TEAMtalk

Antoine Semenyo is emerging as one of the most in-demand players ahead of the January transfer window, but where would be the best destination for the Bournemouth winger?

Semenyo was already attracting interest from multiple clubs in the summer, but opted to renew his terms with Bournemouth. They might not be able to keep him on the South Coast for much longer, though, with his form in the first few months of the 2025-26 season putting him back in the shop window.

Over the weekend, Manchester City emerged as the latest contenders to sign Semenyo, who has already been linked with rivals such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in view of the January transfer window.

With the options piling up, Semenyo will have to pick his next step wisely when the time comes to move on. But among his admirers, where would he be best off moving to?

Our writers are ready to debate where he should go…

Fraser Fletcher

It’s hard not to say that Manchester City are not the best option for Semenyo. But that could change should Pep leave in the summer.

Liverpool will turn their fortunes around and maybe he is the needed boost of energy they need. Should he come in and make an immediate impact that would make him very popular, feels like a good move.

Steve Pearson

Ordinarily with these types of questions my answer would revolve around which club the player would be assured of starting at. But in Semenyo’s case, he’d walk into the elevens of all four teams right now.

As such, Semenyo should choose the club that comes with the greatest chance of lifting major honours over the coming years.

That narrows the field down to Man City and Liverpool, with Man Utd still years away from challenging and Tottenham perennially in the shadow of London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

A front three consisting of Doku on the left, Haaland up front and Semenyo on the right would give defences nightmares for the next half-decade.

None can be bullied off the ball physically, yet none can be matched in sprints either. I don’t think Pep has ever had a front three containing that level of physicality and speed. It would be a sight to see.

James Marshment

I think any player would be brave to sign for Man City right now given the uncertainty over Guardiola’s situation. If I were a player at the top of my game and with a few elite clubs to choose from, they’d probably be bottom of my list…

If Semenyo moved to Tottenham, he’s a player who could quickly become a big fish in a medium-sized pond, and could certainly elevate their attack to another level.

But if the player wants to make the best move for his career, then, for me, it has to be Liverpool!

Despite their recent struggles, the Reds represent one of the bastions of world football; an absolute behemoth in the European game and a side as safe a bet as you can get for regular Champions League football.

Moreover, the fact that the declining Mo Salah will leave in 2027 and potentially even sooner, there’s a real opening for him there to not just become a first-team regular at Anfield, but to start putting up even bigger numbers than he has done for Bournemouth this year.

And while they may be the biggest of shoes to step into, I honestly think Semenyo has the class, physicality and belief to make any move a huge success.

Samuel Bannister

Semenyo will be turning 26 in January so knows the next move he makes will probably be to the club he spends the prime of his career at.

With that in mind, it would be fair to aim high, but he must also take into account where he’s most likely to carve out a regular role for himself.

I would rule out Man Utd because they already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer just gone to pick up the kind of spaces Semenyo would operate in.

The Liverpool link is probably the most intriguing since he can play on either wing and they may need a successor to Mohamed Salah on the right or an upgrade on Cody Gakpo on the left.

That versatility could also stand him in good stead for a move to City, but I believe Tottenham’s needs match up most closely with Semenyo’s profile, since he could solve their left-wing shortage and offer a new element to their attack.

Nathan Egerton

Semenyo has gone from strength to strength at Bournemouth and it’s not surprising that a queue of clubs are looking to secure his signature.

The Ghana international should avoid Manchester United and Tottenham as both clubs have been very inconsistent throughout 2025 and are currently a long way from challenging for the major honours.

Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions but Arne Slot has struggled to get the best out of his attack following his £440million spending spree in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City currently represent the best option for the winger as a front three of Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Semenyo would terrify Premier League defences.

Rob McCarthy

Semenyo has his pick of some top clubs, no doubt, but there’s only one place where he will be an absolute guaranteed starter in the position he prefers, and that’s Tottenham.

