Goal.com

We'll start with the facts and the cold, hard numbers. Since 2010, no manager of a 'big-six' team - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United or Tottenham - who took charge for 10 matches or more has recorded a worse win percentage or points-per-game total than Frank.

At 1.16 PPG - 29 from 25 matches, which extrapolates to 44 across a 38-game season - Frank's average is worse than Ruben Amorim's at Manchester United (1.23), Roy Hodgson's at Liverpool (1.25) and Graham Potter's at Chelsea (1.27). Even Nuno Espirito Santo in his 10 Premier League games at Spurs comes in at a relatively handsome 1.5.

When Frank was appointed, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and then-chairman Daniel Levy claimed that the Dane scored highly when ranked against their other candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou. Venkatesham said: "We ran a really, really thorough process at speed. We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur. We analysed in real detail through our technical staff led by Johan [Lange, sporting director], more than 30 candidates.

"We had a shortlist, we spent a lot of time with the shortlist, and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate. I could not be more excited to have him join the club. I agree with everything that Daniel said around his characteristics. Personally, one of the things I'm really excited about is he's an outstanding developer of young players. I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad that we have here."

Granted, Frank coming in from Brentford was widely seen as a sensible, even if unexciting, appointment at the time. It has aged horrendously, however, and the club still seem to be clinging onto sentiments from last summer when they no longer seem relevant.

Frank at Brentford had a reputation that now stares back at you in a paradoxical, doublethink sort of way. He was extremely popular with Bees fans and sought to make a personal connection with them as well as his players, yet was still more widely renowned for how he and the club used data to inform their decisions. In general, Frank preached a never-too-high and never-too-low policy, best enforced by his belief that he and his squad should only feel the emotion of a certain result for a maximum of 24 hours.

Over recent years, other big-six sides glanced at Frank in wonder, with Chelsea and Manchester United even interviewing him. Sooner or later, we were going to find out how Frank scaled up to a club in a more glaring spotlight. He actually cracked in his first test - an opening press conference with a packed media room back in July.

"As I said to the staff on the first day here, I promise you one thing, one thing is 100 percent for sure - we will lose football matches," Frank said, trying to temper expectations. "I haven't seen a team not losing any football matches. There is Arsenal, that we can't mention... So I made my first rookie mistake there! Then there's Preston [in 1889], and those are the only two teams."

It was not enough that Frank had come in with the opposite sentiment to the dreamers before him such as Postecoglou and Mauricio Pochettino, but he also made a self-confessed 'rookie mistake' of praising rivals Arsenal. That's become a common theme over the course of the season and even penetrated the fanbase of the Gunners, who now chant that Frank is a 'silver member', one of the various levels of official Arsenal membership. He has long been an admirer of Mikel Arteta, who ironically has tricked many elite clubs into thinking all managers deserve a season or two to get their 'process' going. We don't even need to dive into the optics of 'cup-gate'.

Frank had a universal approval rating at Brentford and the club's constant good press meant he could barely ever fall over himself the way he has as Spurs boss. Be that saying 'who's Eberechi Eze?' in regards to their failed summer pursuit before he scored a hat-trick against them for Arsenal, trying to make out their inability to sign Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo was a sign of ambition or his new trick of saying that if Spurs play like they do when 2-0 down they would win more games, Frank's been a PR nightmare.

Spurs supporters' disapproval of Frank has grown rapidly ever since November, when they were beaten handily by Arsenal and fellow London rivals Chelsea. He is now regularly booed at away games when the players receive applause instead. When Frank said those who jeered goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after his howler in another defeat to Fulham weren't 'true Tottenham fans', it was difficult to ever imagine a way back for him. It's bad enough for Spurs supporters that they have to pay among the most expensive prices anywhere in football to watch their team in the first place.

During and after last month's loss at home to struggling West Ham, Tottenham fans chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" at the Dane. No Spurs boss has ever been as unpopular as this. Even actual Arsenal legend George Graham at least won the League Cup.

The main tactical questions over Frank's fit for Tottenham were related to his preferred style of play. Now, when Brentford were in the Championship, they actually did play on the front foot and with style, but that was over half a decade ago and those tactics weren't certain to work at a higher level, which is perhaps in part why Frank pivoted to a more conservative approach upon promotion in 2021.

His Brentford were always at their best when playing in transition and on the counter, which is why they so often succeeded in taking down the Premier League's elite. But Tottenham have never looked like a consistent attacking threat under Frank, regardless of opposition or game plan.

The only saving grace Frank can have in this regard is that Brentford were excellent recruiters working in an environment that allowed players to develop and thrive. Tottenham, meanwhile, are in an unrelenting pressure cooker and have made an absolute hash of trying to rebuild their attack without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Part of the problem is coaching, part of it is personnel. Long-term injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have also, in fairness, left Frank without the team's two best playmakers and creators all season.

But the issues go beyond the frontline anyways. Spurs are still easy to get at despite ridding themselves of Postecoglou's high line. They can't control games because all of their midfielders, the ones who came into the season fit anyway, are of a box-to-box mould. Players don't seem to want to take the risks they would have 12 months ago. Where Brentford had clear tactics to attack from wide spaces inward as they got further up the pitch, Tottenham personnel usually appear and act confused at any given moment.

Cristian Romero made headlines last week for his pointed dig at the Tottenham hierarchy for a relatively quiet January transfer window. After coming off at half-time of their 2-2 draw with Manchester City due to illness, the Argentine wrote on Instagram: "Great effort from all my team-mates yesterday, they were incredible.

"I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful. We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans, @spursofficial."

This was the second time in a few weeks that Romero seemed to take aim at the Spurs board. Following their 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, Romero said on social media: "At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don't - as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies." The post was later edited to remove the 'tell a few lies' portion.

Frank has continually defended Romero in public over these transgressions, and it was only a matter of time before this refusal to publicly condemn his captain's ill discipline came to a head. Some view the Argentine's red card in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Manchester United as harsh, one inconsistent with Premier League refereeing this season and based on the defender's reputation, but it was a foul worthy of a sending off all the same. Tottenham will now be without their skipper for four crucial games.

Fans have been quick to side with Romero over his digs at the board. After all, Spurs have a huge accountability problem and it's refreshing to see someone in a position of some power speak their mind in such a way. That said, Romero's poor performances across the season have been masked by the six goals he's scored, and he's let the team down once again with a rush of blood to the head. The benefits of his quality have barely been evident over the last couple of domestic campaigns.

