For over a decade, Harry Kane has been the central figure of England’s attack. With 78 goals in 112 caps, he is the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, and the 32-year-old continues to excel both in Germany and on the international stage.
This summer, the England captain is expected to once again spearhead his side at the 2026 World Cup, though there has been growing speculation that this tournament could represent one of his final appearances on the biggest stage.
Despite several impressive candidates waiting in the wings, no one in the national setup has yet cemented themselves as the long-term talisman.
With Kane's eventual successor still unclear, who is poised to inherit England's famous No. 9 shirt for the next generation?
Ollie Watkins
Age: 30
Club: Aston Villa
International Record: 20 Caps, 6 Goals
The likely front-runner for the shirt, Watkins has been a consistent goalscorer for Aston Villa for a number of years and only recently won the Europa League with the Villans.
In recent years, he has also established himself as the current second in-command striker for his country, with solid but not spectacular performances for the Three Lions.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the 2026 World Cup, he said: "Everyone has got a part to play in this competition. Whether it's in the early stages, later stages - you just have to be ready at the end of the day."
With sweltering USA summer heat expected, rotation may play a huge part in England’s tournament, and Watkins will have an opportunity to prove he's ready to lead the line consistently.
Ivan Toney
Age: 30
Club: Al-Ahli
International Record: 7 Caps, 1 Goal
Toney’s recent inclusion in Tuchel’s final squad came as a slight surprise to many. Having only featured for England under Tuchel for seven minutes, it raised eyebrows when it was revealed he was being brought back into the fold.
In 2024, Toney made the move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, which raised questions over his international aspirations and the level of competition. However, 32 goals in as many matches for the Royals this campaign demonstrate that his natural finishing ability and physicality have not been lost.
When questioned on his decision, Tuchel backed the striker by saying: “He is a natural finisher, he can help us with set-pieces — he is very strong in there. Not to forget, he is a world-class penalty taker.”
Similarly to Watkins, neither man is a young prospect anymore, but both could establish themselves as reliable options for the next couple of tournaments.
Dominic Solanke
Age: 28
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
International Record: 5 Caps, 0 Goals
An impressive Premier League striker for both Bournemouth and Tottenham in recent years, Solanke has featured sparingly in England’s set-up over the last few years, yet an injury-ridden campaign for Spurs this season has hampered him from truly shining in the division as of late.
Despite earning five caps for the national side, he is yet to be selected for a major tournament with the Three Lions. Now 28 and entering his prime, Solanke may need a strong campaign at Spurs to establish himself as a genuine contender for England's No. 9 shirt.
A huge aspect of Solanke's playing style is his blend of pace and relentless pressing, which can cause opposition backlines problems both when playing out from the back and in defensive situations. At 6'2", it feels he is only a clinical edge and an injury-free run away from becoming a key player.
Liam Delap
Age: 23
Club: Chelsea
International Record: 20 Caps, 6 Goals
Another tall, physically strong option, Delap has emerged as one of England’s more intriguing young striker prospects, and publicly expressed his desire to feature in the upcoming World Cup prior to his move to Chelsea in 2025.
Delap proved to be a bright spark in Ipswich Town’s 2024/25 top-flight season, netting 12 goals, which earned him a £30 million move to Chelsea. Since the transfer, however, the young forward has struggled to find form and has slipped down the pecking order behind fellow marquee signing Joao Pedro.
However, time is still on his side, and Delap remains committed to turning his fortunes around at club level under new boss Xabi Alonso and, as a result, reigniting his international hopes.
Could England Move Away From a Traditional No. 9?
Despite the various qualities of those above, the lack of emerging options appears to reflect a wider issue — that England’s long-standing production line of traditional, out-and-out centre-forwards is beginning to falter.
Apart from Watkins, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Welbeck were the only other English strikers to reach double figures in the Premier League this season.
Both Calvert-Lewin and Welbeck were quietly backed to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad this summer, but neither were ultimately included. Furthermore, Welbeck’s age and Calvert-Lewin’s injury record have limited their long-term prospects.
A more experimental solution could be the use of a false nine - an idea that Tuchel has toyed with in recent matches.
In these games, he has largely deployed Manchester City’s Phil Foden in the role, though with a catalogue of wide and central attacking midfielders at his disposal, Tuchel has several alternatives.
Marcus Rashford, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers are all viable options in a more fluid, rotational attacking system, but questions would remain over whether they could be effective in an unnatural position for them.
For now, England are still searching for the answer up front.