Spurs made a major blunder over the summer by not bringing in a left-wing replacement for club legend Son Heung-min, and have to do everything to rectify that by beating their rivals to the punch and signing the Bournemouth star in January.

Having Semenyo on the left flank and his international teammate Mohammed Kudus on the right would give Thomas Frank two-thirds of an incredible forward line – if only he could find a striker who can stay fit for longer than five minutes.

Ghana stars Semenyo and Kudus are known to be good friends, and perhaps that might give Tottenham a small edge when it comes to winning the race for his signature in the new year.

But, whatever happens in January, if Tottenham transfer chiefs don’t prove to fans that they made a concrete move for Semenyo, then it’s a major fail on the club’s part when it comes to filling a very clear and obvious need.

Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to back Thomas Frank in the January transfer window, despite some fans already calling for his job, with a move to strengthen the club’s leaky backline with a top Serie A star now emerging as a major priority.

Having looked strong defensively in the early part of Frank’s tenure, the wheels have completely fallen off recently, with 13 goals conceded in the last four games – a run that included shipping four to Arsenal and five to PSG.

The manner of the goals Tottenham have been conceding has also been incredibly concerning for Frank, with individual mistakes aplenty, some of which have come from experienced stars like skipper Cristian Romero and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

To that end, a fresh report claims that Spurs are ready to intensify their pursuit of Juventus star Gleison Bremer ahead of the opening of the winter window.

The outstanding Brazilian centre-back has emerged as a clear target for the north London club, with sporting director Fabio Paratici looking to land a player who can offer more defensive stability in Tottenham’s backline.

A separate report from Italian outlet Tutto Juve, regarding a Spurs move for Bremer, has now been followed up by CaughtOffside, who state that defensive additions are now a “top priority” in January.

Bremer is said to have “risen to the top of their shortlist” as a result of his dominating presence and aerial power, although there is a difference in the prices being quoted for the 28-year-old.

Tutto Juve claims that Bremer could be offloaded for around €40m (£35m / $46m) in January, which seems a rather modest fee for an elite defender who is still under contract until 2028.

CaughtOffside, meanwhile, states that Juve will demand in excess of £52m (€60m / $69m) for one of their top stars, who are they are looking to keep hold of.

It’s also claimed that Manchester United and Chelsea are “closely monitoring” Bremer’s situation as well, with Juventus are only likely to consider a sale unless an “irresistible” offer comes in for him.

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Three into two doesn’t go for Tottenham

There’s no doubting that Bremer would be a quality signing, if Tottenham can convince Juve to part ways with the Brazil international. However, unless Thomas Frank is thinking of switching to a back three permanently, one of Romero, Micky van de Ven or the potential new addition is set to watch on from the bench – if a deal is indeed struck.

Let’s face it, Van de Ven is undroppable, while Romero is captain, which raises major question marks about the validity of the links to Bremer.

There is, of course, the possibility that Tottenham are already planning for life without either Van de Ven or Romero, who have both been heavily linked with Real Madrid, but that is unlikely to be anytime soon.

The Dutch defender is also reportedly on the brink of earning a lucrative new contract, hot on the heels of the new deal Romero penned back in August to end all talk over his immediate future.

Add in the fact that Tottenham also have very high hopes for young talent Luka Vuskovic, and it appears that a plan is already firmly in place for the centre-back position going forward.

Vuskovic, 18, has been making big headlines in Germany with his performances on loan at Hamburg and was close to making Frank’s first-team squad for this season before the club decided a temporary switch to the Bundesliga would be more beneficial.

There are concerns, though, that his exposure in one of Europe’s top leagues has alerted suitors to his tremendous potential, with Borussia Dortmund already rumoured to have enquired about a permanent move.

However, Tottenham have made it very clear that they view Vuskovic as the future of their backline and there is every chance that he will be a major part of the first-team squad next season.

That stance also serves to further dampen any speculation over a swoop for Bremer, although if the opportunity did present itself, it would be a crazy one to pass up.

