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Under the coaching of new manager Thomas Frank, Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in the top three of the Premier League after seven games.Â

At the core of the improvement from last season has been an improved defensive structure, giving the team a high floor. A season after finishing 17th in the league largely due to a porous defense that conceded the fifth-most goals, Spurs currently rank second-best in the category, going from conceding 1.71 goals per game last season to 0.71 goals per game this season.Â

This season’s defense has restricted the number of fastbreaks conceded to the opposition due to the deeper defensive line. This can be seen in the data from Opta, with Spurs conceding the joint-fourth lowest fastbreaks with 0.43 per game, and they are yet to concede from such a situation. Contrast this with last season, where the high-line and the defensive structure often caused vicious counter-attacks, with Spurs conceding the fourth-most fast-breaks with 1.13 per game and conceding the second-most goals in the league.Â

When the defense has been breached, Vicario’s shot-stopping has prevented multiple goals. According to Opta, Vicario has prevented the highest number of goals in the Premier League this season, with 2.9 goals prevented, and has the second-highest save percentage with 82.8%.

Tottenham are more direct under Thomas Frank

The attack has also seen a change of philosophy, and while the results have been positive, it’s fair to say it’s a work in process. Spurs have gone to a more direct and pragmatic approach, relying on crossing and set pieces as a major source of attack. However, Spurs have become stagnant with a lack of central midfield progression at times, with the systematic reliance on wider overloads combined with not having progressive players in the middle.

Although it’s partially down to Spurs finding themselves in positive game-states by taking early leads in a few games, one could argue that Spurs are quite fortunate to score 13 goals from a combined 7.53 expected goals (Opta) this season.

The biggest positive for Spurs has been new signing Mohmmad Kudus, who has seemingly made things happen out of nothing all season long. The assist-leader of the league this season ranks 1st among Premier League wingers in expected assists, successful dribbles, offensive duels won, accurate crosses, successful attacking actions, and duels won according to DataMB.

The likes of Pedro Porro with his progressive passing and crossing, and Cristian Romero’s deep progressions and carrying, along with his astute defending, have been some of the other big positives from the season so far

The Left-hand side has found a semblance of stability with the likes of Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert after notable struggles in attack earlier in the season.Â

The return from injuries could also provide major boosts for the team moving forward. Dominic Solanke’s hold-up play would give an outlet for build-up that has felt missing at times this season. Dejan Kulusevski will be a welcome addition when he recovers from his injury as a versatile player in the attack. Long-term, James Maddison is one of the finest playmakers in the league, and Spurs would be hoping for him to return to his best after his cruciate ligament.

Recently integrated and signed players like Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, and Randall Kolo Muani provide further upside for Spurs moving forward.

Under Thomas Frank, Spurs have completely changed styles and have shown the ability to get the results. With the Foundations set, it’s time for the team to find its ceiling.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has asserted himself as one of the best managers in the world, and if he weren't already in the conversation among diehard fans after his results in turning Brentford from a promoted side to a European football contender, then his hot start at the N17 is entrenching his status as being among the very best.

Frank is known for being something of a forward whisperer. At Brentford, he turned Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and still others from relative unknowns into players who became among the most productive attackers in the Premier League, particularly from a goal-scoring perspective.

Already at Spurs, Frank is having a positive impact on the forwards. He's turned new signing Mohammed Kudus into a legitimate world-class winger, but what Tottenham fans really want to see is what he can do with the prospects.

Mathys Tel drew the start at striker for Tottenham before the break and was excellent in the position, scoring a nice solo goal and nearly grabbing another with a header that smacked the bar. Although he normally starts as a left winger, the former Bayern Munich man looked far more lively in the middle, and with Richarlison struggling and the other veteran strikers slow to return from injuries, Tel looks set to get at least one more start up top.

Thomas Frank creates attacking monsters

After impressing over the international break alongside fellow French youth left winger Wilson Odobert, Tottenham fans are optimistic that Tel and Odobert can shine again as a 1-2 punch with Odobert on the wing and Tel at the 9.

Frank has turned less talented footballers into stars in the Premier League, so you can only imagine what he can do with a player like Tel. With months of working under Frank and finding his best form at striker, perhaps Tel can become a Premier League star as a U21 talent and solve the No. 9 position once and for all.

Tottenham continue to be linked with strikers on the transfer market despite investing heavily in both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison in past windows, as well as signing Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG this past summer.