He is not captain material, and if the club receive a decent enough offer for him this coming summer, they should consider selling. Romero simply isn't worth the hassle despite his talent, and he could even go out as a martyr with a final parting shot to those upstairs anyway.

Venkatesham spent 14 years at Tottenham's most-hated rivals Arsenal, and when he was announced as Spurs' new CEO in April 2025, there was as much shock as there could possibly be over such an appointment to a football club's board. Not even a year down the line, many Spurs fans have already decided that Venkatesham has failed and should never have been onboarded in the first place due to his history at the Emirates Stadium.

The infamous Levy became a lightning rod for criticism during the final stretch of his 24-year stint as Tottenham chairman. He oversaw everything, perhaps even meddled in departments where he had no right to, but he accepted and absorbed all responsibility and criticism that came with doing so. "Daniel Levy, get out of our club" was a regular chant from 2023 until his eventual departure in September 2025, and it surely won't be long until Venkatesham faces a similar sort of backlash.

Meanwhile, sporting director Lange, appointed in November 2023, has seldom endeared himself to fans owing to his sketchy-at-best track record in the market. Here is the full list of senior players signed on his watch: Timo Werner, Radu Dragusin, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, Yang Min-Hyeok, Antonin Kinsky, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Mason Melia, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, Conor Gallagher and Souza.

Lange's remit has been to try and ensure Tottenham is a premier destination for young talent, but he has often neglected the needs of the first team. He also came under fire most recently for claiming he didn't want to make panic signings in January, even though half of Frank's squad was sidelined with mid-to-long term injuries and results were on a downward spiral.

"It's important as a club to remain disciplined and make sure to do the best of our abilities to only sign players who will help the team now or in the future," Lange told club channels after the window closed. "It's important you don't force yourself into a stress purchase, because that normally doesn't end well for anyone."

Well, now fans are stressing that the season won't end well because it could lead to relegation as a result of a lack of purchases.

Frank used his press conference on Tuesday to state that the blame at Spurs should be passed round evenly, rather than at one person when it was suggested Lange should be under the microscope.

"I think it's, like with me, it's never only one person. I understand it is the head coach who gets the most blame when it is not going well and maybe get a little bit of praise if it is going well. That's part of the job so I knew that," Frank said.

"In my opinion, the way I have already seen, I can't speak about what happened before, of course I inherited a squad and some players. But the way I see it and the way we do it now, we do things together. So in the September [summer] transfer window, it was Fabio [Paratici] as a consultant, Johan, Vinai, Daniel and I. Now this window it has been the Lewis family, Vinai, Johan, Fabio and I. That's been the way the whole time so it is us who do that."

Sticking by Frank, and that sentiment working in reverse too, is meant to come across as the club having some sort of alignment, that this is a transitional season so poor results are expected. It's actually not as smart as the club are making it out to be.

Jamie Carragher once questioned what 'freedom' was on a football pitch. "Is it doing a stupid turn and losing the ball?" he mused. In similar essence, what is a 'transitional season'? Is it losing the large majority of your games with a whimper and insisting things are fine because it can't possibly get worse than this?

Another spanner thrown into the works this week has been Pochettino and his appearance on Jake Humphrey's High Performance podcast. It's never been unusual for the Argentine to float the idea of a return to north London, but given the club's current state, it feels a more calculated time than ever to bat his eyelashes at Spurs.

When asked by Humphrey which club meant most to him and long-time assistant Jesus Perez, Pochettino replied: "It is very simple: Tottenham. Still, the people on the street, the fans of Tottenham, really show the love and the appreciation, and I think that is why it's so special."

He added: "To win a Europa League, that the team won, is good, but it's not enough. It is not enough to challenge for the Carabao Cup, or the FA Cup, or the Europa League, or the Conference League. It’s a club that should be, or needs to be because the fans, what they expect is, to be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League, trying to believe that you can win the Champions League and also fighting for the Premier League and believing that you can win the Premier League."

A significant chunk of the Tottenham fanbase would welcome a Pochettino reunion, with even those previously resistant to going back to an old flame now warming to the idea given the current state of affairs. GOAL understands the Argentine wants to come back, though only after his World Cup campaign as United States boss.

When Levy and ENIC took control of Spurs in 2001, they made a managerial switch that was popular among supporters, swapping out Arsenal legend Graham for one of Tottenham's greatest-ever players in Glenn Hoddle. If the new regime want to at least bring harmony back to the club, then Pochettino, far from finished at the top level, would bring an immediate lift. The main question on that front may be whether or not he would view the job as favourably if they were in the Championship.

Regardless, it's extremely unlikely that Frank will ever be the manager Tottenham need. Spurs can't keep banking on a long-term project if the short-term signs are historically miserable. Even bringing in an interim, perhaps new assistant coach John Heitinga, might help the team improve performances and results.

Frank isn't the only problem at Tottenham. He might not even be the biggest of their problems. But he's the one who can be swapped out in search of a solution easiest. This isn't a matter of scrounging in mid-table, rather life or death when it comes to Premier League survival. It's not alarmist to say that.

We'll start with the facts and the cold, hard numbers. Since 2010, no manager of a 'big-six' team - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United or Tottenham - who took charge for 10 matches or more has recorded a worse win percentage or points-per-game total than Frank.

At 1.16 PPG - 29 from 25 matches, which extrapolates to 44 across a 38-game season - Frank's average is worse than Ruben Amorim's at Manchester United (1.23), Roy Hodgson's at Liverpool (1.25) and Graham Potter's at Chelsea (1.27). Even Nuno Espirito Santo in his 10 Premier League games at Spurs comes in at a relatively handsome 1.5.

When Frank was appointed, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and then-chairman Daniel Levy claimed that the Dane scored highly when ranked against their other candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou. Venkatesham said: "We ran a really, really thorough process at speed. We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur. We analysed in real detail through our technical staff led by Johan [Lange, sporting director], more than 30 candidates.

"We had a shortlist, we spent a lot of time with the shortlist, and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate. I could not be more excited to have him join the club. I agree with everything that Daniel said around his characteristics. Personally, one of the things I'm really excited about is he's an outstanding developer of young players. I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad that we have here."

Granted, Frank coming in from Brentford was widely seen as a sensible, even if unexciting, appointment at the time. It has aged horrendously, however, and the club still seem to be clinging onto sentiments from last summer when they no longer seem relevant.

