Tottenham Hotspur appear to be closing in on their next summer transfer
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Tottenham Hotspur’s Thomas Frank chapter is about to get underway, with the Dane making adjustments to his squad in preparation for their opening-day fixture against Burnley on August 16.
Multiple new faces have already been brought in to strengthen the Europa League winners, though the majority were on loan with the North Londoners last season - including Mathys Tel, who has joined for £29.8m from Bayern Munich, and Kevin Danso, who has arrived for £20.9m from RC Lens.
While Luka Vuskovic has arrived from Hajduk Split, having signed as a 16-year-old for £12m back in 2023 in a deal which would see him arrive at Spurs after his 18th birthday.
Spurs’ next deal is reportedly set to be completed, with a prospective signing preparing an emotional goodbye ahead of a club-record move.
Takai departure announced
Japanese international Kota Takai is set to join Spurs from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale. The 20-year-old will move to North London after a £5m fee was agreed for the centre-back, almost doubling the Asian club’s previous record £2.6m sale of Kaoru Mitoma to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021.
Takai will join up with Frank’s men next campaign, where he is expected to offer additional defensive cover as he adapts to life in England. A club statement by Kawasaki Frontale all-but confirmed the move for the four-cap Japan international.
“We would like to inform you that Kodai Takai will be leaving the team at the end of the activity on Saturday, July 5th in order to complete the necessary procedures and preparations for a transfer to an overseas club,” a club statement from the Japanese outfit confirmed.
“We will notify you further regarding future plans as soon as they are officially decided. After the match against Kashima Antlers in the 23rd Meiji Yasuda J1 League on Saturday, July 5th, Takai Kodai will greet the supporters.”
Spurs are signing youth
Spurs’ early transfer dealings have shown a focus on youth, as Takai becomes the third U21 player to arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer. It remains to be seen whether Frank will use the Japanese within the first-team set-up right away, but he will have the opportunity either way to learn from top defenders such as Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Frank’s existing squad includes young talents such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert, and the Danish manager will be excited at the chance to help the club’s young talent reach their potential in the present and the future.
During his time at Brentford, Frank was known as a supreme man-manager who was able to get the best out of players. He turned average players into good players, and good players into great ones. If he can continue that trajectory at Spurs, there is good cause for optimism.
Expectations will be higher and scrutiny will be more intense if things are not going well. But Frank defied the odds time and time again at Brentford, so there is every chance he will be able to do that again.