Nobody has distinguished himself yet, but Tel is the one with the most long-term value and intriguing traits. Frank loves to turn special athletes into productive strikers, and Tel is his most prolific project yet. Tottenham fans should keep a close eye on Tel's development at striker.

Tottenham Hotspur have very few glaring weaknesses in their squad right now after a highly productive summer transfer window in which they landed a legitimate world-class right winger in Mohammed Kudus and solved their midfield issues with a double-swoop for No. 10 Xavi Simons and No. 6 Joao Palhinha.

While Tottenham still have to work on signing Palhinha permanently from Bayern Munich, their ability to snag Mathys Tel at a discount from the Bavarians this past summer speaks to the optimism of a similar deal for the Portuguese midfielder getting done in 2026 if he continues at this pace.

Speaking of Tel, Tottenham landed him and Randal Kolo Muani on loan this past summer, and while they could yet prove to be the solution at the No. 9 position, striker is one of the two remaining major needs in the Tottenham starting lineup. The other is the left wing, which Tel could also be a solution at.

Tottenham fans have been craving a new star striker ever since Harry Kane's big move to Bayern, and since the England international has a release clause active next summer, Spurs supporters are holding out hopes for a dream reunion with arguably the greatest striker in Premier League history.

Thomas Frank can imagine Harry Kane back at Tottenham

At a recent fan forum event, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank teased the Kane reunion, stating that he would "welcome" the legendary forward back at N17, but he also teased a personal reunion with former Brentford star Ivan Toney, who is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.

Frank said, via The Spurs Watch, "Let’s put it this way, they’re two very very good players, both of them. Harry Kane is a legend. I said in the press conference the other day, if he wants to come back he’s more than welcome. Of course Ivan Toney I coached for a few years, top player, top guy, very good striker so let’s see what happens in the future."

Between the two of them, Kane is the one Tottenham fans would want more, but Toney was a great striker in the Premier League and a real demon under Frank, tearing elite teams like Manchester City to shreds with his athleticism and ruthless finishing on the counterattack.

Kane is option No. 1, but he's also on the wrong age of 30. Toney is less appealing and may even be as expensive at around 60 million euros or so, given Saudi Arabia generally don't sell big names back to the Premier League.

Tottenham could use either of them, though, as both are proven stars in the Premier League and clearly better than Richarlison. But if Tel can break out at striker or Kolo Muani or Dominic Solanke can blossom under Frank once healthy, maybe Spurs don't need Toney. As for Kane, I doubt anyone has the gumption to turn down a Ballon d'Or candidate and a Spurs icon rolled up in one.

The land that produced Pelé, Ronaldo Nazário, Ronaldinho and Neymar hasn't exactly done all that much for Tottenham Hotspur.

Brazilians were not the inventors of football, but they were perhaps responsible for evolving the popular past-time into an art form. The sport has long been treated as a religion in the homeland of samba, with its finest exponents worshipped as figures who bridge the gap between mere mortals and the Almighty.

However, as I've quickly alluded to, I don't think many Spurs fans would hold the club's Brazilian alumni in such a lofty regard. Well, I'm sure we all did for one man on a particular night in 2019.

In total, there have been eight who promised to be Spurs' answer to Cafu, Zico and Rivaldo, but even picking the five 'best' has proven a difficult challenge. Nevertheless, we've given it a go. Enjoy!

Yes, it really is that underwhelming. Unfortunately, I simply couldn't make a case for Gilberto or Paulinho, while much of Carlos Vinícius’ success in Lilywhite came against Scouse carpenters and plumbers.

So, here we are: Emerson Royal.

A Brazilian with Barcelona ties typically screams "brilliant at football", but the right-back functioned in contrast to that ideal. Sure, he wasn't a bad one-on-one defender and he's produced some all-timer social media content, as well as that no-look pass, but Emerson operated as a figure of comedy during his time at Spurs. Did anyone take him seriously?

I'd argue he wasn't as bad as some made him out to be, and he did generally produce some stubborn defensive performances, but Emerson was often an eye-sore with the ball at his feet.

Gomes spent six years at Tottenham, but his love for a blunder meant Carlo Cudicini and Brad Friedel shared the Brazilian's No. 1 status.

The goalkeeper was revered for his mammoth throw, and his heroics against Spurs in a UEFA Cup victory for PSV Eindhoven convinced the club to sign him in 2008, as Paul Robinson joined Blackburn Rovers.

