Tottenham Hotspur have not enjoyed a strong and consistent run of form in the Premier League since the early days of Ange Postecoglou's tenure in 2023/24.
Thomas Frank was supposed to rewire the north London outfit, but his efforts to lead Spurs this season have been nothing short of dysfunctional, with a significant proportion of the fanbase eager to see him sacked.
To say it's currently untenable would not be an overstatement, and if Frank is to turn things around, he needs to quickly find results in the Premier League, with Spurs 14th and out of both domestic cups.
ENIC Group have backed him in the transfer market this month, signing Conor Gallagher and young left-back Souza, but Tottenham still need more creative impetus if they are to turn things around.
Spurs lining up new playmaker
Even though James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been sidelined since last season, Tottenham should be offering more through their playmaking.
But, alas, the Lilywhites have flattered to deceive in attack, with Frank's overly pragmatic tactics leaving the fans infuriated. There is a feeling that Spurs, Europa League champions, are regressing.
Gallagher is an industrious midfielder who will prove an upgrade on the injured Rodrigo Bentancur, but Frank needs someone to promote creativity and instil confidence and composure across the ranks, and technical director Johan Lange may have found the perfect option.
According to CF Bayern insider Christian Falk, Tottenham are hoping to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, who this month has rejected a move to Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Goretzka, 30, is one of the most accomplished German players in the world, and Atletico chiefs have been in Munich this week to engineer a deal, with Goretzka now months away from his contract expiry in the Bundesliga.
But the experienced Champions League star's rejection has opened the door for Tottenham to strike a deal, most likely at the end of the season, for the player has expressed a desire to try his hand in the Premier League at this seasoned stage of his career.
How Leon Goretzka could revive Spurs
It is worth noting that earlier in January, Tottenham had shown a vested interest in signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, who has since been on Inter Milan's radar.
Jones, 25, is elite at ball retention, and he's started to add more creativity to his game under Arne Slot's wing. You can see why Spurs want him, with one Premier League analyst even going as far as to call him "one of the most underrated players in England”.
Liverpool don't want to sell this month, but Tottenham may look to revisit their bid for the England international at the end of the season, when he has just 12 months left of his contract.
However, Tottenham may hit a bigger vein of gold in the form of Goretzka, who doesn't have as much mileage in the tank but would bring a strong passing game and combative side to revive Frank's system. Most importantly, the veteran would add leadership, having starred for years in a Bayern side who have won so many trophies.
A steely and tenacious midfielder, Goretzka has the right kind of skillset for a central role in a Frank-led team, but it's his range of distribution which sets him apart and could see him thrive alongside Gallagher, with Joao Palhinha mopping up from behind.
Not only has he averaged a 92.8% pass completion rate in the German top flight this season, but the strong-muscled talent has completed 72% of his long passes and 100% of his dribbles. In this, he has the progressiveness that drew the Spurs chiefs to Jones' signature.
Tottenham have a lot of up-and-coming talent. In Lucas Bergvall, there is a player who could outstrip both Jones and Goretzka. But not yet.
If the woes of the past 18 months have taught us anything, it's that the Londoners need players who can provide instant relief, establishing consistency and fluidity between the thirds.