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Latest Tottenham news: Vicario upgrade; Richarlison future

First up, what Tottenham truly think about signing an upgrade on Guglielmo Vicario has been revealed, while Thomas Frank has gone to war with the Spurs fans who booed the Italian following his blunder against Fulham.

Elsewhere, Spurs are unlikely to listen to loan offers for Richarlison in January, as it stands, sources have told TEAMtalk.

What Tottenham truly think about signing an upgrade on Guglielmo Vicario has been revealed, while Thomas Frank has gone to war with the Spurs fans who booed the Italian following his blunder against Fulham.

Spurs yet again floundered on home soil, falling to a 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday. In an all too familiar tale, Tottenham were their own worst enemies when falling two goals behind inside six minutes.

The second goal was a particularly sore spot for Spurs when Fulham ruthlessly capitalised on an errant clearance from Vicario.

The goalkeeper charged out of his box to pick up a loose ball, but while pressured, could only find a Fulham shirt with his clearance.

Five seconds later, Harry Wilson expertly curled a long-range effort into an open goal and the inquest – and booing – began.

The timing of the incident was unfortunate for Vicario, not least because a recent report from The Daily Mail claimed Tottenham are actively pursuing the signing of a ‘world class’ goalkeeper in January.

The report did not name names, however, and TEAMtalk tasked transfer insider, Fraser Fletcher, with looking into the claims.

Sources told Fletcher that the claims made by The Mail were wide of the mark. Indeed, senior figures at Hotspur Way describe Vicario as ‘integral’ to the project, with one source adding that the 29-year-old is seen as a future captaincy candidate alongside James Maddison.

As such, any addition in the goalkeeping department is likely to add depth, rather than usurp Vicario as the starter.

The fact Vicario committed a costly error against Fulham will not change the minds of Spurs’ decision-makers who on the whole, are more than satisfied with the Italian.

What Frank, Vicario and Wilson said about blunder

Spurs fans booed Vicario at various points throughout the match following his error.

Speaking post-match, under-fire manager, Thomas Frank, showed no hesitation in taking those fans that booed to task.

“I heard some of our fans apparently booed the incident and booed after, which, in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” he told The BBC.

“[They] can’t be true Tottenham fans that do that. Fair enough booing after the game, no problem, but when we are playing, we are supporting each other, we are behind each other going forward.”

Vicario – showcasing the leadership abilities Spurs adore – took responsibility for the blunder when speaking to Sky Sports straight after the match.

“The second goal was a mistake of mine, I take responsibility for that,” he said.

“The intent was to clear the ball long and I just hit the ball in a bad way. It was an even bigger mountain to climb.”

On being targeted with boos, Vicario added: “I’m a big man, what can I say? We cannot be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think.

“It’s on us to stay more calm, to focus on ourselves. We are lacking in composure and calmness to overturn results. Today is a bad defeat and it’s tough to accept.”

One key figure in the incident – goalscorer Wilson – appeared to suggest Vicario wasn’t fully to blame.

“I felt like the goalkeeper was out of the box for ages,” Wilson said.

“I was surprised none of the back four went back to the line. When none of them defended the goal, my eyes lit up a bit.

“[Destiny] Udogie slipped too, which gave me a bit of extra time. Then it was all about trying to make the right contact and get it on target. I had a good feeling, as soon as it left my foot, that it was on the right line.”

Ten seconds passed between Vicario coming out of his box and Wilson shooting – which was five seconds after the clearance.

Latest Tottenham news – Richarlison / Toney / Defensive solution

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to listen to loan offers for Richarlison in January, as it stands, sources have told TEAMtalk.

Elsewhere, one attacker Spurs have shown interest in is Ivan Toney, who used to play for Frank at Brentford and is now with Al-Ahli.

David Ornstein has revealed what the chances of the English striker leaving the Saudi Pro League in January are.

Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to listen to loan offers for Richarlison in January, as it stands, sources have told TEAMtalk.