His first few months were pretty disastrous, and any impressive runs of form were rapidly undermined by a horrible mistake. There's a long list of Gomes gaffs, and Hugo Lloris' arrival in 2012 meant he sank as low as fourth in the goalkeeper depth chart.

Nevertheless, the role he played in helping the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever in 2010 means he makes this list.

Daniel Levy took advantage of Everton's need to sell in 2022, paying close to £60m for their star man, Richarlison.

The forward joined the club amid an exciting period, with Antonio Conte overseeing a stellar end to the previous campaign and ensuring Champions League football was on the horizon in N17. A cash injection sparked hope of a prosperous dawn in our swanky new home, and Richarlison arrived during peak fervency.

The Brazilian signed as a Premier League-proven talent, but injuries have prevented that perk from manifesting for a sustained period in north London. Outside of one purple patch midway through Ange Postecoglou's debut season, Richarlison has struggled for rhythm and form. He can be such a nuisance on his day and his nose for goal is undeniable, but we haven't seen it enough.

You're not going to encounter too many people like Sandro, let me tell you. An immense character, the Brazilian midfielder is nothing short of a madman, but the good kind of madman.

An occasional gum shield wearer who was as prone to throwing up on the pitch as he was scoring from 30 yards, Sandro earned the nickname "beast" and was a legitmately good holding midfielder.

He was no technical master of the football, but he was aware of his limitations, especially after he suffered a devastating knee injury in early 2013. Sandro's deployment as an imposing destroyer in front of Spurs' backline was often effective, and he was particularly brilliant during our memorable Champions League campaign of 2010/11.

The club eventually moved past the lovable midfielder, who joined Harry Redknapp at Queen's Park Rangers in 2014. Despite his strong relationship with Redknapp, Sandro later said the move was the "biggest regret" of his career.

No Brazilian has played more (221 games) and scored more (39 goals) for Tottenham than Lucas Moura, who delivered what now has to be regarded as the second-greatest night in the club's modern history.

There are plenty of supporters who can't bear to remember his heroics in Amsterdam, solely because of the disappointment that ensued in Madrid. Now that a piece of European silverware has arrived in the form of the Europa League, perhaps more will be open to reconciling with Moura's hat-trick against Ajax.

That was the definitive night of his career, but Moura gave a whole lot more to this club than that night alone. Many of Spurs' samba alumni have been distinctly un-Brazilian, but that cannot be said about Moura, who was a supreme bobber and weaver with the ball at his feet. While not as refined as some of his contemporaries, the winger thrived in chaos and was able to conjure magic out of very little.

He was far from perfect, and a model of inconsistency, but he's certainly the best Brazilian we've had on our books.

Time was running out for Fabio Paratici to appease his never-satisfied compatriot in the January transfer window.

Antonio Conte, who took the Tottenham job midway through the 2021/22 campaign, was insistent on personnel upgrades arriving in the winter. However, the market was conspiring against Paratici at an early but critical juncture in Conte's reign.

They'd pushed for Porto's Luis Díaz, only to see him move to Liverpool, as well as athletic phenom Adama Traore, who instead joined Barcelona on loan from Wolves. Sofyan Amrabat, Morocco's future World Cup star, was noted as the priority midfield target, but that deal was struggling to get off the ground.

There was a point when it seemed Conte would be left with a similar squad he inherited. Walking away wasn't the most ludicrous possibility. With his broad network failing, Paratici opted for familiarity. Calls were made to friendly faces, and Juventus' willingness to part ways with two maligned stars proved to be the Lilywhites' gain. Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur signed on Deadline Day, and the pair proved immediate hits in N17.

Paratici's hit-rate during his two years as managing director is perhaps spottier than most are willing to admit, but his expertise regarding the Italian market is second to none. More specifically, he knows Juventus like the back of his hand. While plenty has changed in Turin since his departure, Spurs' returning director doubtlessly has contacts at his old stomping ground, and supporters are desperate for the "don" to work his magic and sign the latest star out of Piedmont.

Tottenham supporters are willing Paratici to make Kenan Yıldız push

When I covered Juventus between 2020 and 2022, there had been a clear shift in transfer policy. The emphasis was on getting younger and developing the academy, and there's no denying the club's success in regards to the latter, even if they're yet to return to the summit of calcio since their tyrannical reign over Serie A came to a close at the start of the decade.

There was plenty of excitement over Nicolò Fagioli, Fabio Miretti, Matías Soulé, and Nicolò Rovella, for example, but none were deemed of the requisite quality (since proven untrue). The same cannot be said for Turkish sensation Kenan Yıldız, who enjoyed a brief spell with Juventus Next Gen before earning a first-team call-up in 2023.

