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Thomas Frank has promised Tottenham will only sign "fully committed" players in next month's transfer window.

Frank has struggled since he took over from Ange Postecoglou in June and won only 10 of his 26 matches in charge of Spurs ahead of today’s trip to Crystal Palace (4.30pm).

It meant Tottenham were 14th in the Premier League on Christmas Day but despite their struggles, the Danish coach will only bring in certain characters in January after a summer where both Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White turned the club down.

Asked about potential signings being fully sold on the project, Frank explained: "Key, in every aspect.

"Any player we sign needs to be fully committed on the project. No doubt about that. Very important.

"Character for me, as I’ve said many times, is the most important thing. They need to buy into it so we are aligned.

"It makes it easier for me to say, 'Hey remember the bit I said about this…’, then it’s a little bit easier to have consequences."

The past year has seen major changes at Tottenham with Frank one of several incomings amid a number of outgoings.

Daniel Levy (above) was the most high-profile departure after he left as chairman in September having been invited to step down by majority owners ENIC.

It has put greater control in the hands of the Lewis family trust, which runs ENIC and targeted "more wins, more often" following the removal of Levy.

That has not immediately happened with Tottenham and Frank unable to sufficiently handle domestic and European commitments so far this season, but the 52-year-old is convinced he can turn it around in north London after a run of five defeats in eight.

Frank added: "At Brondby I didn’t win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine. At Brentford, we lost eight out of 10 games and then were were unbeaten in 10.

"So, I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here. Not in doubt of that. Because I know how to make a competitive team. We will make a very competitive team here as well. I’m not in doubt of that."

While results have not been what he hoped, the former Brentford boss has not lost sleep over Spurs’ struggles.

"The good thing is I’ve always been a good sleeper, so I think that’s helpful," Frank smiled.

"We want to be successful, we want to be consistent. There’s all small different bits we’d like to improve. I think that’s part of it. I think it’s completely open and transparent.

"I think it’s also clear that we are searching to find a very consistent, competitive team week in, week out.

"When you get small setbacks and don’t get the right response you try something new or you stick to it, so that’s the bit.

"It’s normal. It’s not the first time in my career I haven’t found the team instantly (clicks) but it’s coming over time. I know it will come. Probably sooner rather than later."

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Former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland winger Tony Galvin is recovering after suffering a stroke, his former club confirmed on Sunday.

The 69-year-old's Ireland career saw him earn 29 caps after representing England at schoolboy level.

He was a key component of Jack Charlton’s groundbreaking team and played a significant role in Ireland’s first major tournament appearance at Euro 88.

Galvin was instrumental in the team that famously defeated England and started all three group stage matches at the tournament against England, the USSR, and the Netherlands.

Galvin spent nine years at Spurs from 1978 to 1987, where he made 201 league appearances. The club released a statement extending their best wishes, which read: "Everyone at the club would like to extend their thoughts and best wishes to Tony Galvin, our 1984 UEFA Cup and 1981 & 82 FA Cup winner, who is now recovering following a stroke. We’re all behind you, Tony."

He was a pivotal member of the successful Spurs squad that secured consecutive FA Cups in 1981 and 1982 and won the 1984 UEFA Cup, beating Anderlecht on penalties.

After leaving White Hart Lane, Galvin played for Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town.

He later became assistant manager to Ossie Ardiles at both Swindon and Newcastle.

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Micky van de Ven's goal of the season contender helped Tottenham provide boss Thomas Frank with much-needed home comforts after a 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Frank watched Spurs deliver a tepid display in a poor London derby loss to Chelsea on Saturday, which sparked boos at full-time and an unfortunate flashpoint between Van de Ven and Djed Spence.

Van de Ven and Spence ignored the instructions of Frank to applaud the home fans, but an apology by the duo on Monday was followed by a sensational strike by the Dutch defender.

Vice-captain Van de Ven carried the ball from the edge of his penalty area to score a superb solo goal in the 64th minute.

It put Tottenham 3-0 up but was decisive as Brennan Johnson, who produced a 19th-minute opener, was controversially sent off at the start of the second half minutes after Wilson Odobert added a second.

Substitute Joao Palhinha added gloss to the score with 23 minutes left before RIcharlison squandered a late spot-kick as Spurs produced the biggest win of Frank’s 17-game tenure at the perfect time to move onto eight points in the Champions League and keep alive their hopes of a top-eight finish.

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After the team were booed on multiple occasions on Saturday, Frank shuffled his pack with last season's leading scorer Johnson recalled and the fit-again Destiny Udogie at left-back for the first time since 4 October.

Xavi Simons, another brought in by Frank, set up Udogie for a sliced effort straight at Dominik Kotarski and two minutes later the £52million summer recruit made the opener.

Rodrigo Bentancur found Xavi, who curled through to Johnson and Tottenham’s number 22 expertly rounded Kotarski before he calmly slotted home.

It was Johnson’s 45th goal involvement for Spurs in his 101st match and much-needed for a team who had won only four of their last 20 domestic home fixtures.

Johnson almost turned provider moments later but his chipped cross was sent over by Pape Sarr.