There have been some doubts raised about his future at Spurs, with his former club Everton – where he played between 2018 and 2022 until his move to north London – touted as a potential landing spot.

A good financial offer could be considered, if Spurs are able to get an upgrade signing through the door to replace him.

But indications at this moment suggest Spurs do not see much upside to a loan agreement.

They would rather keep him as part of the squad in that instance, before taking a view on what happens to him long-term.

Richarlison’s contract expires in 2027 and while he is not necessarily viewed as a key part of the forward planning, there are considerations about what his value is to them compared to what he would bring in financially.

Thomas Frank is confident the club are going to back him in the winter transfer window and discussions over targets are being whittled down to a shortlist.

But they are keen to ensure any new signings are a genuine improvement that elevates the level of the strongest XI.

Richarlison’s current status with Spurs

Richarlison was among the starters for Spurs in their 2-1 loss to Fulham on Saturday, going off after an hour.

It was his 21st appearance of the season, but he was unable to add to his six goals and two assists so far.

His overall record since joining Spurs from Everton includes 26 goals and 12 assists from 111 appearances. For Everton, he scored 53 goals and added 15 assists from 152 appearances.

As a centre-forward, he will be primarily competing with Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke if he stays at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the rest of the season.

Latest Tottenham transfer news

One attacker Spurs have shown interest in is Ivan Toney, who used to play for Frank at Brentford and is now with Al-Ahli.

David Ornstein has revealed what the chances of the English striker leaving the Saudi Pro League in January are.

In other news, Tottenham have reportedly joined the race for a midfielder Manchester United are cooling on.

It’s been revealed that a massive blunder from Tottenham Hotspur’s medical staff, when it came to the handling of Dominic Solanke’s ankle problem, created an avoidable striker crisis for Thomas Frank in his Champions League squad.

Spurs currently sit 16th in the expanded Champions League group phase after suffering their first defeat in the competition on Wednesday night, when they crashed to a 5-3 loss at reigning champions PSG.

Frank actually had the luxury of being able to call on both Richarlison and loan forward Randal Kolo Muani for the contest in Paris, with the duo actually utilised as a front two in a daring change in formation from the Dane.

However, Frank has not always been that fortunate when it comes to the availability of his forward players, with Kolo Muani having missed game time with two separate issues and Solanke sidelined for four months now. Indeed, Tottenham‘s medical staff declared that the latter’s ankle injury was only minor, as per Tottenham News, and that he would be fine to be included in the Champions League squad.

Based on that assessment, the unfortunate Mathys Tel was excluded from the 25-man European roster, sitting on the sidelines watching on while Solanke has barely featured all season after undergoing surgery on that same ankle problem.

That call from the medical staff has undoubtedly made Frank’s life tougher when it comes to qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe’s premier cup competition, not having a player of Tel’s potential to call on when he could have done.

The French winger has actually shown some real flashes of quality in the Premier League this season, scoring two important goals against Leeds and Manchester United.

His ability to play out wide or through the middle would also have been an extremely useful asset for Frank, especially given Tottenham’s left-wing issues this season.

As for Solanke, the former Bournemouth man managed just 31 minutes of football before his October surgery, and it’s still unclear as to when he could make his return – despite the player recently breaking his silence on his absence.

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January signings could bring Tottenham UCL changes

Tottenham can resubmit their Champions League squad following January’s transfer window closure, typically in early February. That registration window allows clubs to add players based on new signings or changed circumstances, such as injuries.

While Frank should be able to call on the likes of Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski by then, there is every chance that Spurs could have one, potentially two new attackers on board in the new year.

It’s no secret that the club are hunting another left winger and remain massive fans of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, while they are also on the hunt for a new No.9.

Frank is keen on a link-up with Ivan Toney again, in a move that would almost certainly see the club part ways with Richarlison, while FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa also remains a target.

Either way, that likely spells more bad news for Tel’s hopes of playing in Europe this season as his misfortune is set to continue.

