It hasn't been the prettiest campaign for Tottenham Hotspur, and Thomas Frank has work to do if he is to convince the Lilywhite supporters of his capacity to lead this team through a sustained period of success.
The conquering of the Europa League last season might have been used as a springboard, but Tottenham have reverted to type, 11th in the Premier League and lacking the attacking sparkle fans expect. This was painfully clear last weekend, during the 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
To Dare Is To Do, but Spurs are not being brave enough, and their instability is becoming a big problem. It will be Frank's undoing if he fails to mount a convincing assault against the Premier League's elite, challenging in the Champions League and FA Cup too.
Defensively, issues linger from the Ange Postecoglou era. Tottenham have been blunted in attack too. But it's perhaps the midfield which is epicentral to the lack of control and creativity and craftsmanship.
Spurs' plans to fix their midfield
Tottenham's midfield ranks have left plenty to be desired this season. Frank will feel hard done by given James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been absent since the summer due to injury, but the decision to persist with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha isn't providing the desired results.
Palhinha, a loan arrival from Bayern Munich, has added some punch to the centre of the park, but he's not exactly a progressive midfielder on the ball. Bentancur, beside him, struggles to serve as a neat counterpoint, with the Uruguayan's struggles in recent years even leading analyst Raj Chohan to describe him as a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.
Clearly, Spurs need an upgrade, and they could find one in Leon Goetzka, who fancies trying his hand at something new after a lifetime of football in his German homeland.
That's according to Spanish sources, who claim that Goretzka is seeking a fresh start after being consigned to a reduced part in Vincent Kompany's project.
Tottenham are understood to be among the best-placed teams to complete a deal, with Premier League rivals like Nottingham Forest and West Ham United also ready to submit formal offers this winter.
Last summer, Manchester United's interest led to Bayern relatiation, placing a £34m on the 30-year-old. ENIC Group will hope that figure has since diminished.
Why Leron Goretzka would be perfect for Spurs' midfield
Goretzka has enjoyed a glittering career with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, winning the Champions League and so many Bundesliga titles since joining on a free transfer in 2018 after his contract with Schalke expired.
A powerful and commanding centre-midfielder, Goretzka's prospective success down N17 in the Premier League would come at either Palhinha or Bentancur's expense.
Looking at how he contrasts with ex-teammate Palhinha for example, underscores the kind of upgrade Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici would strike.
He is a midfield powerhouse, and his energy and ferocity have seen him said to be "like a madman" on the field by former teammate Sami Khedira, who then hailed his countryman as a "machine" of a player.
He doesn't churn out the same calibre of defensive actions as someone like Palhinha - who does? - but Goretzka is a more complete and balanced player. He would raise the level of Spurs' wider system, trumping Bentancur in that regard.
Indeed, across 11 Bundesliga starts this season, the experienced midfielder has won 57% of his ground duels. He could actually partner Palhinha in the Spurs centre, striking a much-needed defend-attack balance. Control. It's very important in the Premier League, and Goretzka would instil it.
With an intense work rate and a tenacity that cannot be taught, Goretzka would be a credit to Tottenham's midfield. He would certainly work his way into the starting line-up at the expense of strugglers like Palhinha and Bentancur.
Tottenham need more dynamism in midfield, and Goretzka has the experience and the technical skillset to create a central system that could see Frank's vision realised over the second half of the season and indeed the next few years.