Frank at Brentford had a reputation that now stares back at you in a paradoxical, doublethink sort of way. He was extremely popular with Bees fans and sought to make a personal connection with them as well as his players, yet was still more widely renowned for how he and the club used data to inform their decisions. In general, Frank preached a never-too-high and never-too-low policy, best enforced by his belief that he and his squad should only feel the emotion of a certain result for a maximum of 24 hours.

Over recent years, other big-six sides glanced at Frank in wonder, with Chelsea and Manchester United even interviewing him. Sooner or later, we were going to find out how Frank scaled up to a club in a more glaring spotlight. He actually cracked in his first test - an opening press conference with a packed media room back in July.

"As I said to the staff on the first day here, I promise you one thing, one thing is 100 percent for sure - we will lose football matches," Frank said, trying to temper expectations. "I haven't seen a team not losing any football matches. There is Arsenal, that we can't mention... So I made my first rookie mistake there! Then there's Preston [in 1889], and those are the only two teams."

It was not enough that Frank had come in with the opposite sentiment to the dreamers before him such as Postecoglou and Mauricio Pochettino, but he also made a self-confessed 'rookie mistake' of praising rivals Arsenal. That's become a common theme over the course of the season and even penetrated the fanbase of the Gunners, who now chant that Frank is a 'silver member', one of the various levels of official Arsenal membership. He has long been an admirer of Mikel Arteta, who ironically has tricked many elite clubs into thinking all managers deserve a season or two to get their 'process' going. We don't even need to dive into the optics of 'cup-gate'.

Frank had a universal approval rating at Brentford and the club's constant good press meant he could barely ever fall over himself the way he has as Spurs boss. Be that saying 'who's Eberechi Eze?' in regards to their failed summer pursuit before he scored a hat-trick against them for Arsenal, trying to make out their inability to sign Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo was a sign of ambition or his new trick of saying that if Spurs play like they do when 2-0 down they would win more games, Frank's been a PR nightmare.

Spurs supporters' disapproval of Frank has grown rapidly ever since November, when they were beaten handily by Arsenal and fellow London rivals Chelsea. He is now regularly booed at away games when the players receive applause instead. When Frank said those who jeered goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after his howler in another defeat to Fulham weren't 'true Tottenham fans', it was difficult to ever imagine a way back for him. It's bad enough for Spurs supporters that they have to pay among the most expensive prices anywhere in football to watch their team in the first place.

During and after last month's loss at home to struggling West Ham, Tottenham fans chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" at the Dane. No Spurs boss has ever been as unpopular as this. Even actual Arsenal legend George Graham at least won the League Cup.

The main tactical questions over Frank's fit for Tottenham were related to his preferred style of play. Now, when Brentford were in the Championship, they actually did play on the front foot and with style, but that was over half a decade ago and those tactics weren't certain to work at a higher level, which is perhaps in part why Frank pivoted to a more conservative approach upon promotion in 2021.

His Brentford were always at their best when playing in transition and on the counter, which is why they so often succeeded in taking down the Premier League's elite. But Tottenham have never looked like a consistent attacking threat under Frank, regardless of opposition or game plan.

The only saving grace Frank can have in this regard is that Brentford were excellent recruiters working in an environment that allowed players to develop and thrive. Tottenham, meanwhile, are in an unrelenting pressure cooker and have made an absolute hash of trying to rebuild their attack without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Part of the problem is coaching, part of it is personnel. Long-term injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have also, in fairness, left Frank without the team's two best playmakers and creators all season.

But the issues go beyond the frontline anyways. Spurs are still easy to get at despite ridding themselves of Postecoglou's high line. They can't control games because all of their midfielders, the ones who came into the season fit anyway, are of a box-to-box mould. Players don't seem to want to take the risks they would have 12 months ago. Where Brentford had clear tactics to attack from wide spaces inward as they got further up the pitch, Tottenham personnel usually appear and act confused at any given moment.

Cristian Romero made headlines last week for his pointed dig at the Tottenham hierarchy for a relatively quiet January transfer window. After coming off at half-time of their 2-2 draw with Manchester City due to illness, the Argentine wrote on Instagram: "Great effort from all my team-mates yesterday, they were incredible.

"I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful. We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans, @spursofficial."

This was the second time in a few weeks that Romero seemed to take aim at the Spurs board. Following their 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, Romero said on social media: "At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don't - as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies." The post was later edited to remove the 'tell a few lies' portion.

Frank has continually defended Romero in public over these transgressions, and it was only a matter of time before this refusal to publicly condemn his captain's ill discipline came to a head. Some view the Argentine's red card in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Manchester United as harsh, one inconsistent with Premier League refereeing this season and based on the defender's reputation, but it was a foul worthy of a sending off all the same. Tottenham will now be without their skipper for four crucial games.

Fans have been quick to side with Romero over his digs at the board. After all, Spurs have a huge accountability problem and it's refreshing to see someone in a position of some power speak their mind in such a way. That said, Romero's poor performances across the season have been masked by the six goals he's scored, and he's let the team down once again with a rush of blood to the head. The benefits of his quality have barely been evident over the last couple of domestic campaigns.

He is not captain material, and if the club receive a decent enough offer for him this coming summer, they should consider selling. Romero simply isn't worth the hassle despite his talent, and he could even go out as a martyr with a final parting shot to those upstairs anyway.

Venkatesham spent 14 years at Tottenham's most-hated rivals Arsenal, and when he was announced as Spues' new CEO in April 2025, there was as much shock as there could possibly be over such an appointment to a football club's board. Not even a year down the line, many Spurs fans have already decided that Venkatesham has failed and should never have been onboarded in the first place due to his history at the Emirates Stadium.

The infamous Levy became a lightning rod for criticism during the final stretch of his 24-year stint as Tottenham chairman. He oversaw everything, perhaps even meddled in departments where he had no right to, but he accepted and absorbed all responsibility and criticism that came with doing so. "Daniel Levy, get out of our club" was a regular chant from 2023 until his eventual departure in September 2025, and it surely won't be long until Venkatesham faces a similar sort of backlash.

Meanwhile, sporting director Lange, appointed in November 2023, has seldom endeared himself to fans owing to his sketchy-at-best track record in the market. Here is the full list of senior players signed on his watch: Timo Werner, Radu Dragusin, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, Yang Min-Hyeok, Antonin Kinsky, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Mason Melia, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, Conor Gallagher and Souza.