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Latest Tottenham news: Shock midfielder move; Toney signing blow

First up, Paul Scholes may have warned Manchester United against signing Carlos Baleba, but a report has claimed that Tottenham are ready to move for the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder in 2026 and make him part of Thomas Frank’s squad.

Elsewhere, Spurs, and more specifically Thomas Frank, will be denied the chance to make a major signing in January that would have been almost guaranteed to be a success.

Barcelona are reportedly looking to make three important new signings in 2026, and we can explain how such deals would affect Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Barcelona won the domestic treble last season, triumphing in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana to heap misery on Real Madrid. They currently sit second in LaLiga, one point behind Madrid, and are down in 18th in the Champions League standings after five games.

The Blaugrana improved their title-winning squad in the summer by bringing in Marcus Rashford on an initial loan from Manchester United, while also signing Joan Garcia and Roony Bardghji permanently.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick and the Barca board are ‘aligned on the key positions to reinforce ahead of next season’.

They want a left-footed centre-half, a winger and a centre-forward.

Barca’s ‘top priority’ is a central defender to replace Inigo Martinez, who left for Al-Nassr in August.

The report claims they would love to ‘accelerate’ their move for a new centre-back in January, though they appreciate it will be a ‘difficult’ signing.

Nottingham Forest’s Murillo is high in Barca’s thinking. They love the fact the 23-year-old is a strong and intelligent defender who can maraud forward on the ball.

Murillo moving to the Camp Nou would leave Arsenal and Chelsea frustrated. It was claimed last weekend that Arsenal have entered the race for the Brazilian ‘with serious intent’.

Plus, our transfer insider Dean Jones confirmed on Friday that Chelsea are interested in Murillo, though there is ‘no chance’ Forest will let him go on the cheap.

Other defenders Barca are ‘monitoring’ include Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) and Luiz Benedetti (Palmeiras).

Interestingly, Arsenal have also been linked with Benedetti, who is only 19 years old but is building a great reputation in Brazil.

If Barca decide Murillo is too expensive, then they could engineer a move for Guehi instead. He has run down his contract and will be a free agent next summer.

Liverpool remain eager to add Guehi to their defensive ranks, but they will face competition from several European giants, most notably Barca, Madrid and Bayern Munich.

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New striker, winger also on Barcelona agenda

Flick wants Barca to snare a new striker too, with Robert Lewandowski looking likely to depart when his contract expires in June.

Barca signing Harry Kane from Bayern – via his €65m (£57m / $75m) release clause – is ‘gaining traction’.

Barca dream of signing Julian Alvarez or Erling Haaland, but such moves are unrealistic given the colossal fees involved.

Kane is on the market for an achievable price, and he is considering a new challenge away from Bavaria.

Our transfer correspondent Fraser Fletcher revealed on November 3 that Barca are providing Tottenham with competition for the England captain.

Spurs ‘expect’ Kane to return in a sensational move, though Chris Waddle has explained why he could prioritise a switch to LaLiga.

Barca must also decide on their next left winger. They are undecided on whether to spend €30m (£26m / $35m) on Rashford, despite his great form.

Flick and sporting director Deco will perform an end-of-season evaluation on Rashford’s prospective transfer.

If Barca opt against signing Rashford permanently, then they could swoop for ‘long-standing target’ Rafael Leao of AC Milan.

Arsenal at risk of big exit; Kane responds

Meanwhile, a shock report has claimed Real Madrid see a world-class Arsenal star as ‘the perfect signing’.

Elsewhere, Kane has spoken about his future amid growing links with Barca and Spurs.

Paul Scholes may have warned Manchester United against signing Carlos Baleba, but a report has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are ready to move for the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder in 2026 and make him part of Thomas Frank’s squad.

Baleba was one of the top targets for Man Utd in the summer of 2025, but Brighton refused to sell him and demanded over £100million (€114.1m, $132.5m) for the midfielder. The 21-year-old, who is under contract at the Seagulls until the summer of 2028 with an option for a further year, has not been in great form so far this season.

