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In an attempt to reinforce the club’s ambition, Frank admitted that Spurs had held an interest in Antoine Semenyo before he joined Manchester City earlier this month, and said that it was signings of that calibre that Spurs were targeting as they headed into the final days of the market.
“I said it, the club worked relentlessly to try to do the best they can to improve the squad, especially Johan, Fabio and Vinai, and of course all the people behind them,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester City.
“I mean it, we can't be too obsessed with short term fix that's not helping on the long term, because if we don't do that, all the hard work we put in now can be limited for the future. And that's not that we (don’t) want badly short-term success as well.
“I can promise that the Lewis family is super committed to this project. They want to do everything, and I would go against my rule, hopefully only once, that there's no doubt it's clear that the club wants to sign Semenyo. They did everything.”
Frank went on to say that the January market was a difficult one to operate in, and said that if he felt Spurs could not identify the right signings, then they would wait until the summer to make wholesale changes to the squad.
“That's the quality players we are looking for to improve the squad. And if we can't find that, then it's definitely better to take the right decision. It's not the same that we're just getting quality players going forward, because we all know it's not that easy.
“And I'm sure if we're not, for whatever reason, able to get another player in, or players in this window, then for the summer, it's a big summer ahead, and I'm sure we'll see big improvements there.”
But while Frank acknowledged that supporters only want the best for the club, he added that the transfer market was not akin to the computer game ‘Football Manager’, and said transfers were a lot harder to negotiate in real life than they might appear.
“Yeah, the fans just want the best for the club. Just like I want (the best), the owners, the staff, the players, everyone wants the best for the club, but I also think it's fair to say that the transfer window is not football manager unfortunately. It is not. It would be a lot easier, but also a little bit more boring. We would not have as many good stories to talk about. In the last 30 days, you couldn't go to work basically because there is nothing to write about or talk about. So, it is very difficult the transfer market. It's an art, it's a craftsmanship.
“You need to be very good at it and then there's always, there needs to be a selling club that wants to sell, there needs to be a club that wants to buy and there's a player in the middle that also wants to come. So, that's always the challenge.
“What I'm happy with is that I think we've already done great business in getting Conor in. I think that's a great deal and a great player. Fits everything we want for this club and the commitment to show about Semenyo, I think it is a big step, so yeah again I’m just repeating myself, but I’m not in doubt it’ll be very good going forward.”
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For now, though, Frank remains at the helm, with the club’s injury crisis very much still his concern.
Spurs have just 11 senior outfield players to pick from on Tuesday according to Frank, with Ben Davies set to undergo an operation on the broken ankle he suffered against West Ham. He joins long-term absentees James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Richarlison on the sidelines.
Xavi Simons is fit and will play through pain against Dortmund after taking a heavy tackle on his ankle from Jarrod Bowen at the weekend.
Archie Gray was another doubt, but unlike Simons took part in training, and will also be available.
Fellow midfielder Joao Palhinha is, however, out injured after missing the defeat to West Ham with a knock sustained in training.
Frank has plenty of decisions to make ahead of Tuesday night, but he has already made perhaps his hardest choice by choosing to omit Mathys Tel from Spurs’ Champions League squad in place of Dominic Solanke.
Tel originally replaced Solanke, with the England striker struggling to work his way back from a recurring ankle injury.
Back to fitness now, though, Frank has made a "tough decision" to bring Solanke back into the squad in place of Tel, who has been linked with a move away from the club this month.
To add to Frank’s woes, Micky van de Ven is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in six Champions League games. New signing Conor Gallagher is ineligible, as are Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma.
Pape Matar Sarr is also unavailable having been taken ill after helping Senegal lift the Africa Cup of Nations. Sarr was an unused substitute against Morocco in Sunday’s final, but was rushed to hospital alongside team-mates Krepin Diatta and Ousseynou Niang.
Spurs in turmoil as German giants target valuable win
Under pressure: Thomas Frank
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
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Thomas Frank will be prepared for a toxic atmosphere tonight as he takes charge of Tottenham’s Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Frank’s position as Spurs head coach looks terminal, following Saturday’s home defeat to West Ham, which means it’s now five games without a win across all competitions for Spurs.