Lange's remit has been to try and ensure Tottenham is a premier destination for young talent, but he has often neglected the needs of the first team. He also came under fire most recently for claiming he didn't want to make panic signings in January, even though half of Frank's squad was sidelined with mid-to-long term injuries and results were on a downward spiral.

"It's important as a club to remain disciplined and make sure to do the best of our abilities to only sign players who will help the team now or in the future," Lange told club channels after the window closed. "It's important you don't force yourself into a stress purchase, because that normally doesn't end well for anyone."

Well, now fans are stressing that the season won't end well because it could lead to relegation as a result of a lack of purchases.

Frank used his press conference on Tuesday to state that the blame at Spurs should be passed round evenly, rather than at one person when it was suggested Lange should be under the microscope.

"I think it's, like with me, it's never only one person. I understand it is the head coach who gets the most blame when it is not going well and maybe get a little bit of praise if it is going well. That's part of the job so I knew that," Frank said.

"In my opinion, the way I have already seen, I can't speak about what happened before, of course I inherited a squad and some players. But the way I see it and the way we do it now, we do things together. So in the September [summer] transfer window, it was Fabio [Paratici] as a consultant, Johan, Vinai, Daniel and I. Now this window it has been the Lewis family, Vinai, Johan, Fabio and I. That's been the way the whole time so it is us who do that."

Sticking by Frank, and that sentiment working in reverse too, is meant to come across as the club having some sort of alignment, that this is a transitional season so poor results are expected. It's actually not as smart as the club are making it out to be.

Jamie Carragher once questioned what 'freedom' was on a football pitch. "Is it doing a stupid turn and losing the ball?" he mused. In similar essence, what is a 'transitional season'? Is it losing the large majority of your games with a whimper and insisting things are fine because it can't possibly get worse than this?

Another spanner thrown into the works this week has been Pochettino and his appearance on Jake Humphrey's High Performance podcast. It's never been unusual for the Argentine to float the idea of a return to north London, but given the club's current state, it feels a more calculated time than ever to bat his eyelashes at Spurs.

When asked by Humphrey which club meant most to him and long-time assistant Jesus Perez, Pochettino replied: "It is very simple: Tottenham. Still, the people on the street, the fans of Tottenham, really show the love and the appreciation, and I think that is why it's so special."

He added: "To win a Europa League, that the team won, is good, but it's not enough. It is not enough to challenge for the Carabao Cup, or the FA Cup, or the Europa League, or the Conference League. It’s a club that should be, or needs to be because the fans, what they expect is, to be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League, trying to believe that you can win the Champions League and also fighting for the Premier League and believing that you can win the Premier League."

A significant chunk of the Tottenham fanbase would welcome a Pochettino reunion, with even those previously resistant to going back to an old flame now warming to the idea given the current state of affairs. GOAL understands the Argentine wants to come back, though only after his World Cup campaign as United States boss.

When Levy and ENIC took control of Spurs in 2001, they made a managerial switch that was popular among supporters, swapping out Arsenal legend Graham for one of Tottenham's greatest-ever players in Glenn Hoddle. If the new regime want to at least bring harmony back to the club, then Pochettino, far from finished at the top level, would bring an immediate lift. The main question on that front may be whether or not he would view the job as favourably if they were in the Championship.

Regardless, it's extremely unlikely that Frank will ever be the manager Tottenham need. Spurs can't keep banking on a long-term project if the short-term signs are historically miserable. Even bringing in an interim, perhaps new assistant coach John Heitinga, might help the team improve performances and results.

Frank isn't the only problem at Tottenham. He might not even be the biggest of their problems. But he's the one who can be swapped out in search of a solution easiest. This isn't a matter of scrounging in mid-table, rather life or death when it comes to Premier League survival. It's not alarmist to say that.

Fernandes was on the scoresheet as United earned their fourth win on the bounce. The Red Devils beat Spurs 2-0 at Old Trafford with the Portuguese midfielder doubling his team’s advantage after Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring with a sweeping effort from the top of the box from a corner.

Fernandes took the headlines when he fired home from a Diogo Dalot cross with just ten minutes to go as he put the game beyond doubt. Thomas Frank’s side had been reduced to ten men earlier in the game following a red card to Cristian Romero and never looked like turning the game around.

The United skipper has once again been the star of their season for both Ruben Amorim and now Michael Carrick. The goal against Spurs marked his sixth goal in the Premier League this campaign and his 18th direct involvement. His 12 assists in the division put him far and away the best playmaker in the league, with Rayan Cherki’s seven the next highest tally.

Fernandes notched up his 200th goal or assist for Manchester United on Saturday and, in doing so, became the second-quickest player to do so in the club’s long history. Only Wayne Rooney, who scored 133 goals and registered 67 assists in 295 games, can top Fernandes’ record of 104 goals and 96 assists in 314 games.

Per Opta, Fernandes has also overtaken the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (339 games), David Beckham (393), Ryan Giggs (424) and Paul Scholes (564). It puts him amongst some of the very best players to have ever pulled on a red shirt of Manchester United and he will not be forgotten any time soon.

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United have been resurgent under Carrick and their fourth win on the spin is testament to the work he has put in at Old Trafford. The Red Devils never accrued as many victories in a row under his predecessor Amorim.

Speaking after the game, Fernandes hailed the impact the former England and United midfielder has had on the squad. He told TNT Sports: “I think Michael came in with the right idea of giving the players the freedom to take responsibility on the pitch to do the decisions that were needed. I think he remembers what I told him the last time he was manager. I thought Michael could be a great manager and he’s just shown it.

“We hope we can help him even more so everyone can see we are good players. That’s why we are at Man United. I think everyone understands the pressure of playing for this club. Everyone knows the expectations around it.”

United will have to contend with another side on their own glitzy run of form on Tuesday when they travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham. United are currently fourth in the Premier League, look set to secure a return to the Champions League next season and can begin to dream beyond. Carrick’s side are also just three points off of Aston Villa and Manchester City ahead of them and will fancy themselves to overhaul their rivals. League leaders Arsenal, 12 points clear of United, appear too far ahead to even begin to suggest a potential title charge.

United will know any slip up could spell trouble too, with Chelsea just one point below them. Liverpool are four off the pace but have a game in hand against City on Sunday afternoon, knowing victory will put the pressure on the sides above them.

