Goalscoring, leadership and world-class quality are just three expressions used to describe the talents possessed by Harry Kane during his decade spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Englishman rose through the youth ranks in North London before making himself a staple of the club’s first-team setup between 2013 and 2023, before his move to Bayern Munich.
The centre-forward made 435 appearances and found the back of the net on 280 occasions - a tally which still sees him stand at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
His goalscoring record, coupled with his link-up play and creativity, has made him one of the best players to ever play for the club - with Thomas Frank no doubt wishing he could rely on a player of his calibre.
Whilst Kane has moved on to pastures new in recent years, the new manager has already added one top-level talent to his ranks, with the summer addition making an immediate impact in North London.
The underlying stats behind Palhinha’s start to life at Spurs
Joao Palhinha joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich this summer, with such a deal that the fanbase wasn’t totally convinced by upon the announcement.
However, a couple of months on from his switch back to the Premier League, the Portuguese international has certainly proved a lot of the doubters wrong.
Despite his defensive midfield role, the 30-year-old has impressed in the final third, already registering four goals and two assists - two of which came in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Copenhagen.
However, out of possession is where the midfielder has thrived, as seen by his phenomenal tally of tackles won in the Premier League over the last few months.
He’s already made 44 tackles in his 10 league outings for the Lilywhites, with such a tally the highest of any player in the entire division at present.
Other figures such as 8.5 duels won per 90 - at a success rate of 63% - with his tally of 1.8 aerials won also highlighting his dominant ball-winning ability at the heart of the side.
Palhinha has immediately handed Frank the number six the side has greatly lacked over recent years, with such an addition one that has been their best in recent years.
The Spurs star who is becoming the best player since Kane
There’s little denying that Palhinha is rapidly making himself one of the first names on the Spurs teamsheet, with no other player in the squad able to do the job he does.
Many supporters have voiced concerns over his lack of progression with the ball at his feet, but ultimately, his main responsibility is to allow those ahead of him to create the magic in attacking areas.
Players such as Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr are more than capable of feeding off Palhinha and providing the goods with the ball at their feet - with the latter crucial in the Lilywhites’ three-man midfield.
However, his recent exploits in the final third showcase he is a lot more capable in forward areas than the fans give him credit for - with the 30-year-old now on more goal contributions than Mohammed Kudus.
He’s not alone in overperforming in forward areas, with centre-back Micky van de Ven another player who has taken his game to the next level in the attacking department.
The 24-year-old was brought to North London in a £40m deal back in the summer of 2023, undoubtedly being signed to provide needed quality to the backline.
However, in 2025/26, the Dutch international has massively impressed in the attacking department, already scoring five times this season - including a double in the Premier League win over Everton.
Van de Ven also managed to get on the scoresheet in the hammering of Copenhagen this week, running from the edge of his own box before coolly slotting him - just like Kane would do during his time in North London.
The centre-back, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has also dominated defensively this season - as seen by his tally of 1.1 tackles won and 1.3 aerials won per 90.
He’s been phenomenal at picking out a teammate too, completing 92% of the passes he’s attempted, subsequently contributing to his tally of 0.6 chances created per 90.
His all-round quality at both ends of the pitch has made him one of the best signings in the club’s recent history - arguably being their best player since Kane left.
Whilst the pair operate in hugely different positions, Van de Ven has assumed the role of being a crucial player in the first team and leading them to new heights in the process.