Tottenham Hotspur addressed numerous key issues throughout the summer transfer window after what was a dismal Premier League campaign in 2024/25.
The Europa League success glossed over the embarrassment suffered in England’s top-flight, but Thomas Frank was brought into the club to replace Ange Postecoglou.
The Dane has been tasked with catapulting the Lilywhites up the table, being handed over £100m worth of funds to land the additions he craved in North London.
Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus were the three high-profile additions made by the 51-year-old - with the latter the most expensive at £55m.
However, all three of the additions were made for a cheaper sum than North London rivals Arsenal paid for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice back in the summer of 2023.
The suffering Declan Rice has inflicted on Spurs
The rivalry in North London has been one that has been fiercely contested in recent years - with Spurs often having the opportunity to laugh at the Gunners, given their recent respective trophy tallies.
Mikel Arteta’s side have finished second in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons, unable to end their drought despite having £110m star Rice at their disposal.
The midfielder is unbeaten in 59% of his games against the Lilywhites, with many of the Spurs faithful wishing they had a player of his quality within their own ranks.
He’s notched 16 goals and 20 assists during his two years at the Emirates - subsequently ranking him in the 80th percentile of all midfielders in England’s top-flight last campaign.
The 26-year-old also ranked in the 86th percentile for key passes per 90 (1.9) and the 95th percentile for crosses completed per 90 (5.3).
Such numbers highlight the creative threat he possesses - something which is massively lacking in a deep-lying position with Frank’s current first-team squad.
However, the hierarchy may have made a mistake in allowing one talent to depart the club, especially given his impressive numbers since departing the side in recent years.
The former Spurs star who could’ve been their own Rice
During Daniel Levy’s tenure at Spurs, the club have been known to make multiple mistakes in the transfer market - subsequently offloading players who have gone on to achieve huge things away from the club.
Giovani Lo Celso was a player with huge expectations in North London, after the Argentine joined the club from Real Betis back in the summer of 2020.
However, he only registered ten goals in over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites, a tally fewer than Rice, who’s been known to operate in a deeper position for the Gunners.
He’s since matched such a tally in just 38 outings since returning to the Spanish outfit on a permanent basis - with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also achieving similar feats in Marseille.
The Danish international joined Spurs back in the summer of 2020 from Southampton, subsequently spending four years in North London - racking up just shy of 200 appearances for the club.
The 30-year-old was a consistent presence in the first-team squad, but ultimately fell out of favour in Postecoglou’s system and joined the Ligue 1 side on a temporary basis in the summer of 2024.
Hojbjerg subsequently left permanently this window, with such a decision now appearing to be a mistake - especially after Frank’s appointment in North London.
The Dane previously managed his compatriot at youth levels and raved about his qualities, stating that the star “could be a world-class defensive midfielder”.
It’s safe to say he’s lived up to the hype from the early days of his career, subsequently being labelled as a similar player to Arsenal star Rice, by FBref.
When comparing their respective stats from 2024/25, Hojbjerg managed to outperform the Englishman across the board, further highlighting the mistake the hierarchy made in allowing him to depart.
The Dane thrived in possession last campaign, completing more passes into the final third per 90 (7.8) and completing more of the passes he attempted (92%).
Such talents would’ve made him an excellent fit under Frank’s guidance, with the Lilywhites currently boasting the seventh-highest average possession rate in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.
However, out of possession, the former Spurs star was just as impressive, winning more of the tackles he entered (54%) whilst also making more interceptions per 90 (1.4).
The stats produced by Hojbjerg highlight the impressive box-to-box qualities he possesses, with such figures undoubtedly highlighting how much of a mistake Levy made in offloading him.
£17m for a player of his quality is nothing short of an embarrassment - with such a fee far too cheap given the levels he’s produced since his move to France.
Frank will no doubt be gutted he’s not had the chance to work with the midfielder once again, especially given his ability to outperform Rice after departing North London.