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Thomas Frank has now revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were in the race for a Premier League star with 17 goal contributions this season.

Since entering what has been termed a new era following the wholesale changes at the board level, there have been claims that the Spurs’ higher-ups are looking to show ambition.

In fact, a few days before the transfer window opened, it was reported that the Lewis family injected £100 million into the club.

Spurs have since moved to sign Conor Gallagher and Souza for a combined £50 million, while they have sold Brennan Johnson for £35 million.

However, pressure remains on the board to do a lot more in the transfer market, given the injury crisis the club is dealing with, and now Frank has opened up on Spurs’ plans this winter.

Tottenham transfer plans as Thomas Frank admits £65m Antoine Semenyo target

Speaking about the club’s wider transfer approach and the balance between short-term fixes and long-term planning, Thomas Frank explained how much work is going on behind the scenes to strengthen the squad.

He made clear who is driving those efforts, and why Tottenham are cautious about limiting future options, before addressing a major target the club failed to land.

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Frank told football.london: “The club are working relentlessly to do what they can to improve the squad, especially Johan, Fabio and Vinai and all those behind them. We cannot be obsessed with a short-term fix as we cannot limit what we do in the future.

“I can promise the Lewis family are super committed and there is no doubt the club is clear. I will break a rule, we wanted to sign Antoine Semenyo. That is a big signing with finances and all that. It is aligned and they are the quality players we are looking for to improve the squad.”

Again, it continues to be all words but little action from the Tottenham hierarchy when there is a bit of pressure. Spurs were never alone in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo at £65m in the winter window, as reports at the time claimed that several other Premier League clubs were just as keen.

Frank added: “I think it shows big, big commitment from the Lewis family. I think the fans and everyone involved should not be in doubt of that. They want things to be successful. We all wanted to be doing better, but processes are starting to be ticked behind the scenes.”

No doubt, as a top side, there are always going to be contingencies in place should you fail to land your main target; however, since Semenyo completed his move to Manchester, Spurs, who claim to have money, have yet to land any other wide forward targets.

It all just seems like another excuse from the board after another poor transfer window outing.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to strengthen their attack before Monday’s transfer deadline and have set their sights on a former Premier League winger.

This transfer window has been an uninspiring one from a Tottenham perspective, with Conor Gallagher and Souza being the only two players to arrive through the door so far.

Thomas Frank has made it clear Spurs are still in the market, and the supporters will be hoping that the Lilywhites can pull a surprise out of the bag within the next few days.

It has now emerged that the North Londoners have turned their attention to a winger who impressed in his only season in the Premier League.

Tottenham want to sign Moussa Diaby from Saudi Pro League

The Independent have revealed that Spurs are exploring a move for Al-Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby.

The 26-year-old spent the 2023/24 season with Aston Villa following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 10 goals and registering 11 assists in his only campaign in England before moving to the Saudi club.

It is revealed that Diaby is ready to return to Europe and is open to joining a Champions League club.

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Tottenham, who sealed progression to the round of 16 stage of the Champions League this week, are exploring a move for the Frenchman if they make a last-ditch attempt to add to their attacking options.

Spurs battling Serie A giants for Diaby

The Independent state that the Lilywhites would have to see off competition from Inter Milan to land the former Villa man.

Inter, who will be involved in the Champions League knockout playoffs next month, were initially favourites to secure Diaby and were looking to close the deal on Thursday.

However, they left a ‘gap’ which Tottenham are trying to take advantage of and hijack the move, with the winger currently ‘assessing his options’.

Opta’s Supercomputer has revealed how likely Tottenham Hotspur are to cause an upset against Man City on Sunday.

Tottenham have a formidable record at home against Manchester City ever since they moved into their new stadium in 2019.

The Lilywhites also beat Pep Guardiola’s men 2-0 away from home in the reverse fixture at the start of the campaign.

However, this is a very different Spurs side, which is not only without some key players but also devoid of confidence, languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table.

Man City deemed big favourites to beat Tottenham

Despite the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium historically not being a happy hunting ground for City, the Manchester club has been deemed considerable favourites by Opta’s Supercomputer.

