England’s all-time top goal scorer, national team captain, and the man who will likely break the record for England appearances, Harry Kane, has more than likely played in his last World Cup.
Helping England to a semi-final, Kane played almost every minute, scoring six goals. One of the key reasons why he played so much was not only his ability but also the lack of attacking options outside of the starting XI.
For the 2026 World Cup, England boss Thomas Tuchel took three recognised strikers: Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, and a surprise inclusion, Ivan Toney.
We take a look at possible options to be Harry Kane’s successor going forward for England… and it won’t be an easy task.
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Harry Kane’s Successor – The Options
Outright Strikers
If Thomas Tuchel’s selections are anything to go by, there’s a chance that either Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will take up the mantle from Harry Kane. The issue is that Thomas Tuchel clearly doesn’t like either man for his team.
During the 2026 World Cup, 30-year-old Watkins featured for just 6 minutes, and Toney for just a single minute. For the next World Cup, both men will be 34, and neither has a future with the national team.
With Kane’s ability to drop deep and link the midfield and attack, both Watkins and Toney would have to drastically change their playing style to mirror what Kane does – An unlikely thing to happen.
Three further striking names stand out as potential options, none of whom could take up the mammoth task of being England’s starting striker. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was considered as a potential call-up following a purple patch during the season. The Leeds striker finished with 14 Premier League goals this season, his most since 2020-2021. The second name is, worryingly, Liam Delap. The young Chelsea striker has represented England at every youth level but has yet to make an appearance at senior level.
After a 12-goal season with Ipswich, Delap somehow got a £30 million move to Chelsea. A single goal in 26 league appearances highlights why Delap shouldn’t be under consideration for an international call-up any time soon, let alone a starting place as England’s striker.
The final option as to who could be Harry Kane’s successor is Tottenham man Dominic Solanke. The 28-year-old is far more similar to Kane than any of the other options. He can link play from back to front, is capable of getting in the correct places, and importantly, he’s hungry. Scoring 77 goals in 216 games for Bournemouth, Solanke secured a £55 million move to Spurs. He first got an international cap in 2017, and it wouldn’t be until 2024 that he would gain his second cap. His form last season didn’t justify a place in Tuchel’s World Cup squad, averaging a goal every five games in the league.
Bleak options for out-and-out strikers to become Harry Kane’s successor.
Read More: Inside Harry Kane’s 500 goals
System Change Needed
We are far more likely to see Harry Kane’s successor feature as part of a system change. Never have the potential options for an outright striker been so poor for the England national team. 30 years ago, at Euro 1996, England had Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, and Robbie Fowler, all of whom offered something different off the bench. In 2026 and going forward, it appears that we won’t be afforded that luxury.
We’ve already established that it’s unlikely that Tuchel will be able to play an out-and-out striker to replace Harry Kane due to a lack of viable options. That means one of two things: A system change or a player playing out of position.
Marcus Rashford has played as a striker during his time at Manchester United, and this could be an option for England going forward. As a centre forward, Rashford has played 168 games, scoring 67 goals. That’s quite a decent return for a player who is much more adept at playing off the left-hand side. The issue is that teams know how to play against Rashford. As soon as a low block is used, he can’t run in behind, and therefore, his impact becomes limited.
A false nine could be an option. Thomas Tuchel has previously suggested that Phil Foden could play as a false nine in his system. This could be an option as there isn’t a clear standout striker. Cole Palmer could also potentially feature as a false nine, as could Jude Bellingham.
Whatever happens, the person who becomes Harry Kane’s successor has enormous boots to fill, and it won’t be an easy task.
Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Light Studio Agency
