Managing Tottenham - Xavi Simons dilemma as Thomas Frank given £84m priority transfer
Thomas Frank's Tottenham tenure has started at a respectable pace, but the Dane still has several key challenges to address as we head into the heart of the 2025/26 campaign
It's been a bright start to life at Tottenham for Thomas Frank. The former Brentford boss has introduced a welcome blend of consistency and tactical flexibility - aspects that were sorely lacking under Ange Postecoglou last season.
Six wins, four draws, and just one defeat from their opening 11 games represent a solid return, highlighted by a superb 2–0 win away at Manchester City in August. But after an early surge, Spurs' momentum has eased somewhat, with three draws in their last five matches.
Clean sheets have also dried up. Having conceded just once in their opening four Premier League matches, Frank's team have leaked four goals in their last three outings, and six in their last five in all competitions.
Things, however, are generally looking up for Tottenham, but a challenging run of fixtures lies ahead, with home clashes against Chelsea and Manchester United, and tricky away trips to Monaco, Everton, and Newcastle.
Frank will need to have everything finely tuned if his side are to navigate this spell successfully. With that in mind, here are four key priorities for the Dane as he prepares for the remainder of the campaign.
Get Xavi Simons firing
It felt like something of a coup when Tottenham pinched Xavi Simons from under Chelsea's noses in the summer. But while the Dutchman's arrival generated huge excitement, his start in north London has been more steady than spectacular. He hasn't been poor by any means, but nor has he yet justified his £52 million price tag.
Part of the issue is that Frank still hasn't figured out where Simons fits best. The 22-year-old, who's notched just one goal contribution (an assist against West Ham) in seven games so far, has been used across multiple roles - as a No. 10, a left winger, and a No. 8 - but has struggled to find rhythm or consistency in any of them.
Simons is not a like-for-like replacement for James Maddison, the creative heartbeat he has effectively filled in for following the Englishman's ACL injury. Where Maddison thrives on invention and flair, Simons is more of a passing midfielder - one who keeps play moving and knits attacks together rather than producing moments of magic on his own. That's not a flaw, but it does mean he needs the right system and supporting cast to shine.
For Frank, the dilemma is clear: identify Simons' best position and build the structure around him to unlock his potential. Once he settles into a defined role and gains confidence and rhythm, Tottenham could finally begin to see the player who not only dazzled in the academies of Barcelona and PSG, but also lit up the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig last season.
Find a reliable No. 9
If Tottenham are to take the next step under Frank, they need a dependable, ruthless presence at centre-forward - a true No. 9 capable of turning half-chances into goals. At the moment, that player simply doesn't exist in this squad.
Dominic Solanke has shown flashes of quality, but injuries have disrupted his rhythm and consistency. Richarlison continues to work hard but remains an enigma in front of goal, while Mathys Tel, though promising, is still more of a long-term project than a reliable week-to-week scorer.
Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, remains something of an unknown quantity. Once tipped as the next big thing after his breakout at Eintracht Frankfurt, his spell at PSG fell flat following his £64.2m move to Ligue 1, and while his loan at Juventus last season was an improvement, it was hardly spectacular. He's currently sidelined with an injury, which hasn't helped him or Spurs.
Between the quartet, there's talent, energy, and potential - but not the kind of relentless finishing that defines top-four teams. For Spurs to genuinely compete at the sharp end of the table, they need a striker who can deliver 20 or more goals a season - someone who can turn tight games into wins and lift the team when the performances dip.
That's the kind of cutting edge Harry Kane once provided, and it's what Tottenham have been missing ever since his departure. Kane, who is regularly linked with a return to Spurs, has publicly distanced himself from a Premier League return, yet there will be other options available.
For Frank, the task is twofold: either get one of his current options firing consistently, or identify a striker who can come in and provide that elite output.
One potential target is Samu Omorodion, who has been sensational since joining Porto in 2024, netting 24 goals in 37 league appearances. The Spain international, who nearly moved to Chelsea last year, and has been compared to the likes of Didier Drogba and Victor Osimhen, has an £84m release clause in his contract.
That figure might be hefty, but his current form suggests it could well be money well spent. Besides, Hugo Ekitike and Nick Woltemade arrived in England for comparable fees this summer, and both have proven to be smart acquisitions.
A move for Omorodion in January might be unrealistic, but there's no reason why the groundwork for a transfer next summer couldn't begin now. Until then, Frank will need to get at least one of his current strikers firing on all cylinders, but if none prove capable of stepping up soon, finding a genuine, top-class No. 9 must become a priority - because without one, Tottenham's ceiling will remain frustratingly low.
Work out the midfield
For all of Tottenham's early promise under Frank, one key question still lingers: what is his best midfield? Rotation is healthy and even necessary in a long season, but if Spurs are to build rhythm and cohesion, they'll need more regularity in the centre of the pitch.
So far, Frank has chopped and changed his combinations, with Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Xavi Simons and Archie Gray all featuring in various trios and setups. Sometimes it's been a flat three, other times two sitting behind a No. 10.
That flexibility is part of Frank's appeal. He's tactically adaptable and unafraid to tweak his shape. But there comes a point when versatility can blur into uncertainty.
Palhinha and Bentancur offer a solid, disciplined base, but perhaps lack the creative spark to unlock tight games. Sarr brings energy and drive, while Bergvall and Gray both possess composure and promise - yet none have truly cemented their place. Then there's the question of Maddison's reintegration once he returns to full fitness: does he come back as a pure No. 10, or is there room for him in a deeper, more fluid three?
These are all puzzles Frank needs to solve, and soon. The midfield is the heartbeat of any successful side, and while depth is a strength, stability breeds understanding. If Tottenham are to progress from a promising project to a genuinely cohesive unit, Frank will need to identify his go-to trio and give them the time to grow together.
Get motoring in the Champions League
Tottenham could really do with making another statement in Europe this season. A strong run in the Champions League wouldn't just boost their reputation, it would re-establish them among the continent's elite, something they've not truly been since Mauricio Pochettino's tenure.
The campaign hasn't exactly started with fireworks. A narrow 1–0 win over Villarreal was followed by a flat 2–2 draw with Bodo/Glimt, leaving Spurs with plenty of work to do in the group phase. What they need now is momentum - a string of results to propel them towards the knockout stages and give this side the belief that they belong at that level again.
They've already shown they can compete with Europe's best, having come within minutes of beating PSG - their Champions League opponents next month - in the Super Cup before the French champions struck twice late on to force a 2–2 draw and win on penalties. Performances like that prove Tottenham have the quality - they just need the consistency.
For a young and relatively inexperienced squad, a deep European run could do wonders. It would build confidence and create a winning mentality. Frank's side have shown flashes of quality domestically, but taking that onto the European stage would be a true marker of progress.
And with Champions League qualification for next season far from guaranteed, there's every reason to go for it. A confident, fearless approach in Europe could not only transform Tottenham's campaign but also remind everyone - including themselves - that they're still capable of mixing it with the best.
