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Thomas Frank has made a clear statement about his senior Tottenham players after his selection was questioned over the past few weeks.

The biggest source of consternation among Spurs fans over recent weeks has been Frank’s midfield selections, with many wanting to see him move away from a double pivot.

The numbers were certainly clear on the matter, with Tottenham struggling to progress the ball when Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha play together.

However, Frank has maintained that Bentancur and Palhinha offer Spurs solidity defensively, and unsurprisingly, he stuck with the same pairing away at Everton.

Thomas Frank reacts to Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur’s performance for Tottenham

Spurs’ 3-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium demonstrated why the Tottenham head coach continues to play the Uruguayan and the Portuguese stars over the likes of Pape Sarr.

The pair constantly put out fires in front of the Tottenham back four, ensuring that the Lilywhites emerged from Merseyside with another clean sheet.

Frank was asked after the game if this is the type of game where the experienced midfield pair are most valuable.

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He responded (via Tottenham’s official website): “I think it’s very clear. I think both of them today were excellent. I think they were very good on the ball. I think they were excellent defensively and landed on the second ball when they needed to.

“I think we controlled the game more, I think the bounce passes and the bits and pieces to build up and control the game was very good. So, in a time where we are building and going to the next level, I think they are extremely important.”

Spurs fans should be mindful of general tactical trends while criticising Frank’s approach

The frustration of Tottenham supporters over the lack of creativity is understandable, but that conversation cannot be divorced from what we are seeing across the Premier League as a whole.

The team who are currently the best in the country, Arsenal, also do not create many chances and are heavily reliant on set pieces.

Due to the effect of PSR over the last few years, the Premier League now seems tighter and more equal than ever, with very little to separate most teams.

As a result, the teams that avoid mistakes and prioritise not conceding goals seemingly have an upper hand over those that are open and flamboyant.

Thomas Frank has singled out a senior Tottenham Hotspur man for praise following his side’s comfortable 3-0 win at Merseyside on Sunday.

Tottenham became the first team to beat Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Lilywhites delivering another solid performance away from home.

It means that Spurs maintain their brilliant away record, which remains the best in the Premier League so far, and move up to third place in the table.

It was a much-needed win on the back of the loss to Aston Villa and the draw away at Monaco, which led to many fans questioning Frank’s midfield selections.

Thomas Frank lavishes praise on Tottenham’s Kevin Danso

It was Micky van de Ven who was the unlikely hero in front of goal, with the Dutchman heading home from two corner-kicks in either half.

However, it was his centre-back partner, Kevin Danso, who has filled in for the last three games in place of the injured Cristian Romero, who was singled out for praise by Frank.

When asked how important Van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario have been in helping keep cleansheets in the last two games, Frank responded (via Tottenham’s official website): “Yeah, I agree and don’t forget Kevin Danso, maybe he was not as highlighted as the two others, but he has done very well to step into big, big shoes to fill out after Cuti.

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“Micky, man of the match, clearly defended well, two goals and good on the ball. And I think Vicario, man of the match in Monaco, but today I think his performance was more complete, good with the feet, very good in the box and two exceptional saves.”

Spurs have shown that their squad is much stronger than last season

It is easy to forget that Tottenham were without nine first-team players heading into the game against Everton.

For them to keep a clean sheet and emerge with a comfortable win away from home despite those absentees is a sign that this squad is much deeper than it was last season.

Danso has now shown that he is someone who can be counted on to deliver whenever called upon, and his performances should give Frank more confidence in resting his first-choice centre-backs when fixtures come thick and fast over the next couple of months.

David Moyes has selected his man of the match after Everton were destroyed by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up all three points against Everton and there is one player in particular who is gathering praise for his performance.

Micky van de Ven was unstoppable in the air for Spurs, scoring two headed goals which gave his team a healthy lead before half-time.

The defender also kept a second consecutive clean sheet, which is especially impressive considering he is without his main defensive partner in Cristian Romero.

David Moyes names Guglielmo Vicario as his man of the match

Despite van de Ven’s fine display, it is Tottenham’s goalkeeper who has caught the eye of Everton manager David Moyes.