At 18, Yıldız became Juve's youngest foreign goalscorer in Serie A, and after just a season of his talent sparkling, the lucrative honour of donning the club's fated No. 10 shirt was bestowed upon him. The teenager had previously signed a long-term contract extension, but this was the ultimate sign of commitment.

The Old Lady certainly hasn't got everything right in recent years, but selecting Yıldız to function as their figurehead of hope has since proven wise. Yıldız, in short, is a superstar in the making. He's who Spurs supporters are desperate for Paratici to acquire amid the newfound landscape of lofty ambition.

Yıldız's brilliance manifested amid a breakout 2024/25 season, during which he recorded 11 goal Serie A goal contributions while primarily stationed wide left for the Bianconeri. There's a lot to like about Yıldız, including his quick feet, two-footedness, directness and low socks, but it's the kid's ball-striking that has thrust his stock to soaring heights. He's an xG defier, and we like those type around here.

In fact, I don't think Son Heung-min is a bad comparison for Yıldız, who finishes with such ruthlessness off both feet. There's a growing inevitability about the end result when he works his way into certain positions, and although Michel Platini believes he can evolve into an outright No. 10, he's currently best served operating as a sharpshooter from an inside left position.

Despite Wilson Odobert's potential, left wing is regarded as a position of need for Spurs in 2026, and Yıldız is the superstar-in-waiting that'd send the fanbase into a frenzy. Well, judging by social media comment sections, anyway. However, the return of Paratici doesn't render any deal likely. Juventus aren't going to dispose of their franchise face as willingly as they did Kulusevski and Bentancur, even if they have made some rather curious decisions in the market recently.

The Italians have every right to demand as much as they please for the Turkish starlet, who adores his current home. But hey, Don Fabio may well give us a chance.

Tottenham Hotspur have so many wonderful young footballers who are already breaking out as top players for the team like Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie, or they are showing flashes of future brilliance like Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, and Wilson Odobert.

The future is bright for Spurs, but perhaps no player better epitomizes the future greatness to come at Tottenham than an individual who isn't even on the team right now. Just 18 years old, center back Luka Vuskovic has been one of the best players in the entire Bundesliga since getting starts for Hamburg this season, on loan from Spurs.

There's only one reason why Vuskovic isn't on the senior side right now, and that's because there are too many good center backs at Tottenham. Spurs have Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who are both world-class players, and they also have a strong No. 3 in Kevin Danso behind them with Ben Davies, Kota Takai, and Radu Dragusin (injured) providing more depth.

Vuskovic has been even better than advertised for Hamburg this season, and people around Tottenham were already comparing him to a Sergio Ramos regen. Well, that wild praise may not have been so far-fetched after all, judging by how Vuskovic is doing for club and country.

Luka Vuskovic is a star in the making

In a recent 1-0 win for the U21 Croatia team over the Ukraine, Vuskovic stepped up to take a free kick for his team and nearly scored a beauty, curling the ball to the far post and watching the ball smack the post for an agonizing miss.

We've already seen Vuskovic score a great goal for Hamburg and come close to scoring on multiple occasions, as he's good for more than just his head on the attacking end. Vuskovic is advanced beyond his years technically, and a free kick struck this well, which is impressive regardless of the competition of course, is a clear sign of quality.

Vuskovic can do just about anything a center back needs to on the football pitch - and then some. If that sounds a bit like Ramos to you, then that shouldn't come as a surprise. This special athlete has no glaring weaknesses to his game at such a young age, and if Vuskovic can become a deadly set-piece taker for Tottenham and score goals from range, then when he comes back to Spurs, he'll be like having a midfield maestro from the center back position .

Tottenham Hotspur have added so much more young talent over the past couple of years, including in the summer 2025 transfer market with the additions of winger Mohammed Kudus and center midfielder Xavi SImons.

So it's going to be more commonplace to watch Spurs players make it on individual awards list, and more will be coming in future years as these young talents develop and still others, like Luka Vuskovic and Mathys Tel, begin to emerge.

The biggest gem Tottenham have in the senior side right now is center midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who was exceptional in the 2024/25 season and proved key to the club ultimately winning the Europa League.

Although Bergvall has been frustratingly underrated, Tuttosport have the right idea with the young Swedish star, as they placed him on their final shortlist of the 25 nominees to win the 2025 Golden Boy Award.

