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Tottenham Hotspur have so much more promise about them in the 2025/26 season with Thomas Frank at the helm, and that's not just because Spurs signed three great players in the summer transfer window in Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha, and Mohammed Kudus.

The existing players are showing more hunger and potential under Frank, who is by far and away a superior tactical manager to predecessor Ange Postecoglou. The real hope is that the young footballers, especially the forwards, can become world-beaters slowly over time under Frank.

For his part, the new Tottenham manager is already intrigued by a pair of growing forwards in Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel, who came into the season with expectations but a lot of unknowns and were even criticized by some fans just weeks ago.

But after strong displays against Leeds followed by world-class performances for the prestigious French U21 team, Frank sounds highly intrigued to see what Odobert and Tel can do as a pair after the October international break.

Mathys Tel is making waves

Frank said at the press conference ahead of Sunday's fixture between Tottenham and Aston Villa, via Spurs Global:

“It was so nice to see them perform well for their country. They are both in a good rhythm.

I'm pleased with both of them in general. I think they are developing and taking steps in the right direction.”

Tel scored once and nearly twice against Leeds, and he is a player with a Bayern Munich pedigree who was a key part of the side that won the Europa League last season. Despite the inane criticisms from some Spurs fans, most people, Frank included, believe that he is a quality young player.

Odobert was another significant investment in the summer 2024 transfer window, and, together, he and Tel can be a dynamic duo for the next decade if developed properly. In view of Frank's success at developing talents at Brentford into Premier League stars like Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney, you wouldn't want the U21 French duo in the hands of any other coach.

Frank's praise for Odobert and Tel is a hint that more minutes should be coming for the two as the 2025/26 Premier League season rolls on. The win over Leeds combined with this praise from Frank should be a sign of more starts, including for Tel and Odobert as a pair with Tel recently impressing at the striker position for Tottenham.

Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham was among those who spoke at the annual fan forum, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night, and he was particularly bullish over one piece of business conducted by the club in the summer.

Vinai joined Spurs as CEO in April, having spent a long while in Arsenal's hierarchy down the road. His ties to our bitter rivals would render him easy to dislike, but Vinai has so far spoken with impressive clarity on a range of topics amid a period of significant change in N17.

Those who attended the forum were once again impressed with the CEO's ability to communicate with precision at Thursday's forum. Thomas Frank, Ben Davies, Johan Lange and Bethany England were also on stage, as was Cristian Romero.

Having been linked with a move away following Ange Postecoglou's exit amid interest from Atlético Madrid, Romero's subsequent contract extension was a major coup for the Lilywhites. Frank named him his captain ahead of the UEFA Super Cup, and the Dane has benefited from his availability at the start of the new season.

New Cristian Romero contract was 'best deal' of the summer window

Vinai reportedly played a key role in ensuring Romero comitted his future to the club, with the defender now tied down until 2029.

While I wasn't at the forum and don't have the context in which the CEO brought this up, Vinai was quoted by several aggregator accounts on X, including Last Word On Spurs, as saying that Romero's new contract was the "best deal in world football this summer."

Son Heung-min's departure means the Argentine international is now the club's highest-paid player, and his newfound responsibility, which started when Ange named him one of his vice-captains two years ago, have helped Romero harness the aggression that once proved a source of frustration.

He's continued to prove at the start of 2025/26 that he's one of Europe's premier centre-backs, even if rival supporters remain adamant that he's a "hot head" who lacks discipline.

His partnership with Micky van de Ven proved key in our Europa League success last season, and the pair have started together in every Premier League match so far this term. As a result, Frank's resilient Lilywhites have the joint-second best defensive record in the division.

Retaining Romero's fitness could decide how far Spurs go this season, although Van de Ven is equally important to the club's success. Both have been ravaged by injuries over the past two years, but there's hope that under the new regime, the pair will be better protected.

The October international break has been navigated without too much fuss, despite the abundance of Spurs stars who were in action for their respective countries.

There were certainly highs and lows, While our French U21 starlets impressing again and Mohammed Kudus helping Ghana qualify for next summer's World Cup, Lucas Bergavll endured a miserable time, Sweden will be relying on the playoffs to earn their place at the big show. Fortunately, Dejan Kulusevski should be available when March rolls around.

Anyway, that's enough international talk. Tottenham are back in action on home soil on Sunday afternoon, with Aston Villa, the early crisis team of 2025/26, travelling to N17. The Villans steadied the ship before the break, and a hotly contested contest is in store this weekend, with Spurs aiming for a repeat of last season's home outing against Unai Emery's men.

Here's how Thomas Frank could set his side up this weekend.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Guglielmo Vicario (GK) – Vicario made up for his role in Leeds United's goal two weeks ago by making a pair of excellent second-half saves to preserve our victory. Still, the Italian has something to prove after the break.

Pedro Porro (RB) – Porro's importance to the Spanish national team is starting to be realised, and he remains an imperative figure in Frank's Lilywhites.

Cristian Romero (CB) – Romero was at the fan forum on Thursday and sat as CEO Vinai Venkatesham sang his praises. He didn't have all that much to do on international duty, it would seem.

Micky van de Ven (CB) – Van de Ven lined up at left-back for the Netherlands over the recent break, but will return to his familiar role on Sunday. There are rumours of a new contract emerging.

Destiny Udogie (LB) – Djed Spence had an excellent break, but Udogie is needed in this Tottenham team.

Midfielders

João Palhinha (CM) – I think Frank opts for Palhinha at the base of his midfield to combat Aston Villa's threat between the lines. Given how Villa play, this has the makings of a huge game for the Portuguese international. Duels aplenty.

Lucas Bergvall (CM) – This might not be the worst game for a fresh Rodrigo Bentancur to start in, but I think we'd all prefer a more dynamic option alongside Palhinha. Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr.

Xavi Simons (AM) – Xavi didn't play all that much for the Dutch, so he should be pretty fresh here. He's certainly growing in Spurs colours, but we're waiting for his "he's arrived!" game to surface.

Forwards

Mohammed Kudus (RW) – The Ghanaian must be flying high knowing that he'll be going to the World Cup next year, especially after Ghana failed to qualify for the upcoming African Cup of Nations. Kudus has been Spurs' star performer this season.

Mathys Tel (ST) – Richarlison has flown to the Far East and back ahead of this fixture. We don't need a sluggish Richy leading the line here. I hope Frank trusts Tel again.

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.