Guglielmo Vicario was sensational against Monaco in the Champions League and he continued to make goal-stopping saves against the Toffees.

Moyes told the BBC: “Their keeper was probably their best player, and dealt with corners incredibly well.

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“We played some good stuff, but could not get the goal we needed.”

The Everton manager was not the only one impressed by Vicario, as James Tarkowski also commented on the good saves he made.

Vicario is not under threat at Tottenham

Even when Vicario has been far from his best at Spurs, it is clear that Thomas Frank trusts the Italian more than Antonin Kinsky.

After two highly impressive displays, Vicario’s position as a first-team player at Tottenham has become even stronger. He might not be the perfect goalkeeper, but it is hard to make an argument against him right now with the saves he has made.

Troy Deeney has included a Tottenham Hotspur player in his team of the week after their ‘huge’ 3-0 victory over Everton.

Tottenham Hotspur are back to winning ways in the Premier League and they did so in style, putting three goals past Everton. It is a big result for Thomas Frank, who has recently come under criticism for the performances of his team.

This victory means Spurs now have the joint third most clean sheets in the league. Better still, no other side has scored more goals than Tottenham in the English top flight.

The positives continue as Spurs now sit third in the Premier League table, just five points adrift of Arsenal. Had Tottenham been defeated by Everton, they could be as low as ninth place.

Micky van de Ven named in Troy Deeney’s team of the week

Troy Deeney has made his BBC Sport team of the week and it is unsurprising to see he has selected Micky van de Ven.

The multi-talented defender has been key to Tottenham’s success at both ends of the pitch this season. He continued to be important on Sunday, scoring two headed goals and fulfilling his defensive duties as his team kept a clean sheet.

Deeney said: “Any centre-half who keeps a clean sheet and gets two goals has to go in the team for me.

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“I wanted to put Gabriel in but I just thought van de Ven’s performance was very good in a game where I thought Spurs could struggle.

“They’ve been poor the last couple of weeks and it’s a huge win for them as well.”

Van de Ven is more than a defender

Obviously van de Ven’s main function is to defend and this is something he does incredibly well. However, he has shown himself to be a goal threat too.

The interim club captain scored three Premier League goals in his first season in North London, but failed to score during a difficult second campaign.

The Dutchman is now at full fitness and he is looking more dangerous than ever in front of goal. In fact, van de Ven is joint 11th for most league goals scored this season.

With 29 matches left to play, he could do something unprecedented as a centre-back and increase his tally to a seriously impressive figure.

Tottenham Hotspur became the first team to claim a victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and in the end, it was by comfortable margins.

However, not every player had their best game, despite the impressive result. Here are the three winners and losers from the joint biggest Tottenham Hotspur win this season.

Micky van de Ven scores again for Tottenham

What a signing Micky van de Ven has been since he switched the Volkswagen Arena for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium! The Dutchman reinforced this against Everton, earning a higher rating on Fotmob than any other player.

There was plenty of talk over the summer about Luka Vuskovic over the summer due to his ability to score goals as a centre-back. Well he might have some competition on that front when he returns next summer, because van de Ven already has five goals across all tournaments this season.

The 24-year-old scored two excellent headers from corner kicks and wore the captain’s armband once more. One standout moment was when he took no nonsense from Jack Grealish, who ran over to shove him in the back. Van de Ven certainly looks like a strong and passionate leader who will not back down.

Kevin Danso was solid for Spurs

Questions over the quality of Kevin Danso have been asked this season due to a few shaky performances. However, Spurs have now kept clean sheets in half the matches where he has started this season.

The Austrian was superb against Everton and did an excellent job covering for Cristian Romero, who remains out through injury.

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According to Squawka, Danso made 18 clearances on Sunday, the most by a Tottenham player in any Premier League game since Jan Vertonghen against Burnley in December 2016. He won all his duels and did not concede a single free kick, in what was a really promising performance.

Pape Matar Sarr is a Tottenham superstar

Pape Matar Sarr was one of the biggest talking points in the builup to the Everton fixture, because Thomas Frank kept benching him, despite his strong start to the campaign.