There is one big absence for Tottenham

Better yet, Bergvall, though he is the best young player on Tottenham, wasn't the only one to crack the list. Even though he's not a key starter, fellow center midfielder Archie Gray also snuck onto the shortlist, and with his start to the 2025/26 season under a much more competent coach in Thomas Frank, there's hopes he can continue to rack up the accolades and importance going forward, too.

Conspicuous by his absence is 18-year-old center back Luka Vuskovic, but he likely hasn't played enough games at the highest level to garner appreciation for a shortlist like this one. But with his electrifying start to the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, even as a central defender, you can rest assured the teenage sensation will be on one of these lists in the future. Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert will be 21, so their time is numbered for next year's award, which is only given to U21 players.

The competition to win is stiff, so Gray and even Bergvall likely won't get the award. Pau Cubarsi, Desire Doue, Kenan Yildiz, Dean Huijsen, and Arda Guler have a lot more hype and will likely be the frontrunners for the award. As the Champions League winner, Doue has the main edge, and it's a reminder that Tottenham could have had him in 2024 if Daniel Levy were more serious about big transfers.

Tottenham having two players on the list means that they, PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Chelsea were the only teams to have multiple finalists for the Golden Boy. Both Real Madrid and PSG have three in total.

Vinai Venkatesham may have Arsenal ties, but boy, does he make it hard not to admire him. Tottenham's chief executive officer (CEO) has once again spoken with impressive clarity and precision when explaining how the club's new leadership structure will work.

Fabio Paratici's inevitable return has been made official, with Spurs' announcement confirming that the Italian will work alongside Johan Lange, who has been promoted from technical director, as joint sporting directors.

Sharing this role is pretty uncommon, although Thomas Frank is familiar with the model. The Dane arrived at Brentford almost a decade ago when Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankersen were acting as co-sporting directors. Their partnership was successful for six years before the latter opted to build his own sports investment fund, Sport Republic.

So while uncommon, Tottenham's new leadership structure is hardly unprecedented. Nevertheless, some may be interested to see how exactly Lange and Paratici will share their responsibilities. Well, fortunately, Spurs have hired an excellent communicator in Vinai, who was quickly on hand to explain how it will all work.

How Tottenham's joint-sporting directors will work together

Soon after the news was made official, Tottenham dropped an interview with the CEO on social media.

Vinai first notes that Paratici has been working for the club on a consultancy basis, having resigned as managing director in April 2023 after being suspended for 30 months by FIFA for his role in Juventus's 'Plusvalenza' scandal.

Paratici thus already has a working relationship with Lange, and Vinai's breakdown of their roles should offer confidence that their partnership could prove to be a balanced and, ultimately, an effective one.

"In terms of Johan's [Lange's] areas of focus, he'll be focused on scouting, performance, football insights, performance analysis and the academy," Vinai outlined. "Fabio [Paratici] will be more focused on players, the transfer window, and the loans and pathways department."

Despite their different expertise, the pair will "work together on everything," Vinai adds. "They will both come together around squad planning and player recommendations."

While some may fear clashes and disagreements, differences of opinion are to be welcomed by the CEO. Ultimately, the club clearly believe that the skill sets of their joint-sporting directors go hand-in-hand and should contribute to a harmonious relationship.

The proof will be in the pudding, and supporters are already expecting a busy January, given the messaging that's come out from the top brass since Daniel Levy's departure.

The significant hierarchical changes, cash injections and return of the "don" could make for an exciting winter.

Tottenham Hotspur watched Son Heung-min leave the club in the summer transfer window by his own volition, and the biggest legend in the club's history is currently enjoying his time in the United States. Meanwhile, Tottenham are playing great football without him because of all the new additions, especially Thomas Frank as the manager, but there are still serious questions about the left wing spot that Son left behind.

Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert are highly promising wingers, and they have proven that at the U21 level for the French national team. But that's not the same as being stars in the Premier League every week, and while the two young guns are flashing real potential, neither are the finished product yet.

After striking out on Savinho in the summer transfer window and then watching the Brazilian re-sign with Manchester City despite a rather dreary start to the 2025/26 season, Spurs are back to the drawing board on the left wing.

One player they considered signing on the right wing before settling on countryman Mohammed Kudus was Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo over at Bournemouth. Well, Semenyo has been even better this season, taking down Tottenham head-to-head and outplaying everyone else in the Premier League with six goals and three assists, starring on both wings for the Cherries.

