha and Romero have since left Tottenham.
Richarlison finished as the club’s leading scorer last season, but questions remain over his future and availability.
Spurs therefore enter the new campaign needing considerably more production from open play.
Savinho and Gakpo pursuit suddenly looks even more important
Tottenham have spent much of the closing stages of the window attempting to sign Savinho and Cody Gakpo.
Their pursuit of Savinho has become increasingly complicated, with Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku injury potentially having an impact on Tottenham’s attempts to sign the £85m-rated Brazilian.
Adding either Savinho or Gakpo would give De Zerbi another player capable of beating defenders and creating chances from open play.
The urgency increases further when Tottenham’s current availability problems are considered.
Opta highlights Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert among the attacking players carrying injuries ahead of the season.
That uncertainty has already influenced transfer decisions elsewhere. Mikey Moore’s proposed loan departure has been delayed while Tottenham seek clarity over their moves for Savinho and Gakpo.
Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign away at Brentford on Saturday, giving De Zerbi little time to find solutions.
Set-pieces can remain an important weapon, particularly with Van de Ven still offering a significant aerial threat.
Spurs cannot expect nearly 40% of their goals to keep arriving from dead-ball situations, though.
Finding more reliable open-play production could therefore become one of De Zerbi’s biggest early challenges, and it gives Tottenham even more reason to finish their attacking transfer business before the window closes.