The midfielder was handed little more than 10 minutes against the Toffees, but he made every one of them count and scored the goal which put the victory beyond doubt.

Sarr played a key role in the attacking move which led to the goal and made a good run into the box, where Richarlison was able to find him with a pinpoint header. He is definitely due a start when Spurs travel to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.

Now, let’s take a look at our three losers from Everton 0-3 Tottenham…

Xavi Simons must take the chances he is given

Xavi Simons was back in the starting lineup on Sunday and it makes sense considering Tottenham splurged £51m to bring him to North London. However, his performances up to this point have not justified him being selected by Frank.

The 22-year-old played a pass which could have proved costly in the first half, as it was intercepted and allowed Everton to get through on goal. He also ruined a promising counter attack with a pass which was equally as bad.

Simons failed to make any key passes, successful dribbles or land any shots on target, in what was yet another underwhelming performance.

No Instagram post for Djed Spence

Anyone who follows Djed Spence on social media will know how much he enjoys mocking wingers when he gets the better of them. This time around, he kept things humble with an Instagram story which celebrated three points and a clean sheet.

Spence had the fewest number of touches by any outfield player who remained on the pitch for the entire match against Everton.

The England international did not defend well against Iliman Ndiaye, despite what a clean sheet might suggest. In fact, he only won one of his seven ground duels throughout the match, a 14 per cent success rate which makes for grim reading.

Radu Dragusin may struggle to find Tottenham chances

Radu Dragusin is likely to have been out for almost a year by the time he returns from injury, but if truth be told, he has not been missed by Spurs.

This was especially true yesterday as Danso impressed with his display in defence. If the 27-year-old continues to play at that level, it is difficult to see where Dragusin fits in when he does eventually make his comeback.

For now, Danso will certainly be seen as a strong backup option to Romero. Plus, it is possible Tottenham will look to sign a new centre-back in January and that could be the nail in the coffin for the player who has never really got going in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur have an eye on a midfield talent compared to Kevin De Bruyne, but Newcastle United and Chelsea have now entered the race.

Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank have not been entirely free-flowing, particularly in attack, despite picking up a few wins along the way.

The new manager has been accused of being overly cautious at times, which is understandable to a point, yet for a club like Tottenham, playing front-foot football is fundamental to their identity.

Several factors have contributed to the cautious approach, and one of them lies in the personnel on the pitch. The balance in midfield has been difficult to find, especially when Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and a traditional number ten have all been deployed together.

Tottenham keeping an eye on AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit

Xavi Simons is still settling into life at Tottenham, while James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined through injury, but new reports have linked the club with a player once compared to Kevin De Bruyne.

According to TBR Football, Tottenham Hotspur are among a host of clubs monitoring 19-year-old Kees Smit of AZ Alkmaar.

The Dutch midfielder is regarded as one of the Eredivisie side’s most prized assets, and AZ are believed to be bracing themselves for his departure in 2026.

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Smit has developed rapidly over the past year, combining composure with a mature sense of awareness that has drawn attention across Europe.

He was instrumental in leading the Netherlands to the European Under-19 Championship title in Romania, where he was named Player of the Tournament.

UEFA’s official tournament report praised his all-round quality, writing: “Smit’s dribbling, creativity, clever movement and game intelligence were second to none and earned him comparisons with a young Kevin De Bruyne.”

Spurs face competition for Kees Smit

Tottenham are not short of creative options in the centre of the park, with Lucas Bergvall showing flashes of potential and continuing to develop well, yet it seems Spurs are unwilling to pass up on the chance to secure a talent of Smit’s calibre.

However, both Real Madrid and Barcelona are believed to be monitoring the youngster, while Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have also registered interest.

In England, Tottenham are joined by Chelsea, Brighton, Fulham, Newcastle and Brentford in tracking his progress closely.

Newcastle United even sent scouts who were reportedly in attendance as Smit produced a man-of-the-match display in AZ’s 2-0 victory over Ajax.