The data analysis platform has given City a 46.9 per cent chance of taking all three points from North London on Sunday.

The home side have been given a 28.7 per cent chance of causing an upset, while the algorithm suggests that a draw is the least likely result at 24.4 per cent.

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Why this is not a bad fixture for Spurs right now

The Tottenham players will take some confidence from their impressive display away at Frankfurt, while the mood of the fan base is also slightly more positive after progression to the final 16 of the Champions League.

We have already seen that Spurs struggle against weaker Premier League teams at home, partly because the players struggle to cope with the expectation of the home crowd to dominate proceedings and create chances.

The supporters will be much more accepting of playing on the counter-attack against City, and we may see a good atmosphere at the stadium on Sunday.

Tottenham return to domestic action on Sunday with Manchester City arriving in north London, as Thomas Frank looks to carry European momentum into a fixture that has often produced the unexpected. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Man City on Sunday evening.

With yet another European win, Thomas Frank continues to buy himself extra time in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout.

The victory against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend is what many at the club will consider the benchmark, as Spurs were the better side throughout, created chances with ease and remained solid at the back.

However, doing it under the lights in the Champions League has not been Tottenham’s primary issue this season, with domestic form continuing to lag, and standing in their way this weekend are title chasers Man City.

When and where Tottenham vs Manchester City takes place

Tottenham will take on Manchester City on Sunday, 1 February 2026 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Manchester City in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Tottenham vs Manchester City live on Sky Sports, with coverage available on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

The fixture will also be available via Sky Go for subscribers wishing to stream the game.

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Full coverage is expected to begin well ahead of kick-off on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs and Manchester City team news

Thomas Frank has several injury concerns to manage heading into the clash, with Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies all remaining sidelined with long-term issues.

There is some positive news, however, as players who were unavailable in the Champions League due to registration rules are now back in contention, with Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin, Conor Gallagher and Mathys Tel returning for the weekend.

Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven both missed out on Wednesday night after picking up injuries, although van de Ven could yet be involved on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City also arrive with several notable absentees, as Pep Guardiola continues to contend with injuries across his squad.

John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and Savinho are all unavailable, leaving City stretched in several key areas.

Tottenham vs Manchester City prediction

Spurs do have a knack for beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, which makes them difficult to completely write off despite their poor form.

This is, however, a City side firmly in the title race, and they will be expected to push for all three points on Sunday evening, particularly with Arsenal featuring earlier in the matchday.

Tottenham, by contrast, have managed just two wins in their last fourteen league matches and have struggled badly in front of their home support, meaning it could be another difficult domestic outing for Frank’s side.

A Tottenham Hotspur midfielder may be lining up against the Lilywhites when the club returns to Champions League action in March.

With just days left until the window slams shut, we are getting to the stage where clubs around Europe make last-ditch attempts to plug the gaps in their squad.

It has been suggested that Tottenham may offload a senior man who was not part of their Champions League squad for the league phase.

On Tuesday, it emerged that Galatasaray’s sporting director had flown to England to hold talks over a deal for Yves Bissouma, and there has now been an update on the deal.

Galatasaray are in talks with Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma

It is now being reported by Aspor that Bissouma has now become the Turkish club’s ‘prime target’ in the final days of the transfer window.

Gala were initially hoping to tie up a deal for Man United’s Manuel Ugarte, but the Red Devils have now shut down the possibility of a move for the Uruguayan.

As a result, the Istanbul side have turned their attention to Bissouma and have started talks with the 29-year-old’s agent regarding a switch to Rams Park.

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This is particularly significant now as Galatasaray are one of four possible opponents Tottenham can face in the round of 16 stage of the Champions League.

Why Bissouma’s sale can be completed after Monday’s deadline

Bissouma’s sale to Galatasaray does not need to be completed by the February 2 transfer deadline, which is when the window shuts for most of Europe.

This is because the Turkish transfer window extends until February 6th, giving Okan Buruk’s side four additional days to strike a deal with Tottenham for the Mali international.

Tottenham Hotspur could end up securing a long-term target in the dying stages of the transfer window, but they may have to pay an inflated fee for him.