United can strengthen their grip on the top four with a win against the Hammers, but will have to play well to take the maximum points off a side with four wins from their last five games in all competitions.

Before kick-off the two teams paid tribute to the United players who died in the Munich air crash to mark the 68th anniversary of the disaster. It was an even first half and United were edging it, threatening with efforts from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Casemiro, before they got a gift in the form of a red card to Romero in the 28th minute. The Argentine received his second red in less than two months for an aggressive tackle on Casemiro which ended in him standing on the Brazilian's ankle.

Everton had won at Old Trafford earlier in the season with 10 men but United took full advantage this time and grabbed the lead with the cheekiest of corner routines. Kobbie Mainoo appeared out of nowhere to collect a short one from Fernandes and laid it off to Mbeumo, who mis-kicked the ball but still found the bottom corner of the net.

Casemiro came close to doubling the lead before the break and United had the ball in the net twice in the second half only to be denied by the offside flag. They continued to go for the second goal rather than sit on their lead and United fans held their breath when Xavi Simons flashed a shot just wide of the top corner.

The hosts finally got that all-important second goal courtesy of a well-worked move following a quick break, leading to Fernandes meeting Dalot's cross to score his sixth goal of the campaign and continue Carrick's perfect start.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford...

Senne Lammens (6/10):

Had a nervy moment when his kick went straight to Conor Gallagher but he was otherwise confident, dealing well with aerial balls and smothering at Gallagher's feet.

Diogo Dalot (8/10):

A strong overall performance, defending diligently and linking up well with the attack. Made an important tackle on Pape Matar Sarr and set Cunha up for a shot that nearly went in with a driving run from his own half. To cap his fine performance he sent the ball over for Fernandes' clincher.

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Got asked a couple of questions by Xavi Simons but made it through unscathed.

Lisandro Martinez (6/10):

His passing was spot-on as usual and he made his share of good defensive interventions, apart from one moment when he lost the ball in his own half.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

A solid performance in defence and attack, acting quickly to foul Gallagher and prevent him capitalising on Lammens' loose pass.

Our betting expert expects a thrilling encounter between two exciting teams. Given both teams’ form, this match is likely to end in a draw.

Man United vs Tottenham Betting Predictions

All odds are courtesy of bet365, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.

BTTS - Yes @ 3/5 with bet365

Anytime goalscorer - Dominic Solanke @ 49/20 with bet365

Draw @ 31/10 with bet365

Two prolific frontlines

The home side are performing well offensively. Having scored 44 goals, United are the third-highest-scoring team in the division ahead of this gameweek, trailing only Arsenal (46) and Man City (49). At home, they average 1.92 goals per game this season.

However, their defence has been shaky for some time, as they’ve conceded 15 goals in their 12 league games at Old Trafford. Spurs have been more effective on the road than at home, scoring 20 goals on their travels compared to 15 in their backyard.

In the league, 75% of Manchester United’s matches have seen both teams score, a statistic that applies to 50% of Tottenham’s fixtures. The hosts enter this game after two consecutive matches in which both sides found the net.

The visitors can certainly punish the Red Devils in the final third. It’s worth noting that the last meeting between the sides ended with both getting onto the scoresheet. Therefore, it won’t be a surprise if it happens again this weekend.

Man United vs Tottenham Prediction 1: BTTS - Yes @ 3/5 with bet365

The return of a key forward

Spurs fans have been anticipating Dominic Solanke’s return from injury. The former Bournemouth striker was sidelined for five months due to an ankle issue and was gradually reintegrated into the team last month.

Solanke hasn’t disappointed his manager since, registering his first goals in the Premier League with a brace against Man City last weekend. The equalising goal was an incredible scorpion kick that will certainly be considered a contender for the goal of the season.

So far, the forward has scored four goals in as many games across all competitions for the club, despite starting only three of those matches. He remains a constant threat and has netted five times in his previous four personal encounters against Man United. Solanke also scored a brace in Spurs’ League Cup clash with United in the 2024/25 campaign, suggesting he’s likely to find the back of the net in this fixture.

Man United vs Tottenham Prediction 2: Anytime goalscorer - Dominic Solanke @ 49/20 with bet365

Unbeaten streak to reign

Manchester United have gained serious momentum, winning three consecutive league games. Carrick will hope that his troops can maintain it as they approach the last 14 games of the season. It’s worth noting that they’ve only lost twice all season at Old Trafford.

For a long while, Spurs had the best away record in the Premier League, though Aston Villa and Arsenal have surpassed them. Frank’s men have lost three of their 12 away league games this term.

However, the visitors are in good form, unbeaten across their last four games in all competitions. Their previous two league fixtures both ended in 2-2 draws, and their second-half performance against City has likely increased their confidence. Spurs are also unbeaten against United in their last eight head-to-heads, winning five of them.

Interestingly, the three draws recorded during that eight-game streak all ended with a 2-2 scoreline, including the reverse fixture earlier this season. Consequently, another draw is a possible outcome, especially since United last beat Tottenham in 2022.

Man United vs Tottenham Prediction 3: Draw @ 31/10 with bet365

Our analysis: Form of both teams

Score prediction: Man United 2-2 Tottenham

Goalscorers prediction: Man United: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo; Tottenham: Dominic Solanke, Xavi Simons

Over the last three weeks, Manchester United have looked like a completely different team than the one that Ruben Amorim led. The appointment of Michael Carrick has certainly motivated the players and the fans. Consequently, United are currently in fourth place in the Premier League, which is a major improvement from their 15th-place finish last term.

Carrick’s men were impressive in the Manchester derby, as they beat Man City 2-0. Although they weren’t at their best against Arsenal, they scored two exceptional goals to secure victory. Last weekend, they surrendered a two-goal lead, but managed to win late in stoppage time thanks to a goal from Benjamin Sesko.

While improvements are evident, defensive vulnerabilities remain, and the upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur represents a significant challenge. Spurs have experienced an inconsistent league campaign and are currently 14th in the division, nine points above the relegation zone.

Thomas Frank’s men showed great resilience by recovering from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 against Man City last week. With their strong performances in the Champions League, Tottenham remain a formidable opponent this weekend.

Probable lineups for Man United vs Tottenham

Man United expected lineup: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandez, Cunha, Mbeumo

Tottenham expected lineup: Vicario, Gray, Danso, Dragusin, Udogie, Gallagher, Palhinha, Bissouma, Kolo Muani, Simons, Solanke

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Michael Carick's resurgent Red Devils could drive another nail into the coffin of Tottenham manager Thomas Frank at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United vs Tottenham kick-off time

Manchester United vs Tottenham kicks off on 7 Feb 2026 at 07:30 EST and 12:30 GMT.