Transfer insider Graeme Bailey has also shared what he has been hearing about the player’s growing reputation, telling TBR Football: “Talking to scouts in Europe, there are not many more names that create as much excitement as Smit.

“Many clubs believe Smit is the real deal and from what I am being told there is a very good chance he moves next year.”

Tottenham are not the only Premier League side keeping a close eye on one of the Championship’s best midfielders, with Newcastle United now joining the growing list of interested clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur have long kept tabs on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, with interest dating back to the summer transfer window.

Spurs were reported to have been eyeing a £25 million move for Hackney last summer, but a deal never materialised, with the Englishman instead staying put in the Championship.

The 23-year-old, however, has continued to catch the eye, and former Tottenham scout Mick Brown believes Hackney is ready for a step up to the Premier League, even backing Spurs to make a move for the midfielder.

Fresh reports have now revealed that interest in Hackney is not limited to Tottenham, with several clubs now reported to be following the Middlesbrough man.

Newcastle and rivals track Tottenham target Hayden Hackney

According to TBR Football, Brighton, Fulham, and Brentford are the latest to enter the race for the 23-year-old, as they are understood to be watching him closely.

It has also been revealed that Middlesbrough’s North East rivals Newcastle United have been tracking Hackney’s progress in recent weeks.

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Last year, Portuguese giants FC Porto made offers and are said to still be keeping tabs on the Englishman.

Meanwhile, the likes of Atalanta, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also showing interest in the midfielder.

Manchester United and Crystal Palace, who were among the clubs to check on Hackney last season, are believed to have retained a watching brief as his stock continues to rise.

Graeme Bailey offers insight on Hayden Hackney’s future

TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey also gave his view on Hackney’s situation at Middlesbrough and the club’s stance heading into the January window.

He explained that as Boro push for promotion, Hackney has become pivotal to their hopes, with the club unwilling to sanction a sale mid-season.

“As Boro mount a serious promotion challenge, Hayden Hackney is emerging as the cornerstone of their push,” Bailey said.

“However, I am told that Boro have little intention of allowing Hackney to leave in January – last season they sold Emmanuel Latte-Lath, which Michael Carrick felt cost them the chance of promotion, and they do not intend on doing that again.

“That said, Boro’s resolve is set to be pushed if Hackney’s form keeps up – there could be some very big offers coming in January.

“Boro do know that the only way they can keep him, however, is if they get promoted and the only way to do that is by keeping him.”

Tottenham Hotspur are known for keeping an eye on young prospects across Europe, and now they are keeping tabs on one emerging star who could be available for under £50 million.

Tottenham Hotspur are no strangers to signing youngsters, as seen in recent windows when the club made a conscious effort to build for the future.

Last summer, however, did show a slight shift in strategy, with the club prioritising more experienced players to bring greater balance to the squad.

With Fabio Paratici back and set to focus on first-team matters, Johan Lange has taken charge of youth recruitment and scouting, and it appears Tottenham could once again be turning towards youth as part of their long-term project.

Tottenham scouts watch Can Uzun during Liverpool vs Eintracht Frankfurt

TBR Football are now reporting that Tottenham Hotspur sent scouts to watch a highly-rated Bundesliga youngster, Turkish midfielder Can Uzun of Eintracht Frankfurt.

It is understood that Spurs officials were in attendance during Frankfurt’s clash with Liverpool, although Uzun did not feature in the match.

The 19-year-old is one of the leading names in a promising new generation of Turkish talents that includes Arda Guler, who Tottenham have also been linked with, and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus.

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His name has been on the radar of several major European sides following a breakout campaign that has seen him become one of Frankfurt’s standout performers.

Uzun has already notched five goals and three assists this season, marking what has been an impressive period of adaptation since his move to Germany in 2024.

Brighton, BlueCo and City Group also tracking Uzun

With Guler expected to command a significant fee, Uzun could very much be available for £50 million, but Tottenham are not the only English club monitoring the Turkish midfielder.

Brighton & Hove Albion, BlueCo, and the City Group are all showing concrete interest in Uzun’s development this season.