Despite speculation surrounding his future, Frank is expected to be in the Spurs dugout for the visit of Dortmund and will be tasked with ensuring the side take a big step toward qualification for the knockout phase.
The north London outfit go into the penultimate set of league phase fixtures four points clear of the elimination zone and one point off the top eight.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are a place above Spurs in the 36-team table by virtue of scoring six more goals and are also out to boost their qualification hopes.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
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The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Where to watch Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm GMT on TNT Sports 1 ahead of kick-off at 8pm.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau at the ground!
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund team news
Spurs have a host of concerns heading into the game against Dortmund, with as many as 15 first-team players unavailable.
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison all remain long-term absentees, while Joao Palhinha missed out against West Ham with a knock and missed training on Monday.
Ben Davies can be added to the list of absentees as he will undergo surgery after fracturing his left ankle against West Ham. Micky van de Ven is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in six games during the league phase and Pape Matar Sarr is unlikely to be available for selection.
Furthermore, new signing Conor Gallagher is ineligible along with Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin after they were not named in Spurs’ initial Champions League squad.
Dominic Solanke is set to feature, despite only recently returning from injury, as he regains his place in the Champions League squad from Mathys Tel following an emergency change last month.
As for Dortmund, Jobe Bellingham is expected to start in midfield but on-loan Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is a doubt having not played since the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in December.
Ineligible: Conor Gallagher
John Walton/PA Wire
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Spurs have struggled at home this season and defeat to West Ham was a new low. However, there is cause for optimism given they’ve won all three home games in the Champions League so far, without conceding.
Of course, Dortmund are a considerable step up in opposition compared to Slavia Prague and Copenhagen.
The Germans are in much better form than Spurs and will surely be relishing the chance to increase the pressure on Frank.
Borussia Dortmund to win, 2-1.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Tottenham have won their last four matches in a row against Dortmund. The most recent meeting was in the round of 16 during the 2018-19 season when Spurs reached the final.
Tottenham wins: 4
Borussia Dortmund wins: 2
Draws: 0
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund match odds
Tottenham to win: 15/8
Borussia Dortmund to win: 7/5
Draw: 13/5
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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Thomas Frank will take charge of Tottenham’s Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Frank’s position as Spurs head coach has been called into question once again as Saturday’s home defeat to West Ham means it’s now five games without a win across all competitions.
Despite speculation surrounding his future, Frank is expected to be in the Spurs dugout for the visit of Dortmund and will be tasked with ensuring the side take a big step toward qualification for the knockout phase.
The north London outfit go into the penultimate set of league phase fixtures four points clear of the elimination zone and one point off the top-eight.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are a place above Spurs in the 36-team table by virtue of scoring six more goals and are also out to boost their qualification hopes.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund is scheduled for a 8pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Where to watch Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm GMT on TNT Sports 1 ahead of kick-off at 8pm.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau at the ground!
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund team news
Spurs have a host of concerns heading into the game against Dortmund.
Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison all remain long-term absentees, while Joao Palhinha missed out against West Ham with a knock and missed training on Monday.
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Ben Davies can be added to the list of absentees as he will undergo surgery after fracturing his left ankle against West Ham. Micky van de Ven is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in six games during the league phase and Pape Matar Sarr is unlikely to be available for selection.
Furthermore, new signing Conor Gallagher is ineligible along with Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin after they were not named in Spurs’ initial Champions League squad.
There is a decision to make regarding Dominic Solanke as he could regain his place in the Champions League squad from Mathys Tel following an emergency change last month.
As for Dortmund, Jobe Bellingham is expected to start in midfield but on-loan Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is a doubt having not played since the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in December.
Ineligible: Conor Gallagher
John Walton/PA Wire
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Spurs have struggled at home this season and defeat to West Ham was a new low. However, there is cause for optimism given they’ve won all three home games in the Champions League so far, without conceding.