Match preview

Never a dull moment with Manchester United. Under interim boss Michael Carrick, the Red Devils have picked up three wins from three, and they've all been notable scalps. A 2-0 win over City in the derby was followed by a stunning 3-2 win away to leaders Arsenal. Most recently, they beat Fulham 3-2 at The Theatre of Dreams thanks to a 94th-minute goal from Benjamin Sesko after Fulham had equalised with a 91st-minute stunner from Kevin.

Getty Images

Although Spurs snatched a point against Man City last time out after trailing 2-0, they remain winless in six EPL matches. Five of their seven league wins this term have come away from home, so manager Thomas Frank might be grateful that his injury-ravaged squad is on the road.

Getty Images

Injury news, suspensions, key stats

Bruno Fernandes has 12 assists in the league this term, his joint-highest tally, and nine of those have come in his last nine matches.

Spurs, amazingly, are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with United, while Dominic Solanke has scored in each of his last five appearances against the Red Devils. He scored a brace against City in the aforementioned 2-2 draw.

Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu are injured for United.

Spurs' lengthy injury list includes Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Richarlison and Kevin Danso.

Getty Images

Team news & squads

Form

Head-to-Head Record

Standings

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It might sound reductive, but this fantastic season likely does not pan out the same way if Spurs had not started it with a 1-0 win over West Ham. Having ended the 2024-25 campaign on a 10-game winless streak, with their last victory in the WSL coming way back on January 26, it's no surprise that new head coach Martin Ho was concerned about where the group might be at psychologically coming into this campaign.

"When I first came in, we needed to lift [the players]," he explained, speaking before the winter break.

After all, he had little doubt about the ability and talent in the group. In the squad Ho inherited from previous coach Robert Vilahamn, 13 players were part of the team that reached the FA Cup final and finished sixth in the WSL in the 2023-24 campaign, just one place and one point off the club's best-ever season in the top-flight.

"There's a lot of talent in the staff and players here," Ho added. "[I] just needed to give them processes to enable them to work and a framework to perform."

Nothing underlines that existing talent more than the fact that Spurs made just two signings in the summer window. Ho didn't come in and sign a whole new team; rather, he assessed what he had at his disposal and has given them what they needed to be able to perform and get results.

Though Spurs only made two summer signings, both have been excellent.

Toko Koga, the Japan international who only turned 20 last month, has been one of the best defenders in the division this season, showing a maturity that belies her age, while Cathinka Tandberg, who arrived just three days before the WSL season got underway, has made a telling contribution with four goals and two assists from just seven starts.

Five players have since arrived in a much busier winter window, giving Spurs a boost midway through this extremely promising season. Signe Gaupset, the much-sought after Norway international, is the stand out recruit, but all of the new arrivals have the potential to be very impactful.

While the chances of securing the services of Gaupset were boosted by Ho having coached the 20-year-old in his previous role, at Brann, she certainly would not have chosen north London had Spurs not impressed as a club and a team this season.

So, how has Ho revived this group? A lot of it is down to the playing style.

"I would say he's brought a lot of intensity. He's got a style of play which suits our players quite well. We're probably fitter than we've ever been. We're moving a lot more freely and just playing much better football and actually finding that belief within [ourselves] to be able to do the job that is asked," Bethany England, Spurs' captain and star striker, told GOAL just before the winter break.

"I think before, we were kind of, I'd say, a little bit lost in searching for that direction. But Martin's obviously done a great job since coming in and his assistants he's brought in, Lawrence [Shamieh] and Adam [Jeffery], are amazing technical people that are helping the girls improve every day as well. I think it's been an all-round effort, really, but I think the girls have really bought into what he wants and how he wants to play. and it is suiting us."

The improvements that playing style has made is evident in the numbers. Spurs are much more adaptable this season, able to fluidly switch between a back-three and a back-four depending on what is needed, while the double-pivot in midfield of Eveliina Summanen and Drew Spence has been vital in protecting that back line so that the full-backs, or wing-backs, can really get involved in the attack.

As England noted, this approach suits the players in the squad and, as a result, Tottenham have been much better in both halves. Last season, only Crystal Palace, who were relegated, conceded more goals than Spurs, who kept just two clean sheets in their 22 WSL outings. This season, the north London side have only conceded 19 goals in their 14 games, to sit a respectable sixth in that column, while keeping five clean sheets in 14 outings to date. Only Chelsea, with arguably the world's best goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, between the sticks have shut teams out more often.

It's worth noting, also, that Ho has played the same goalkeeper in every league fixture so far. Last year, for varying reasons, Vilahamn used three different shot-stoppers, something which can impact the cohesion and understanding at the back. Ho, though, has been able to entrust Lize Kop with the No.1 role on a full-time basis, and she has repaid that faith with some outstanding performances, to the degree that no team in the division has a more positive differential between their expected goals against statistic and their actual goals against than Spurs.

In attack, the numbers are particularly interesting, as Tottenham aren't actually shooting more or creating a greater number of chances; they're just being a lot more clinical. In fact, per 90 minutes, Spurs are having marginally fewer shots and shots on target than last season.

Yet, in an attack that encourages the forwards to interchange positions and seek out pockets of space, they're scoring 1.35 goals per game, a noteworthy increase on the one per game of last season. Combine that with a much-improved defence, and it has led to better results.

Spearheading it all is an exciting and infectious leader, in Ho. The 35-year-old was always highly thought of when he worked as the assistant to Marc Skinner at Manchester United, and he showed why in his time at Brann, leading the Norwegian side to an unlikely Champions League quarter-final where they would give a good account of themselves against three-time winners Barcelona.

Now, the energy, enthusiasm and - underpinning it all - knowledge that he brings to the table is inspiring another unlikely success story.

To lift the confidence in players, to get individuals to buy into your vision, a leader must be charismatic and respectable, and Ho clearly is. He deserves credit, too, for how his players have bounced back from disappointments, such as the 3-3 draw at United or the recent loss to Liverpool.

Spurs have not lost back-to-back games all season, and that's a testament to the resilience and work ethic in this group, something both the staff and the players should get a lot of plaudits for.