However, Baleba remains a key figure for Brighton, having made 11 starts in the Premier League so far this season, and Man Utd’s interest in the youngster is intact.

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reported on November 18 that Baleba is one of three midfield targets for Man Utd in 2026.

Paul Scholes, though, does not think that Baleba is ready for Man Utd, with the Red Devils legend telling Sky Sports this week: “But Baleba is very young. Quality-wise, is he quite there? I think he’s almost in a Caicedo type of way.

“He’s done really well at Chelsea, don’t get me wrong, but is that the type of player Manchester United need? I’m not sure.”

TEAMtalk understands that Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest is now Man Utd’s top midfield target for the January transfer window.

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes wants to move to Man Utd, with the two Premier League clubs already in ‘talks’ over a January transfer.

According to CaughtOffSide, with Man Utd not going all in for Baleba at the moment, Tottenham believe that a window of opportunity has opened for them to make a move for the Brighton star.

“Tottenham are monitoring Baleba’s situation,” a source told the publication. “They sense there could be an opportunity there if United decide to focus on other targets.”

Joao Palhinha, Yves Bissouma, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur are the central/defensive midfield options in Tottenham manager Thomas Frank’s squad at the moment (when fit and available), but it seems that Spurs co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are keen on Baleba, too.

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What Man Utd think of Carlos Baleba – sources

As mentioned above, Man Utd have Baleba on their radar as a target, but the Red Devils do not want to pay over the odds for him.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, reported on October 26 that Man Utd have ‘serious doubts’ over paying £100million (€114.1m, $132.5m) for Baleba in 2026.

The Man Utd bosses were not overly impressed with Baleba’s performance for Brighton at Old Trafford this season.

Jones has reported that while Man Utd ‘have felt he is still growing in the game and that while a premium is expected, the current value being spoken of is too high’.

However, Baleba wants to join Man Utd, as reported by Jones on November 16.

Jones told TEAMtalk: “It is being talked about again that Baleba is a priority target, but it has to be stressed that they are not paying £100million for him any time soon.

“The player clearly wants the move, and their attempt to turn his head in the summer has worked, but his form has actually been worse since then, and so I do not see Man Utd going close to the level Brighton value him at.

“The message remains clear that Man Utd want a midfielder in January and also a midfielder in the summer.

“So, they are working on targets that are attainable in each of those, and the ones from the Premier League seem unattainable in January. That’s how the picture is for now.

“Obviously, these things can change, but Baleba is going to have to be very patient here because a lot is going on.

“Man Utd do still like him; they do still think he would suit the role, but his form and valuation do not match up at the moment.

“And on top of that, Brighton don’t want to sell him in January.”

Tottenham’s pursuit to bring Baleba to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will have two major hurdles.

Not only will last season’s Europa League winners have to pay at least £100million (€114.1m, $132.5m) for Baleba, but they will also have to convince him to make a U-turn on his desire to join Man Utd.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Ivan Toney blow, Kolo Muani plan

Meanwhile, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has revealed the chances of Tottenham Hotspur signing Ivan Toney in the January transfer window.

Sources have told TEAMtalk how Tottenham feel about making Randal Kolo Muani’s loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain permanent.

Tottenham Hotspur are not planning to sack Thomas Frank as their manager anytime soon, sources have told TEAMtalk, but an ex-Spurs star believes that the former Brentford boss is out of his depth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It has been a miserable return to club football for Tottenham fans after the two-week international break, with Frank’s side losing back-to-back competitive matches. A 4-1 hammering by Arsenal in the North London derby last weekend was followed by a 5-3 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Paris in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Tottenham are now three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in ninth in the Premier League table.

Spurs, who won the Europa League last season under Ange Postecoglou, have picked up only eight points from five games in the Champions League.

While it has not been dire for Tottenham, the north London club are clearly underperforming under Thomas Frank, who was appointed as the Spurs manager in the summer of 2025 following his departure from Brentford.

