Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment hasn't been good enough in recent years. Winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou's management before the summer coated over the many issues that still saw the Australian dismissed in one final flourish of power by Daniel Levy.
Now, Thomas Frank is trying to put the London club to rights, but it's hardly been smooth sailing for the old Brentford, who needs more potency and leadership in attacking circles.
Tottenham have not been slick enough in the final third. That needs to change, and if ENIC Group are serious about lifting Spurs and cementing them at the top of the European ladder, they need a new talisman, someone like Bukayo Saka.
Spurs in talks to sign their own Bukayo Saka
Harry Kane left, and then Heung-min Son did too. Different forwards have since been welcomed down N17, but Tottenham haven't yet recaptured that star power.
The Londoners could do with a figurehead like Saka, who has been front and centre of Arsenal's revival under Mikel Arteta's wing. Saka is an inspiring winger, but he's also hard-working and singular in his style.
Tottenham need a bit of that, and they might just have found their own version in Said El Mala.
According to reports in Germany, Tottenham are ready to do battle with Manchester United for the Koln wonderkid, who has been in fine fettle in the Bundesliga this season. The 19-year-old is valued somewhere in the ballpark of £35m and it's alleged that club-to-club talks have begun.
His power and economical use of such strength has revealed a likeness to Arsenal's star forward, and it's clear that the Lilywhites would be wise to act quickly and win the race.
Why Spurs need to sign Said El Mala
El Mala is enjoying a stunning rise to the top. He has already been called up to the international stage by Germany boss Julien Nagelsmann,
A destructive dribbler, El Mala has a quality when driving the ball forward that cannot be taught. His brilliance is inherent, and at Tottenham, he could become a superstar in the Premier League while concurrently developing into Frank's main man.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 6% for successful take-ons and the top 11% for tackles won per 90, emphasising his blend of technical quality, power, and commitment.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
Picture this: you're an up-and-coming winger, beginning to make headway in the German top flight. You are 19 years old, and one year ago, you starred in Germany's third tier. You have since been described as "the most direct winger in Europe" by data analyst Spencer Mossman.
This is El Mala's reality. He is in his infancy as a professional, and yet his performances have caused a storm that is set to lead him to prominence in the Premier League. Tottenham need to take a punt here and sign their own Saka-esque star.
He is not on the Three Lions man's level, not yet. But the pointers suggest he will be, bearing similarities and perhaps even more explosiveness and sharpness in front of goal.
A self-defined "street footballer", El Mala also plays with an intelligence to match his combative nature. In this, he shares traits with Saka, and that has indeed been picked up by FBref's data patterns.
He likes to pepper the goal, does the young Koln star, but he also likes to chip in with defensive contributions and activity in the duel. Having started only six Bundesliga fixtures this term, the teenager has already found a real clinical edge,
Tottenham might look at El Mala's signature and deem the payment required to be sizeable. Perhaps the transfer chiefs would be right. But he's only going to get better, and given that Arsenal's rise and rise would not have come about without Saka's emergence, this is a player worth paying for.