Spurs have achieved nothing yet. Indeed, at this stage last season, the north London side were sixth in the WSL table, before a dreadful run of results saw them plummet to 11th by the campaign's end. Given that experience, the players will know full well that they cannot rest on their laurels.

But nothing about this team suggests there is any danger of complacency. It's quite the opposite, in fact. This season is seen as a foundation being laid for greater things to come down the line, rather than being the ceiling of what Spurs can achieve.

"We’re not even 15 percent of the way to where I want us to be," Ho told the Guardian last month. "We’ve seen some solid performances, but we’re nowhere near the finished article. I’m really excited about what’s ahead and the ambitions of the club."

And yet, it is by no means ridiculous to suggest this season could see Tottenham qualify for the Women's Champions League for the very first time. It's not going to be easy for them to get there, but Ho's side have nailed down a consistency across the season that no team outside of that 'big four' has managed yet, something necessary in order to stake a real claim for a top-three finish.

If Spurs can get a result on Sunday against Chelsea, it would make that European dream much more realistic. But even if they fall short against one of the very best teams in the world, and even if they can't quite sneak into those Champions League places this year, that won't change the fact that this Tottenham team looks to have an extremely bright future.

It might sound reductive, but this fantastic season likely does not pan out the same way if Spurs had not started it with a 1-0 win over West Ham. Having ended the 2024-25 campaign on a 10-game winless streak, with their last victory in the WSL coming way back on January 26, it's no surprise that new head coach Martin Ho was concerned about where the group might be at psychologically coming into this campaign.

"When I first came in, we needed to lift [the players]," he explained, speaking before the winter break.

After all, he had little doubt about the ability and talent in the group. In the squad Ho inherited from previous coach Robert Vilahamn, 13 players were part of the team that reached the FA Cup final and finished sixth in the WSL in the 2023-24 campaign, just one place and one point off the club's best-ever season in the top-flight.

"There's a lot of talent in the staff and players here," Ho added. "[I] just needed to give them processes to enable them to work and a framework to perform."

Nothing underlines that existing talent more than the fact that Spurs made just two signings in the summer window. Ho didn't come in and sign a whole new team; rather, he assessed what he had at his disposal and has given them what they needed to be able to perform and get results.

Though Spurs only made two summer signings, both have been excellent.

Toko Koga, the Japan international who only turned 20 last month, has been one of the best defenders in the division this season, showing a maturity that belies her age, while Cathinka Tandberg, who arrived just three days before the WSL season got underway, has made a telling contribution with four goals and two assists from just seven starts.

Five players have since arrived in a much busier winter window, giving Spurs a boost midway through this extremely promising season. Signe Gaupset, the much-sought after Norway international, is the stand out recruit, but all of the new arrivals have the potential to be very impactful.

While the chances of securing the services of Gaupset were boosted by Ho having coached the 20-year-old in his previous role, at Brann, she certainly would not have chosen north London had Spurs not impressed as a club and a team this season.

So, how has Ho revived this group? A lot of it is down to the playing style.

"I would say he's brought a lot of intensity. He's got a style of play which suits our players quite well. We're probably fitter than we've ever been. We're moving a lot more freely and just playing much better football and actually finding that belief within [ourselves] to be able to do the job that is asked," Bethany England, Spurs' captain and star striker, told GOAL just before the winter break.

"I think before, we were kind of, I'd say, a little bit lost in searching for that direction. But Martin's obviously done a great job since coming in and his assistants he's brought in, Lawrence [Shamieh] and Adam [Jeffery], are amazing technical people that are helping the girls improve every day as well. I think it's been an all-round effort, really, but I think the girls have really bought into what he wants and how he wants to play. and it is suiting us."

The improvements that playing style has made is evident in the numbers. Spurs are much more adaptable this season, able to fluidly switch between a back-three and a back-four depending on what is needed, while the double-pivot in midfield of Eveliina Summanen and Drew Spence has been vital in protecting that back line so that the full-backs, or wing-backs, can really get involved in the attack.

As England noted, this approach suits the players in the squad and, as a result, Tottenham have been much better in both halves. Last season, only Crystal Palace, who were relegated, conceded more goals than Spurs, who kept just two clean sheets in their 22 WSL outings. This season, the north London side have only conceded 19 goals in their 14 games, to sit a respectable sixth in that column, while keeping five clean sheets in 14 outings to date. Only Chelsea, with arguably the world's best goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, between the sticks have shut teams out more often.

It's worth noting, also, that Ho has played the same goalkeeper in every league fixture so far. Last year, for varying reasons, Vilahamn used three different shot-stoppers, something which can impact the cohesion and understanding at the back. Ho, though, has been able to entrust Lize Kop with the No.1 role on a full-time basis, and she has repaid that faith with some outstanding performances, to the degree that no team in the division has a more positive differential between their expected goals against statistic and their actual goals against than Spurs.

In attack, the numbers are particularly interesting, as Tottenham aren't actually shooting more or creating a greater number of chances; they're just being a lot more clinical. In fact, per 90 minutes, Spurs are having marginally fewer shots and shots on target than last season.

Yet, in an attack that encourages the forwards to interchange positions and seek out pockets of space, they're scoring 1.35 goals per game, a noteworthy increase on the one per game of last season. Combine that with a much-improved defence, and it has led to better results.

Spearheading it all is an exciting and infectious leader, in Ho. The 35-year-old was always highly thought of when he worked as the assistant to Marc Skinner at Manchester United, and he showed why in his time at Brann, leading the Norwegian side to an unlikely Champions League quarter-final where they would give a good account of themselves against three-time winners Barcelona.

Now, the energy, enthusiasm and - underpinning it all - knowledge that he brings to the table is inspiring another unlikely success story.

To lift the confidence in players, to get individuals to buy into your vision, a leader must be charismatic and respectable, and Ho clearly is. He deserves credit, too, for how his players have bounced back from disappointments, such as the 3-3 draw at United or the recent loss to Liverpool.

Spurs have not lost back-to-back games all season, and that's a testament to the resilience and work ethic in this group, something both the staff and the players should get a lot of plaudits for.

Spurs have achieved nothing yet. Indeed, at this stage last season, the north London side were sixth in the WSL table, before a dreadful run of results saw them plummet to 11th by the campaign's end. Given that experience, the players will know full well that they cannot rest on their laurels.

But nothing about this team suggests there is any danger of complacency. It's quite the opposite, in fact. This season is seen as a foundation being laid for greater things to come down the line, rather than being the ceiling of what Spurs can achieve.