Copenhagen’s Youssoufa Moukoko fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario from a corner but it should have been 2-0 at half-time.

With Xavi’s influence growing, his one-two with Odobert set up a golden chance for Randal Kolo Muani but he side-footed wide.

Kolo Muani then headed over from a superb Xavi cross in stoppage time before Tottenham grabbed a second six minutes into the second half.

Pedro Porro’s long pass seemed routine for Kotarski but Kolo Muani blocked the clearance, brought the ball down majestically inside the area and teed up Odobert.

It sparked a crazy 17-minute spell with a red card for Johnson was followed by two counter-attacking goals involving Spurs’ centre-backs.

Firstly Johnson’s evening ended prematurely and in contentious fashion as he slid in on Copenhagen left-back Marcos Lopez. Referee Erik Lambechts brandished a yellow card but VAR upgraded it to a red.

Van de Ven ensured the fixture was not in the balance for long as in the 64th minute he produced a contender for FIFA’s Puskas award.

The Dutch defender received the ball on the edge of his own area and produced a barnstorming run before he finished with aplomb.

Romero attempted to rival his fellow centre-back when he led a counter-attack and teed up substitute Palhinha three minutes later.

There was still time for Richarlison to smash a stoppage-time spot-kick against the crossbar but it failed to sour a much-needed home win for Frank.

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A string of fine saves by Guglielmo Vicario helped Tottenham claim a 0-0 draw at Monaco to remain unbeaten in the Champions League.

Injury-hit Spurs were far from their best at Stade Louis II and needed Vicario on top form to deny Folarin Balogun on three occasions before he brilliantly thwarted Thilo Kehrer's close-range header in the second half.

It ensured Thomas Frank’s Tottenham left Monaco with five points after three Champions League games, but full-time was met with a smattering of boos from the away end after yet another disjointed attacking display.

Spurs were without captain Cristian Romero – one of 10 players unavailable – and Frank again shuffled his pack with £52m playmaker Xavi Simons only on the bench and Archie Gray surprisingly recalled at left-back.

Gray was quickly involved, blocking an effort by the excellent Maghnes Akliouche before Vicario saved from Balogun and Tottenham’s makeshift full-back then intercepted Ansu Fati’s pass after a dangerous run.

The visitors threatened for the first time after 20 minutes when Wilson Odobert clipped a ball in for stand-in captain Micky van de Ven, but he could only head over under pressure.

It was then Vicario’s turn to step up as he clawed away a dangerous cross by Akliouche before Balogun peeled off van de Ven, but the Spurs goalkeeper raced out to block bravely.

Seconds later, and Odobert slipped in Richarlison, who had a left-footed shot thwarted by Mohammed Salisu.

However, Tottenham were indebted to Vicario in the 36th-minute. Balogun again found space and was picked out by Mamadou Coulibaly but the Italian keeper brilliantly parried away Balogun's curled shot from 12 yards.

It remained goalless at the break after Kevin Danso sent over a corner by Kudus – not long after he headed straight at Philipp Kohn, but he was subsequently penalised for a foul.

Akliouche put Joao Palhinha on his backside at the start of the second half only to scuff his effort straight at Vicario before Odobert cut inside and had a shot deflected over by Kehrer.

Chances remained limited and after Pedro Porro hit a free-kick into the wall, Frank made his first substitutions with Xavi and Pape Sarr sent on after an hour.

Monaco remained on top and Vicario pushed wide a shot by substitute Aleksandr Golovin before he scrambled across his goal and looked mightily relived when Kehrer headed past the post from a Fati cross.

Frank’s next roll of the dice was to introduce Brennan Johnson and Randal Kolo Muani, but it failed to stem the tide.

Vicario’s next heroics occurred in the 75th minute when Caio Henrique’s cross found Jordan Teze and yet his close-range header was superbly blocked by Spurs’ busy goalkeeper.

Former Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino took centre stage for the closing exchanges, lifting a tough volleyed chance over before he fired another shot wide.

Minamino squandered another golden opportunity with seven minutes left when he blazed over from Balogun’s cut-back.

Spurs did finally fashion a chance late on but Johnson’s effort was blocked by Christian Mawissa and it finished goalless.

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Morgan Rogers' first goal for Aston Villa in 20 matches inspired a fifth-consecutive win and piled more home woe on Tottenham as they suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat.

Rogers had shone for England during the international break, but failed to score in club football since the start of April, but changed that at Spurs with a sensational 37th-minute leveller.

It cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur’s fifth-minute opener for Thomas Frank’s side and as Tottenham pushed for a rare home victory in the league in 2025, they were hit with a sucker-punch as Emiliano Buendia’s curler, 13 minutes from time sealed the comeback for Villa.

Frank had failed to beat Unai Emery in five previous attempts and his efforts this time were not helped by captain Cristian Romero being forced to pull out in the warm-up.

It meant Kevin Danso was a last-minute inclusion for Spurs, but the hosts put that to one side to break the deadlock after five minutes.

Villa dealt with the initial corner into the area and yet Mohammed Kudus’ superb follow-up delivery was headed back across goal by Joao Palhinha for Bentancur to drill in from eight yards, for his first goal in 10 months.