Conor Gallagher and Souza are the only two players to arrive through the door so far this month, with the Lilywhites yet to strengthen their attack.

We could still see the club do that over the coming days, with Thomas Frank declaring that Tottenham are still in the market for signings.

It has now emerged that while the Lilywhites do want to make an ‘exciting attacking addition’ before Monday’s deadline, the player who is on their radar will not come cheap.

Tottenham need to spend big to land Maghnes Akliouche

This update comes from TEAMtalk, who say that Maghnes Akliouche has been on Tottenham’s radar since September.

The Lilywhits have been tracking the Monaco man for months, completing extensive groundwork on the Monaco star, and gaining an understanding of the financial parameters involved.

However, Tottenham Hotspur are yet to even contact the Ligue 1 side regarding a deal for Akliouche.

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Sources say that any bid at this stage of the transfer window for the 23-year-old would be unwelcome and that the North Londoners may need to pay around £50m to clinch a late deal.

Spurs in a difficult position due to the uncertainty over Thomas Frank’s future

TEAMtalk reveal that Tottenham explored deals for Savinho, Kevin Schade and Antoine Semenyo, all of whom Frank was keen on, but none of those pursuits have proven successful.

While the Spurs hierarchy had a clear intention to back Frank heading into the transfer window, they are in a difficult position due to what has unfolded since then.

There is now uncertainty over how long the Dane will remain at the helm, and there is no guarantee that any new manager will be a fan of the club’s current attacking targets.

Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of landing Omar Marmoush in a late deal have been boosted, but the Lilywhites still have one big roadblock to overcome.

It has been reported from right from the start of this window that Tottenham are sensing an opportunity to swoop for Marmoush, who has struggled for game time at Man City this season.

However, over recent weeks, several sources have played down the possibility of the Egyptian international leaving the Etihad Stadium mid-season.

This includes The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who said Man City are not likely to sell Marmoush this window, but there has now been another twist in the transfer saga.

Pep Guardiola approves Omar Marmoush departure as Tottenham circle

CaughtOffside have now revealed that Marmoush is pushing to leave the Manchester club in search of regular first-team football.

Additionally, it is claimed that Pep Guardiola has given his approval for the 26-year-old to leave the club as he acknowledges that the forward will not get consistent minutes at the Etihad.

Marmoush wants to remain in English football, and Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a late deal as they look to rebuild their attack.

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The report claims that Thomas Frank sees the City star as someone who can stretch defences and press aggressively, with the Lilywhites currently evaluating a straight loan offer as well as a loan with an option to buy.

Marmoush may prefer joining Premier League rivals over Spurs

CaughtOffside say that although Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have explored a move for the forward, his desire to remain in the Premier League gives English clubs an advantage.

However, Tottenham face competition from Aston Villa for Marmoush, who Unai Emery sees as an ideal rotation option for his side.

In fact, the outlet adds that a move to Villa Park is ‘believed to be highly appealing’ for the former Eintracht Frankfurt man.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for a highly decorated German international, but they are expected to face intense competition for his services.

Tottenham’s interest in Andy Robertson is perhaps evidence that the club are prepared to shift their transfer policy and sign players who are 30 or above.

The Liverpool left-back is not the only experienced player on the Lilywhites’ radar, with a six-time title-winning midfielder also thought to be on the club’s wishlist.

It emerged a few days ago that Tottenham have expressed an interest in Leon Goretzka, who is expected to leave Bayern Munich when his contract runs out in the summer.

Tottenham will face plenty of competition for Leon Goretzka

CalcioMercato have now also suggested that the German international is expected to leave the Allianz Arena in the summer despite featuring 18 times already for Bayern this season.

The outlet says that Tottenham Hotspur have made the first move for Goretzka as the North Londoners look to revamp their midfield ahead of next season.

However, the Lilywhites are expected to face an intense transfer battle for the Bayern Munich man, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also enquiring about the experienced midfielder.

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Florian Plettenberg has backed up Atletico’s interest in Goretzka, as they ironically want him to replace Conor Gallagher.