Speaking to TBR Football, Graeme Bailey shared what he had learned from a Premier League scout who has followed Uzun closely.

Bailey revealed: “This boy is ‘special’ was the comment I received from a scout attached to one of the Premier League’s top clubs.”

He went on to add: “Uzun might be considered under the radar to some but he is a huge talent. He has become one of the most talked about players in the Bundesliga and he really is a huge talent. There is not a major club who does not have him on their radar.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been credited with an interest in a six-time La Liga winner, but they may not be the favourites to land him in January.

One senior Tottenham star’s performances this season have come under the scanner so far this season.

The player in question is Guglielmo Vicario, who some Spurs fans have been calling for Frank to drop from the side.

The Tottenham number one has responded with some outstanding performances of late, showcasing that he is indeed one of the best shot-stoppers around. Vicario was Man of the Match against Monaco and a big reason behind Tottenham’s clean sheet away at Everton.

However, this has not ended the speculation about Spurs pursuing a new goalkeeper in January.

Chelsea could battle Tottenham for Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Over recent weeks, we have heard reports that Spurs have explored a move for Barcelona number one Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The German international is currently out injured, but it has been alleged that Barca are keen to get him off their wage bill in the upcoming transfer window.

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Journalist Dean Jones has now suggested that Stamford Bridge, rather than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, may be the likely destination for Ter Stegen in January.

Jones told TEAMtalk: “It would not surprise me if Chelsea looked into getting Ter Stegen on loan for the second half of the season.

“They want to make sure they are well prepared for any big moments and will definitely not want to be caught short in such a key position, which has been a concern already.

“Obviously, he will be swamped with offers, so competing for a spot may not turn out to be something that appeals to him. The wages situation could come into the equation, too. But I still think Chelsea will attempt to sign Maignan on a permanent deal, and that would happen in the summer, so getting Ter Stegen in short-term for now could be an option.

“It has become clear that a move from Barca is on the horizon, so let’s see how this opens up. Chelsea have definitely had interest in him in recent times and will be fully briefed on his situation ahead of any decision.”

Spurs have more pressing concerns to address than Vicario

It has been reported over recent weeks that Tottenham want to add a striker and a wide forward to their squad in January.

Additionally, it has also been suggested that Thomas Frank’s men are also scouring the market for a number six, which does not come as a surprise, given the issues they have in midfield this season.

Whatever one thinks of Vicario, those are undoubtedly much bigger priorities for Tottenham to address than the goalkeeping situation.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for another transfer battle in January, with reports suggesting the club is once again eyeing a move for Morten Hjulmand.

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and Tottenham Hotspur could very much be busy when it does.

Two sporting directors are currently at the helm for Spurs, and with a £100million injection having recently made its way into the club, there could well be some top signings in the works.

The midfield position under Thomas Frank has not entirely been the strongest, with the Dane yet to find the right combination, and now reports claim Spurs could be in for a player they tried to sign in the summer window.

Tottenham preparing move for Morten Hjulmand

According to Record, as relayed by Sport Witness, Tottenham are understood to be preparing a bid for Morten Hjulmand, as they are one of several European clubs believed to be circling for the midfielder ahead of the winter window.

The Lilywhites are believed to be leading the way to land the Danish midfielder, but clubs across Europe also remain in the mix.

Sporting resisted offers in the summer after striking an agreement with Hjulmand to remain until the end of this season, despite interest from Spurs at the time.

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The report adds that Hjulmand will receive a cash bonus if that happens, with Sporting also maintaining their firm stance on the €80million (£68.5m) release clause in his contract.

Spurs could bid for Hjulmand in January

Sporting are said to be expecting ‘headaches’ in the January transfer window despite Hjulmand signing a new deal and his £68.5m release clause remaining active.

Tottenham are reportedly keeping an eye on the midfielder’s situation, and Sporting are well aware of that, as they brace themselves for potential bids.

A bid could pretty much come from Tottenham or other suitors in Europe, but Spurs are certainly viewed as one of the sides most interested in the Danish midfielder, who continues to impress in Portugal.