Of course, Dortmund are a considerable step up in opposition compared to Slavia Prague and Copenhagen.
The Germans are in much better form than Spurs and will surely be relishing the chance to increase the pressure on Frank.
Borussia Dortmund to win, 2-1.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Tottenham have won their last four matches in a row against Dortmund. The most recent meeting was in the round of 16 during the 2018-19 season when Spurs reached the final.
Tottenham wins: 4
Borussia Dortmund wins: 2
Draws: 0
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund match odds
Tottenham to win: 9/5
Draw: 21/10
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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West Ham’s dramatic stoppage-time victory over Tottenham has left Thomas Frank on the brink of the sack.
On an afternoon where Spurs supporters were hoping their side would turn a corner, there was the familiar chorus of boos at full-time after Callum Wilson struck in the 93rd minute to seal a first away win since August for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Cristian Romero looked to have rescued a point after Crysencio Summerville’s 15th-minute opener. However, Wilson hooked home from a stoppage-time corner to seal all three points for the Hammers.
Here are three things Standard Sport learned from Spurs’ late defeat...
Thomas Frank cannot survive more defeats
Action Images via Reuters
Frank on the brink after latest loss
Thomas Frank was already under pressure coming into this afternoon’s game, but after Wilson’s stoppage-time goal sealed a first win in 11 league games for West Ham, calls for him to be sacked have reached nearly intolerable levels.
Boos have become commonplace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, but with Spurs supporters crying ‘you are going to be sacked in the morning’, Frank’s position feels untenable.
Spurs want to look towards the long-term, but it is becoming increasingly hard to see a way back for the former Brentford man.
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Supporter discontent had reached boiling point long before Wilson hooked home the winning goal for West Ham, but a stoppage-time defeat to Spurs’ fiercest rivals is by far the nadir of a harrowing seven months at the helm for Frank.
Games against West Ham and Burnley next weekend were seen as the final two chances for Frank to save his job and give fans evidence of what he is building towards.
Now, though, serious conversations will surely be had behind the scenes to decide on the Dane’s future. Frank looks like a beaten man.
Conor Gallagher huffed and puffed on his debut
John Walton/PA Wire
Gallagher struggles on debut
Conor Gallagher was thrown headfirst into the maelstrom that is Tottenham under Thomas Frank.
Thrust straight into the starting line-up in place of the injured Rodrigo Bentancur, Gallagher was deployed alongside Archie Gray in Frank’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and found himself receiving treatment inside 15 seconds after throwing himself full-blooded into successive challenges.
The former Chelsea man wasted no time in getting after the ball, leading Spurs’ press while providing an outlet in possession. However, as West Ham grew into the game, the extent of Spurs’ problems became abundantly clear to Gallagher. He alone was never going to be the solution.
Spurs became increasingly stretched as the first half wore on, with Gallagher and Gray unable to keep West Ham at bay.
The visitors could have added to their 15th-minute lead in the first half, and while Gallagher was full of running, he could not get hold of the game.
Alongside the returning Yves Bissouma, Gallagher helped Spurs rally in the second half, but ultimately, a scrappy encounter was as much down to his inability to influence the game with the ball as it was his efforts out of possession.
Ben Davies is stretchered off
Action Images via Reuters
Injuries continue to pile up
Thomas Frank has enough on his plate without the constant headache of Spurs’ increasingly long injury list.
Spurs have been rocked by the news that Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, and Richarlison are all set for extended periods on the sidelines, and the club moved quickly to bring in Conor Gallagher this week to reinforce Frank’s options in midfield.
Gallagher came straight into the starting line-up against West Ham, such is the extent of Spurs’ injury problems, and the England midfielder will be relied on a while longer after Archie Gray failed to appear for the second half.
Gray was on the end of a number of robust challenges and could be seen holding his knee as he moved gingerly towards the end of the first half.
It is unclear how serious Gray’s injury is, but Ben Davies, on the other hand, looks set to become the latest long-term absentee for Spurs after he was stretchered off midway through the first half with a knee injury.
