Tottenham Hotspur should return to secure a failed transfer target in the January transfer window
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Tottenham Hotspur have begun a new dawn under Thomas Frank this season and were sat in the Champions League spots as we reached the second international break of the campaign.
The Lilywhites have picked up 14 points from seven matches, and a perceived season of transition has quickly turned into one where qualification for the Champions League through league position could be possible for only the third time in eight seasons.
With other clubs such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester United also experiencing periods of uncertainty, Frank will know that this is as good an opportunity as any for Spurs to stake their claim to a return to the top four - which is, of course, a far cry from last year’s 17th-placed finish.
With Champions League football to be balanced, Frank may decide to bolster his attacking options in January to ensure his side hit new heights in the latter stages of the season in order to reach their end goal.
Tottenham should return for Morgan Gibbs-White in January transfer window
Arguably the most contentious moment of Spurs’ busy summer came when an agreed move for Morgan Gibbs-White fell through after Nottingham Forest claimed the north London club had tapped up their prize asset illegally. The playmaker ultimately signed a new deal at the City Ground, coupled with a seemingly-staged announcement interview alongside owner Evangelos Marinakis, and the move was off the table.
A return for the England man mid-season may appear unlikely considering the summer arrivals of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus. But a deal to bring in Gibbs-White to play alongside the pair could be just what Frank and Spurs need.
The 25-year-old’s previous contract included a £60million release clause, which was triggered by Spurs according to reports by Sky Sports News. It is unlikely that his new deal contains such a clause. However, he is only on a three-year deal until 2028, suggesting that the door could still be open for an exit at some stage.
Gibbs-White could force Forest exit after poor start to season
It has been well documented that Forest have had a tough time on the pitch since former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm in early September. The Australian has not won any of his first seven matches in charge, becoming the first Forest manager in history to do so, and his own fans were even calling for him to be “sacked in the morning” as Midtjylland left the City Ground with all three points in the Europa League.
It seems unlikely that Marinakis would pull the plug on a second manager so early in the season, but such a decision to stick by Postecoglou may cause the Greek owner to lose his star player instead. In a World Cup year, Gibbs-White will not be content playing for a side competing at the wrong end of the table if things continue as they are. He deserves to be playing for a club of the stature of Tottenham, and could form a formidable attacking trio alongside Simons and Kudus.
While Dejan Kulusevski may return to fitness around the new year, there is no guarantee that he will be ready to carry the workload of high-pressure fixtures across multiple competitions straight away. The chance to rotate with players of the quality of Gibbs-White and Simons could be exactly what the Swede needs, and could prove the answer to all of Spurs and Frank’s wishes.