Some Tottenham fans are not happy with the football under Frank, whose pragmatic approach is in sharp contrast to Postecoglou’s swash-buckling style, but TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Dean Jones, has revealed that he has been told that the club’s owners, ENIC, are not planning to sack him right now.

Jones told TEAMtalk when asked about Tottenham’s current feelings on Frank: “I do not get the impression Spurs are about to panic about the recent results to the extent it’s going to cost the manager his job.

“There is no doubt he has experienced a tough month, but it is moments like this when Spurs bosses have to remain strong and believe in the reasons they hired him for the long-term.

“We should not forget that Mikel Arteta suffered some very tough times at Arsenal in order to get to the place they are now in, so patience can pay off.

“I am expecting Tottenham to show that similar level of faith in Frank.

“The atmosphere around what has happened this week is a test, but they have a decent run of games now on paper that should ease the anxiety levels a bit.

“Also, they’ll have players returning from injury and a couple of changes in the January transfer window that are going to be helpful.

“Obviously, if all of that doesn’t go to plan, then it will be a new level of discomfort to discuss, but for now, I am told the boss is not under threat.”

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Ramon Vega tears into Thomas Frank – ‘He hasn’t got the balls’

While ENIC has full faith in Frank, former Tottenham star Ramon Vega does not.

Vega told talkSPORT: “He is changing his mind every two seconds.

“One thing with Ange, whatever you criticise him, he might be limited in his own way, but he had the balls. He stuck to his guns. He did what he wanted.

“The players need this kind of certainty in the dressing room. That’s why I think when Ange was winning the Europa League with the young boys, 80 per cent of the season was with the young boys [due to injuries], the dressing room was sticking to him. And you can see that.”

Vega added: “I’m not sure this dressing room is starting to respect Frank because he’s changing how they play. They don’t know where to go, what to do. They haven’t got a strategically stable place to go.

“And the dressing room, as a player, when you know what the coach wants and he’s doing it week in, week out, the mentality is there, then the team starts to play well.

“But if you’re changing every five minutes, you really, really make the players very insecure. They don’t know where to go. And you can see that in these two games.

“If he doesn’t control the dressing room, he can be as good as he wants, as nice as he is, but he hasn’t got the balls.

“I don’t see Frank as suitable for this because I don’t think he has the balls. He hasn’t got a character to do this.”

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Latest Tottenham transfer news: Kolo Muani stance, Serie A raid

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are planning to sign an electric striker despite Randal Kolo Muani’s performance and goals against PSG.

Tottenham are also planning to raid Serie A for a defensive gem, as the north London club plan to beef up their backline for the second half of the season and beyond.

Tottenham and more specifically Thomas Frank will be denied the chance to make a major signing in January that would have been almost guaranteed to be a success.

Spurs have problems in the striker position, though not from a numbers perspective. Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani are all in situ, with the issue laying in how effective – or not, as the case may be – each of them are.

Kolo Muani did bag a brace against PSG in the most encouraging sign yet for the Frenchman. Yet he’s still to register a goal or assiss in the Premier League and is only at Spurs on a straight loan anyway. There is no option or obligation to buy.

Accordingly, Tottenham are exploring the striker market for 2026 and multiple sources have talked up a move for a player Thomas Frank knows well.

Ivan Toney, 29, rose to prominence under the Dane at Brentford. It was on the back of his stellar work with the Bees that Toney earned a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabian side, Al Ahli, two summers ago.

Yet Toney is understood to be receptive to the idea of returning to England in the upcoming winter window, be it a loan or permanent move. Starring in the Premier League would also boost his chances of making England’s World Cup squad.

TEAMtalk were previously informed Frank had held ‘direct talks’ with his former frontman. The Spurs boss was particularly keen to forge a reunion in January and a loan that contained an obligation to buy in the summer was floated.

But according to the latest from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Toney will NOT be leaving Al Ahli in January, for Tottenham or any other club, for that matter.