There were concerned groans when Xavi Simons went down in the second half, a reflection of Spurs’ injury crisis, and he was seen limping in the mixed zone after the game. They can’t afford to lose any more players.
One of the concerns addressed by Vinai Venkatesham in his open letter to supporters was around the club’s approach to injuries.
This issue is not unique to Frank, and while there are plenty of things in his control that he can change, the problem of keeping players fit is a club-wide problem and one that continues to hold them back season after season.
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Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal want new Pedri; Chelsea in Jacquet talks, Fernandez; Man Utd, Liverpool latest
January window has suddenly burst into life after slow start
Transfer rumours: Dro Fernandez, Vasilije Kostov and Jeremy Jacquet
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Transfer news LIVE!
The January window has finally kicked into gear with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all on the lookout for impactful new signings. Arsenal are believed to be keen on Serbian wonderkid Vasilije Kostov, who is being compared to Barcelona star Pedri, while they continue to be linked with the likes of Arda Guler, Anthony Gordon, Kenan Yildiz, Breno Bidon, Igor Tyjon and Tino Livramento, among others.
Chelsea could now beat Arsenal to a deal for Jeremy Jacquet after holding talks as they accelerate plans to sign a new defender for Liam Rosenior, with Jacobo Ramon also in their sights along with Barca starlet Dro Fernandez - AKA the ‘next Lamine Yamal’. Manchester United have reportedly been offered Ruben Loftus-Cheek amid "secret” discussions with a mystery midfield target, while they also want Carlos Baleba and Murillo having rejected approaches for Harry Maguire.
Tottenham are said to have shock interest in Omar Marmoush as Manchester City aim to complete their move for Marc Guehi, with Crystal Palace battling to stop Jean-Philippe Mateta's exit as they bid for Sidiki Cherif. Liverpool are still eyeing Yan Diomande as West Ham try to keep hold of Lucas Paqueta. Follow the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!
Latest transfer news headlines
Glasner hints at early Crystal Palace exit
Oliver Glasner has launched a remarkable attack on Crystal Palace's board, revealing that he feels "abandoned" in light of captain Marc Guehi's sudden exit.
Glasner confirmed on Friday that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season and that Guehi is close to joining Manchester City.
And has now suggested he could leave earlier.
"I feel we are being abandoned completely," he told BBC Match of the Day.
"I can't blame any player. They did everything they could and this has been going on for weeks and months now.
"We have 12, 13 players from the squad available and we feel no support.
"The worst thing is selling our captain one day before playing a Premier League game.”
Read more here!
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Tottenham chief makes transfer promise in open letter to fans
Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has penned an open letter to supporters ahead of Saturday’s Premier League derby against West Ham.
Spurs have endured a difficult start to life under manager Thomas Frank and sit 14th in the Premier League table heading into this afternoon’s London derby.
Supporters’ frustrations have reached boiling point, with a protest against the club’s board set to take place before kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Conscious of rising discontent among supporters, Venkatesham has written a lengthy and detailed response to their concerns in the club’s matchday programme, in which he addressed, among other things, the relationship between the club and the fans, wage structure and transfers.
Venkatesham joined Spurs in April 2025, but did not officially take up his role until this summer.
A highly regarded operator after a 14 year spell at Arsenal, Venkatesham has overseen wholesale changes behind the scenes during the first few months of his tenure at Spurs.
“Dear supporters, as we reach the halfway point of our season, I wanted to share an update on our plans for the future,” the letter read.
Read the letter in full here!
Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
PSG beating Chelsea in Dro Fernandez race
It looks like Chelsea might not be welcoming the ‘next Lamine Yamal’ after all.
It seems as though PSG are now firmly in front in the race for Barcelona starlet Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez.
Fabrizio Romano says that the French giants are already close to a verbal agreement with the teenager and will trigger his £5.1m release clause soon.
He claims that ex-Barca boss Luis Enrique is directly involved in talks as PSG look to beat Chelsea, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund to a top talent.
AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea hold talks over Jeremy Jacquet deal
Chelsea have now held talks over a move for Jeremy Jacquet, according to new reports.
It has emerged in recent days that the Blues are accelerating plans to sign a new centre-back, with Jacquet emerging as a potential option alongside the likes of Jacobo Ramon, Marcos Senesi and Charlie Cresswell.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea - said to have a three-man defensive shortlist - have held direct talks with Rennes over a deal for rumoured Arsenal target Jacquet in the last 24 hours.
He also says that academy graduate defender Olutayo Subuloye has signed a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
AFP via Getty Images
Tottenham have shock interest in Omar Marmoush
Could Tottenham make a surprise move for Omar Marmoush in January?
Spurs are known to be targeting attacking reinforcements next having already signed Conor Gallagher and being still on the verge of confirming the arrival of teenage Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos.
Haber Sarikirmizi in Turkey claim that Tottenham have interest in Marmoush, who could be open to leaving Manchester City this month - likely on loan - after the signing of Antoine Semenyo.
Aston Villa are also rumoured to be keen on the Egyptian forward, who it is claimed has already been offered to Galatasaray.
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Man Utd offered Ruben Loftus-Cheek amid 'secret talks'
Manchester United are believed to have been offered the chance to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek this month.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder is a regular in Serie A with AC Milan, but it's been said that they could be willing to let him leave on loan in January.
TEAMtalk claim that United are one of seven Premier League clubs to be alerted to Loftus-Cheek's potential availability, along with Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brentford, Everton, Sunderland and Fulham, plus other teams in Italy and Spain.
Many United fans believe that Loftus-Cheek could well be the unnamed mystery midfield target that GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs recently said had been subject to "secret" talks over a possible loan switch to Old Trafford until the end of the season.
Jacobs said the player in question had Premier League experience but was currently playing outside of England.
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Chelsea could beat Arsenal to Jeremy Jacquet
Chelsea are reportedly eyeing Jeremy Jacquet as they look to make the first signing of the Liam Rosenior era at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are believed to have brought forward initial summer plans to find a new centre-back and have a shortlist of potential options for January.
One contender now being widely mooted, included by Sky Sports, is Jeremy Jacquet, the highly-rated Rennes defender who has also been heavily linked with Arsenal in recent weeks.
It seems that the French Under-21 international could yet become their top target as the window progresses.
AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea leading race for 'next Yamal' Dro Fernandez
We've already heard that the new Pedri could be heading to Arsenal - how about a player tipped as the ‘next Lamine Yamal’ ending up at Chelsea?
It seems that highly-rated teenage Barcelona winger Dro Fernandez will be leaving the Camp Nou soon in a transfer twist that is said to have shocked the LaLiga giants and head coach Hansi Flick.
talkSPORT claim that Chelsea and Manchester City are leading the way in the race for his signature, with Borussia Dortmund mentioned as another potential suitor alongside clubs in France.
Other reports suggest that Barcelona's players expect Fernandez - who has a release clause valued at just £5.1m - to end up at Paris Saint-Germain, whom Fabrizio Romano says have already made their move.
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Arsenal want 'new Pedri' Vasilije Kostov
Arsenal are among the clubs watching Red Star Belgrade starlet Vasilije Kostov, according to reports.
Despite being just 17, the attacking midfielder has made a significant impression with his club and has already represented Serbia at senior international level.
The Sun claims that Arsenal are now keeping tabs on a player apparently nicknamed the 'Serbian Pedri', in a nod to the similarities to a certain Barcelona and Spain star.
However, Barca and Bayern Munich are also both said to be interested in Kostov, who could be available for close to the £17m mark.
Sounds like a bargain...
AFP via Getty Images
Bayern to battle Chelsea for Jacquet
Bayern Munich will go toe-to-toe with Chelsea for Jeremy Jacquet’s signature.
Max Eberl is known to be keen on the 20-year-old, but is less impressed by his price tag.
Sky Germany report it could take at least £43.3m to pry him away from Rennes.
AFP via Getty Images
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