Another hidden release clause for Tottenham to find

Now all the big clubs in England want a piece of Semenyo, and while Bournemouth want even more money for the 25-year-old next year than they did in 2025, that may not matter depending on one key factor.

TalkSPORT's Alex Crook reports that Antoine Semenyo actually has a release clause in his contract with Bournemouth that will be ready to be activated next year. However, the Cherries really don't want to lose Semenyo, so they have been keeping the exact price of it under wraps, which sounds eerily similar to a recent example from a failed Tottenham summer 2025 transfer.

Tottenham inadvertently triggered the release clause of Nottingham Forest star attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White with a bid of 60 million pounds. That led to Evangelos Marinakis and Forest having a meltdown, throwing a tantrum, and blocking the transfer by threatening legal action before getting MGW to sign a new contract in all the mess.

It stands to reason, then, that if Semenyo has a release clause that Bournemouth really don't want clubs to know about, then it must be lower than the 75+ million pounds they are asking for. Since it hasn't been triggered yet, that also implies that it must be active from and until a certain point, so Bournemouth could either accept a bid sooner if their results fade or end up losing him for less than they want in 2026.

We're on the downslope of the October international break, meaning Aston Villa's visit, which seemed an age away as recently as last week, is suddenly fast-approaching.

Tottenham were able to successfully mitigate the first hectic period of a 2025/26 campaign that simply won't relent, enjoying an unbeaten run after the September interval.

With more Champions League fixtures and a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie upcoming, another daunting few weeks is in store for Thomas Frank's side, who sit pretty towards the top of the Premier League table.

However, there's a sense that this team can move through the gears as the season progresses, assuming we avoid major injuries (which cannot be guaranteed!). Nevertheless, if Spurs want to build on their sturdy foundations, perhaps eking out more of some squad members will be imperative.

Here are the four players with the most to prove after the October break.

Mohammed Kudus and João Palhinha have settled in superbly, while Xavi Simons has offered glimpses and cameos. It's clear that the Dutchman will come good.

However, for another summer signing, Randal Kolo Muani, less can be discerned. The versatile French forward rocked up without much football under his belt, having appeared for Juventus at the Club World Cup in June/start of July.

We've so far been subject to just one substitute appearance against Villarreal, with a 'dead leg' so far preventing Kolo Muani from making his Premier League debut. The injury setback means his loan has gotten off to a far-from-ideal start, but the Frenchman's fitness has been built up over the break, and there's hope he'll soon be in a position to contribute.

There's hope that the multi-faceted forward will add another dimension to Spurs' attack.

Only Dean Henderson has prevented more goals in the Premier League this season than Spurs' No. 1, who seemingly still has something to prove to factions of the fanbase.

While many are content with the Italian, the sky-high ceiling of Antonín Kinsky is intriguing, and seeing more of the Czech certainly wouldn't be a bad thing. Vicario may have produced some outstanding saves this term, but he's also been at fault for several of Spurs' concessions.

He's a superb shot-stopper and a huge dressing room figure, but can Vicario function as the figure of calm between the posts that a team competing among the elite requires?

After leading Spurs' scoring charts last season and delivering the all-important moment in Bilbao, hopes were high for Brennan Johnson after Frank took the job.

The Dane had coaxed a fine season out of Kevin Schade at Brentford in 2024/25, a player who isn't wildly different in profile to Johnson, and many believed the new manager would help maximise the Welshman's abilities while hiding his flaws.

However, after starting the first three Premier League games of the season, Johnson has occupied the bench, with the more technically secure Wilson Odobert preferred down the left. Now, there are rumours of a potential move for Schade next summer, which would perhaps call time on Johnson's divisive Tottenham career.

To prevent Frank from going after one of his old beneficiaries, Johnson must maximise his upcoming opportunities. His best work so far came against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

I'm a big Mathys Tel fan. He may not be quite as special as I envisaged him to be, but my character assessment of the 20-year-old suggests he'll give himself the best chance of thriving at the highest level.

Much of the reasonable discourse surrounding Tel has focused on his optimal role, and I've so far been unsure as to how Frank can maximise a profile that is fairly unique and perhaps specialised. However, Tel was impressive as Spurs' No. 9 at Leeds United before the break, and Richarlison's poor run of form means many would be content with the young forward leading the line against Villa this week.

Tel's performance at Elland Road did quieten a few, there's no doubt about that, but can he now produce a good run of form domestically to ensure Frank has a serious selection headache once Dominic Solanke and Kolo Muani return to full fitness?