The final 10 words of Ornstein’s update were particularly strong in shutting down the potential move.

Ornstein shuts down Toney transfer

Ornstein wrote: ‘The deal that saw Toney leave Brentford for Al Ahli committed the England striker to his Saudi Pro League club until June 2028.

‘It has proved a successful transfer so far, with Toney scoring 41 goals across 61 appearances and lifting the Asian Champions League in May.

‘The 29-year-old regularly finds himself linked with transfers back to the Premier League — but it is expected he is going nowhere for the foreseeable future.

‘That owes to the length and value of a lucrative contract, the tax implications of leaving early and his happiness living in the Middle East.

‘Interest has been expressed by top-flight teams, yet Toney will not be on the move any time soon.’

Latest Tottenham news

In other news, Tottenham have reportedly joined the race to sign a striker in the form of his life in the January transfer window, rivalling Serie A giants Roma in a swoop for the player who could cost just €30million (£26m / $34.6m).

Elsewhere, Spurs will reportedly look to fix their current defensive issues by sporting director Fabio Paratici visiting familiar hunting ground and landing an elite Brazilian defender, with TEAMtalk assessing how the move could galvanise skipper Cristian Romero into finding his best form again.

Finally, and as Xavi Simons continues to struggle for Tottenham, a reliable French source has revealed what the attacking midfielder privately thinks about his situation, with Spurs manager Thomas Frank’s tactics to be partly blamed.

Former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Ramon Vega claims that Thomas Frank ‘hasn’t got the balls’ to be manager of the north London club after back-to-back defeats that saw his side ship nine goals.

Frank’s men were beaten 5-3 at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, just days after a 4-1 mauling at north London rivals Arsenal, as Frank’s bright start to life in north London has started to nosedive.

Despite some positive results at the start of the season, Tottenham have now won just one of their last six matches in all competitions.

The appointment of the former Brentford boss to replace Europa League-winning manager Ange Postecoglou has brought about a significant shift in playing style, with Frank more pragmatic and tactical with his approach.

Tottenham lined up with a back five for the first time since their Super Cup loss to PSG in August when they were humiliated at Arsenal, but then switched to a 4-2-2-2 mid-block in Paris on Wednesday night – lining up with four central midfielders.

The former Swiss international told talkSPORT Breakfast: “He is changing his mind every two seconds.

“One thing with Ange, whatever you criticise him, he might be limited in his own way, but he had the balls. He stuck to his guns. He did what he wanted.

“The players need this kind of certainty in the dressing room. That’s why I think when Ange was winning the Europa League with the young boys, 80 per cent of the season was with the young boys [due to injuries], the dressing room was sticking to him. And you can see that.”

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Tottenham players won’t respect Frank

Meanwhile, Vega believes that the changes Frank is making will lead the players to lose respect for his coaching ability.

He added: “I’m not sure this dressing room is starting to respect Frank because he’s changing how they play. They don’t know where to go, what to do. They haven’t got a strategically stable place to go.

“And the dressing room, as a player, when you know what the coach wants and he’s doing it week in, week out, the mentality is there, then the team starts to play well.

“But if you’re changing every five minutes, you really, really make the players very insecure. They don’t know where to go. And you can see that in these two games.

“If he doesn’t control the dressing room, he can be as good as he wants, as nice as he is, but he hasn’t got the balls.

“I don’t see Frank as suitable for this because I don’t think he has the balls. He hasn’t got a character to do this.”

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Latest Tottenham news: New striker target; jaw-dropping £145m double deal

First up, Tottenham have reportedly joined the race to sign a striker in the form of his life in the January transfer window, rivalling Serie A giants Roma in a swoop for the player who could cost just €30million (£26m / $34.6m).

Elsewhere, Spurs are planning to make Thomas Frank’s dream come true by signing Antoine Semenyo and Samu Aghehowa from Bournemouth and FC Porto, respectively, in the January transfer window, sources have told TEAMtalk.