"We’re not even 15 percent of the way to where I want us to be," Ho told the Guardian last month. "We’ve seen some solid performances, but we’re nowhere near the finished article. I’m really excited about what’s ahead and the ambitions of the club."

And yet, it is by no means ridiculous to suggest this season could see Tottenham qualify for the Women's Champions League for the very first time. It's not going to be easy for them to get there, but Ho's side have nailed down a consistency across the season that no team outside of that 'big four' has managed yet, something necessary in order to stake a real claim for a top-three finish.

If Spurs can get a result on Sunday against Chelsea, it would make that European dream much more realistic. But even if they fall short against one of the very best teams in the world, and even if they can't quite sneak into those Champions League places this year, that won't change the fact that this Tottenham team looks to have an extremely bright future.

Van de Ven has arguably been one of the standout performers in an otherwise turbulent campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While his pace has frequently saved Spurs from defensive disasters, the collective results under head coach Thomas Frank have left much to be desired. Frank has struggled to consistently implement his tactical blueprint since taking the reins, and the club currently look increasingly unlikely to secure the Champions League football required to keep hold of their elite talents.

With Tottenham languishing in the bottom half of the table, the lack of elite-level competition has inevitably led to speculation regarding Van de Ven's long-term commitment. He is a player whose individual stock remains incredibly high, even as the team around him falters. Consequently, despite the winter window only recently slamming shut, the rumour mill is already looking ahead to a summer exit, as the 24-year-old Dutchman is seen as a player who has outgrown the current project at Spurs and deserves a platform to challenge for major honours.

The noise surrounding a potential departure has been amplified by former Netherlands international Elia, who has given his official "seal of approval" to a summer transfer. Elia, who understands the pressure of playing for the Oranje and the expectations of the media, believes that Van de Ven is now ready for the most prestigious stages in world football.

Speaking on the defender’s future, Elia was emphatic in his recommendation for a move to a global powerhouse. "I think Van de Ven has to finish the season at Tottenham [by playing] consistently and show everybody he can go to the next level. He's strong and has good posture. He can score, he can dribble, and he can defend," he said, according to The Daily Star.

"If he continues like this, I think after the World Cup, he can make a good step to the bigger clubs. Not that Tottenham isn't a big club, but clubs that are a step above, like Real Madrid and Liverpool. I think it fits his career to move from Tottenham to the big teams."

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The links to Liverpool come as manager Arne Slot navigates a truly catastrophic injury crisis in his backline. The Reds are currently without Conor Bradley, who is out for the season following knee surgery, while young defender Giovanni Leoni has seen his campaign ended by an ACL injury. With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined by a groin problem and Joe Gomez a major doubt for this weekend due to a hip injury, the need for a versatile, high-calibre defender like Van de Ven has never been more apparent.

Liverpool did act in January by securing a £60 million deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, but the 20-year-old will not arrive at Anfield until the summer. This leaves Slot desperately short of options for the business end of the season.

The urgency of Liverpool’s defensive search is underscored by the immense pressure facing Slot as he prepares for a defining clash against Manchester City this Sunday. While the Reds managed to halt a dismal five-game winless streak in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United last Saturday, the visit of the reigning champions represents a far more significant test of the manager’s threadbare squad. Slot’s second campaign has been a rollercoaster of tactical shifts and personnel challenges, but the prospect of securing a player of Van de Ven's calibre this summer remains a beacon of hope for the long term.

Meanwhile, Van de Ven will hope to help end Spurs' own winless league run this weekend when his side face Manchester United at Old Trafford. The London side are currently 14th in the table and closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

Van de Ven has arguably been one of the standout performers in an otherwise turbulent campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While his pace has frequently saved Spurs from defensive disasters, the collective results under head coach Thomas Frank have left much to be desired. Frank has struggled to consistently implement his tactical blueprint since taking the reins, and the club currently look increasingly unlikely to secure the Champions League football required to keep hold of their elite talents.

With Tottenham languishing in the bottom half of the table, the lack of elite-level competition has inevitably led to speculation regarding Van de Ven's long-term commitment. He is a player whose individual stock remains incredibly high, even as the team around him falters. Consequently, despite the winter window only recently slamming shut, the rumour mill is already looking ahead to a summer exit, as the 24-year-old Dutchman is seen as a player who has outgrown the current project at Spurs and deserves a platform to challenge for major honours.

The noise surrounding a potential departure has been amplified by former Netherlands international Elia, who has given his official "seal of approval" to a summer transfer. Elia, who understands the pressure of playing for the Oranje and the expectations of the media, believes that Van de Ven is now ready for the most prestigious stages in world football.

Speaking on the defender’s future, Elia was emphatic in his recommendation for a move to a global powerhouse. "I think Van de Ven has to finish the season at Tottenham [by playing] consistently and show everybody he can go to the next level. He's strong and has good posture. He can score, he can dribble, and he can defend," he said, according to The Daily Star.

"If he continues like this, I think after the World Cup, he can make a good step to the bigger clubs. Not that Tottenham isn't a big club, but clubs that are a step above, like Real Madrid and Liverpool. I think it fits his career to move from Tottenham to the big teams."

Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!

The links to Liverpool come as manager Arne Slot navigates a truly catastrophic injury crisis in his backline. The Reds are currently without Conor Bradley, who is out for the season following knee surgery, while young defender Giovanni Leoni has seen his campaign ended by an ACL injury. With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined by a groin problem and Joe Gomez a major doubt for this weekend due to a hip injury, the need for a versatile, high-calibre defender like Van de Ven has never been more apparent.

Liverpool did act in January by securing a £60 million deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, but the 20-year-old will not arrive at Anfield until the summer. This leaves Slot desperately short of options for the business end of the season.

The urgency of Liverpool’s defensive search is underscored by the immense pressure facing Slot as he prepares for a defining clash against Manchester City this Sunday. While the Reds managed to halt a dismal five-game winless streak in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United last Saturday, the visit of the reigning champions represents a far more significant test of the manager’s threadbare squad. Slot’s second campaign has been a rollercoaster of tactical shifts and personnel challenges, but the prospect of securing a player of Van de Ven's calibre this summer remains a beacon of hope for the long term.

Meanwhile, Van de Ven will hope to help end Spurs' own winless league run this weekend when his side face Manchester United at Old Trafford. The London side are currently 14th in the table and closer to the relegation zone than the top four.