Fabrizio Romano has also commented on the transfer rumours: ‘Atlético Madrid have genuine interest in Leon Goretzka, he’s a target. But my understanding is that Bayern manager Vincent Kompany doesn’t want to lose any player in January. So we have to see if Atlético will convince Bayern to let Goretzka leave now, or if he will leave as a free agent in the summer. Atlético have a good relationship with Goretzka’s agents and are trying.’

However, Tottenham’s main competition for Goretzka could come from a Serie A side.

AC Milan ready to go toe-to-toe with Spurs for Goretzka

CalcioMercato say that AC Milan have also made an initial approach to sign the 30-year-old on a free transfer in the summer.

The Rossoneri have made contact with Goretzka’s camp, with their sporting director, Igli Tare, a big admirer of the German international.

While AC Milan are pushing forward with a move for a Tottenham Hotspur man, they have made a clear plan to nullify one risk associated with a potential deal.

As we enter the final few days of the transfer window, Radu Dragusin continues to be linked with an exit from Spurs.

However, AS Roma, who were previously the club leading the race for the centre-back, now face heavy competition, with West Ham expressing late interest in the Tottenham man.

Over recent days, an increasing number of reports indicate that AC Milan have stormed into the race for Dragusin, with the Rossoneri looking to land the Spurs man on a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy.

AC Milan have one concern about landing Radu Dragusin from Tottenham

A new report in Corriere dello Sport has confirmed that the Rossoneri are keen on pushing through a deal for the Romanian.

It is explained that Dragusin is seen as a good fit for Max Allegri’s back-three system and is viewed as a relatively inexpensive option. However, Milan want assurances about the centre-back’s fitness after his recent ACL injury.

Allegri wants a player who can make an immediate impact, and the Spurs man’s recent injuries are causing doubts at the Italian club over whether he can do that.

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As a result, Milan have planned a prolonged medical for the defender to rule out any fitness risks if they manage to strike a deal with Tottenham.

Will Spurs go back on Thomas Frank’s transfer promise?

A few days ago, Thomas Frank promised that there would be no more exits from Tottenham this window, given the club’s injury crisis.

Given that Spurs do not appear close to landing any centre-back, they would be going against the wishes of their head coach if they sold Dragusin.

We have seen contradictory reports on Tottenham’s interest in a £35m striker this week, and it could impact Randal Kolo Muani’s future.

Thomas Frank praised Kolo Muani for his display against Eintracht Frankfurt after the Frenchman scored in Tottenham’s 2-0 win, which saw the Lilywhites seal direct progression to the round of 16 stage of the Champions League.

However, that performance came amidst heavy speculation suggesting that the forward could cut short his loan spell at Spurs and head elsewhere for the remainder of the campaign.

In fact, reports indicate that Kolo Muani is currently in talks with Juventus over returning to Turin on loan after his successful spell at the Allianz Stadium last season.

Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani decision depends on Jean-Philippe Mateta

TEAMtalk have now confirmed that there is a possibility that the 27-year-old’s stay at the North London club could be cut short before Monday’s deadline.

However, they reveal that Thomas Frank has made it clear to the Spurs hierarchy that he would only greenlight Kolo Muani’s exit if a replacement arrives through the door.

The outlet suggests that Tottenham’s decision on the France international could depend on whether the Lilywhites push ahead with a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

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There is said to be a belief at N17 that Mateta is a good fit for Frank’s system, with the Palace star’s profile viewed as one that could complement the Lilywhites’ squad.

Palace were reported to want around £35m to sell Mateta this month.

Sky journalist’s claim suggests Kolo Muani may be staying

TEAMtalk back up what other sources have reported over the last few days by stating that Mateta is keen to exit Selhurst Park before Monday’s deadline.

The striker would be open to the idea of moving to a Champions League club as he believes that would improve his chances of sealing a place in France’s World Cup squad.

However, Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has now rubbished the transfer rumours linking the Palace star with a move to N17, insisting that Spurs have no interest in the 28-year-old.

Bridge wrote on X: “Despite a few reports elsewhere, Spurs have no interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta.”