Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitions of rising up the Premier League in 2025/26 have now fallen into the hands of Thomas Frank, after the Dane was selected as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement.
The 51-year-old has already made the perfect start to the new league campaign, winning their first outing against Burnley, needing to build on such a result in their hunt for success.
However, if the new manager is to be a success in North London, he will need investment from the hierarchy to secure key depth and quality in key areas of the pitch.
£85m has already been spent by owner Daniel Levy, but with less than two weeks left in the window, added reinforcements are still desperately needed in various areas of the pitch.
The number ten position and another deep-lying option are also being considered by the club ahead of the transfer window slamming shut on September 1st.
Spurs making move for another midfield star
In recent days, Eberechi Eze looked to have edged ever closer to completing his own move to join Spurs, with the player himself stating his desire to join Frank’s side this summer.
That has been followed by the bombshell news that rivals Arsenal have now hijacked the transfer, with the Englishman instead said to be leaning toward joining the Gunners instead, as per David Ornstein on X.
Thankfully, he’s not the only midfielder currently in the hierarchy’s sights - resulting in Barcelona star Marc Casado emerging as another option for the club, according to Spanish outlet Sport via Sport Witness.
They claim that the Lilywhites have made an approach for the 21-year-old Spaniard, but are waiting for approval from the LaLiga side before pushing through with a deal.
The report also states that Chelsea have previously shown interest in his services, but the Lilywhites remain present in a deal, leading to a €30m (£25m) price tag currently being mooted.
Why Casado is as talented as Eze
It’s undeniable that the potential deal for Eze generated huge excitement among the fanbase in recent days - with the hope of offering Frank’s side needed quality and versatility needed within the final.
The fact that the England international can operate behind the striker, or even off the left-hand side, would have solved two of the current problems within the current first-team squad.
His tally of 16 combined goals and assists in his 34 outings, the joint-most of any Spurs player in 2024/25, would hand any suitors added creativity and goal threat - something which Frank has been hunting for all window long.
However, there’s only so much the 27-year-old would be able to achieve on his own in any case, and in Casado, they could find a player who is undoubtedly just as talented, especially if the youngster can replicate the numbers he produced from his most recent season in Spain’s top-flight.
His tally of six assists in his 36 outings showcases his ability to provide chances for players around him - just as Eze has done in a Palace jersey - but his underlying metrics are just as impressive, posting numbers that are way beyond his youthful years.
Casado, who’s been dubbed “spectacular” by former Barça star and one of the best midfielders ever, Sergio Busquets, ranked in the 94th percentile for passes into the final third (7.7) - showcasing his ability to get the ball into attacking areas.
Further talents on the ball are also reflected in his 44% take-on success rate and 89% pass completion - figures that would benefit the midfield colleagues ahead of him.
However, in his deep-lying position, the youngster will also be required to regain possession for the Lilywhites, something which shouldn’t be an issue if he can replicate his tally of 1.8 tackles per 90.
The combination of all the aforementioned stats could arguably make Casado the perfect ball-winner and playmaker at the heart of Frank’s side - adding a new dimension to the club in the process.
If he can put both skills together with the Lilywhites, he will have all the tools to be a huge success, with the £25m transfer fee potentially a bargain.
The prospect of the Spaniard linking up with Eze would have been one for the fanbase to get excited about, although the signing of the Barca starlet on his own would be enough cause for fanfare.