It was momentarily 2-0 two minutes later when Kudus drilled through Emi Martinez after a wonderful crossfield ball by stand-in captain Micky van de Ven, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Villa did respond with pantomime villain Matty Cash – who was booed after two notably-poor tackles in past meetings with Tottenham – firing wide from range in the 15th minute.

Martinez spilled an effort by Wilson Odobert soon after, but no Spurs player reacted quick enough before opposite number Guglielmo Vicario punched out a dangerous Lucas Digne cross.

Tottenham looked set to retain their lead at half-time until Rogers produced a sensational equaliser.

With 37 minutes on the clock, England attacker Rogers skipped past Xavi Simons and rifled a dripping effort beyond Vicario for his first goal of the campaign.

Flying tackles resulted in brief stoppages for Amadou Onana and Pedro Porro before Tottenham forward Mathys Tel squandered an opening at the back post from a Kudus cross to ensure it stayed 1-1 at the break.

After Villa full-back Digne required treatment after being caught by Danso with his follow-through, the second half sparked into life.

A long throw by Danso sparked chaos in the away goal but Ezri Konsa managed to block Odobert’s goal-bound effort on the line before soon after Palhinha’s 20-yard curler was tipped wide by Martinez.

Emery’s team swung back as John McGinn slipped in Donyell Malen but he fired into the side-netting under pressure from Van de Ven.

Both benches reacted, with Richarlison sent on for Spurs on the hour mark and Ollie Watkins introduced a minute later.

Frank prepared to roll the dice again with Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani ready to come on but after Tottenham declined multiple chances to send them on, Villa punished the hosts in the 77th minute.

The visiting full-backs combined with Cash’s wonderful crossfield pass plucked out of the air by Digne, who teed up Buendia and he curled around a crowd of bodies to fool Vicario.

Bergvall and Kolo Muani were finally sent on before Frank tweaked his formation, but Brennan Johnson blazed over in stoppage-time as boos greeted full-time, with Tottenham winning only three of their last 18 home league games.

The New York Jets' wait for their first NFL win of the season continued after being beaten 13-11 by the Denver Broncos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jets kicker Nick Folk scored two field goals either side of Wil Lutz’s effort, before Broncos quarterback Bo Nix connected with Nate Adkins for a 16-yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter.

Folk then extended the Jets’ lead with a field goal but New York were frustrated by an impressive display from the Broncos’ defence, who eventually finished with nine sacks on quarterback Justin Fields.

Another Lutz field goal sent the Broncos back in front in the fourth quarter for Denver to seal their fourth win, while the Jets slump to their sixth defeat this season.

A consortium led by American tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick will no longer make a bid for Tottenham.

An expression of interest by Earick's consortium, which was reportedly ready to launch a €5billion takeover bid, was "unequivocally rejected" by ENIC, which is run by the Lewis family Trust, on 26 September.

On Monday, it was confirmed via the London Stock Exchange that Earick had pulled out of the running, which was welcomed by the Lewis family Trust, who again reiterated a long-term commitment to Spurs. This news follows Asia-based consortium Firehawk Holdings Limited also ruling out a bid.

"The Board of Tottenham Hotspur Limited (the "club") notes the recent announcements from the Firehawk and Mr Earick’s consortiums that they do not intend to make an offer for the club," a statement on London Stock Exchange read.

"The Board thanks them for the constructive approach taken in the discussions with the club’s and the Lewis family’s representatives and respecting the clear position of the Lewis family that the club is not for sale.

"Following the announcements made by the consortiums, the club is no longer in an offer period under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers."

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It was announced at the start of September that Spurs’ majority owners ENIC had "unequivocally rejected" two expressions of interest in acquiring the north London club, with one from a consortium of investors led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk.

Amanda Staveley’s PCP International Finance immediately confirmed via the London Stock Exchange on 8 September that it did not intend to make an offer for Tottenham and Firehawk confirmed its intentions on 3 October.

This left a consortium led by Earick as the only public interested party in Tottenham, but he has withdrawn his interest in the Premier League club.

ENIC, run by the Lewis family Trust, owns almost 87% of Tottenham, but due to the remaining shares being publicly traded, the club is subject to the UK Takeover Code. This means any expression of interest or bid must be lodged with the Takeover Code panel and made public.

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An 89th-minute own goal by Jostein Gundersen spared Tottenham's blushes and earned them a fortunate 2-2 draw away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Spurs were back at Aspmyra Stadion four months on from success in the Europa League semi-finals, but this time they were second best for long periods.

After a one-sided first half where Kasper Hogh missed a penalty for the Norwegian minnows, Bodo looked on course to claim revenge after two fine strikes shortly after the break by Jens Petter Haugh.

Tottenham's stand-in captain Micky van de Ven reduced the deficit in the 68th minute and Thomas Frank watched his side fight back for the third time this month when Gundersen inadvertently deflected the ball in after Bodo goalkeeper Nikita Haikin saved Archie Gray's shot.

It earned Spurs a point to move them onto four in the Champions League, but Bodo boss Kjetil Knutsen would have wondered how his team failed to win after a dominant display.

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