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Thomas Frank has revealed that he tries to be honest in his conversations with Tottenham’s transfer targets and has explained the kind of characters he wants to add to the Spurs squad.

Following the addition of Xavi Simons, Tottenham’s summer business now looks more than decent, with the club managing to acquire three players who have strengthened their starting eleven.

Defeat to Bournemouth earlier on Saturday will however have many fans hoping that Simons is not their last piece of business before the window closes.

Spurs have their head coach to thank for being able to get these deals over the line, with Simons revealing that his conversation with Frank convinced him about a move to Tottenham.

That was the same thing said last week by Joao Palhinha, who admitted that Frank was the number one factor behind his Spurs switch.

Thomas Frank admits he is honest with Tottenham’s transfer targets

The Dane has now explained that while his role is to sell the Tottenham Hotspur project, he prefers being direct and honest in his conversations with transfer targets rather than painting too rosy a picture.

When asked what he tells players before they sign, Thomas Frank said (via Football.London): “When I speak to them, I’m pretty direct and honest in how I see the player. Of course I want to sell the Tottenham project, but I’m always direct in terms of how I see their role and what we hopefully can make them to become.

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“Also, that it will be a fantastic journey, but also there can be ups and downs in that journey, and there are bits they need to work on.”

Frank admits that he wants humble characters who would work hard for the team, but he pointed out that it does not mean that they come without an ego.

When asked if top-class players come with a big ego, the Spurs head coach responded: “100%. They need to. We all have the ego, we can’t live without the ego. None of us would have been in this room, being in the position you guys are in, I am, without the ego pushing us a bit. I think that’s hugely important, but I think it’s important it is not controlling you in many ways.

“I always use that attitude as confident but humble. You need to be confident about your own abilities but humble about the team, humble about your role, humble that every single day you need to put the hard work in. But when you step on the pitch, when I step in here, you need to look confident. But when I am not humble [enough] to do all the hard work, forget it.”

Frank admits Tottenham do their homework on players’ personalities

During his time at Brentford, the 51-year-old became known for his ‘no-d**kheads’ policy (Guardian), but he confessed that he tries to understand players’ personalities before writing them off as bad apples.

The Tottenham boss also revealed that the club uses a lot of references to make thorough background checks on their transfer targets.

When asked how difficult or easy it is to spot a player with a bad attitude, Frank responded: “I’ve met a few over the years. I think it is important to try and understand the player. I think it is so easy to say ‘Oh he doesn’t have enough’ or ‘He has too much’. It’s the easiest way.

“It’s my job, together with the other coaches to maximise their potential. To maximise their potential I need to get to know them and try to get into them.

“We take massive references. Massive. We’re big on it. On any player done in the past and we’ll do it the same. Of course, there are some players who are like ten out of ten, perfect.

“Others are not ten out of ten but they can’t be too low, of course. But then you think with our culture, it will work anyway.”

Sol Campbell took a lot of stick after betraying Tottenham Hotspur by joining Arsenal and he has revealed how he thinks Eberechi Eze will be treated when his new club play Spurs.

Frustration has turned to jubilation at Tottenham Hotspur, following the news that Xavi Simons will sign for Spurs. The 22-year-old midfielder bagged 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 appearances for RB Leipzig and could rival Mohammed Kudus as the club’s signing of the summer.

However, despite his obvious quality, Simons was not the first attacking midfielder Tottenham made an attempt to sign during the current transfer window. Eze was said to be close to a Spurs move and the only issue was minor details about the structure of the deal.

Fast forward a day and it was revealed that Tottenham faced the threat of an Arsenal hijack for Eze. In the end, Eze chose Arsenal over Spurs, meaning the London club had to continue their search for a new midfielder.

Sol Campbell does not believe Tottenham supporters will send Eberechi Eze abuse

Sol Campbell loves to bring up how much he has suffered at the hands of Tottenham supporters, despite consistently being the instigator. Campbell trolled Spurs in a Google Pixel advert at the beginning of the year and this is just one of many things he has done to get on the wrong side of the Lilywhites.

The former Tottenham captain has once again brought up the troubles he faced after making the switch to Arsenal, while speaking about Eze. Campbell does not believe Eze will face the same level of abuse he did, despite his controversial decision to turn Spurs down at the last minute.

Campbell told Paddy Power: “I’m sure he [Eze] will get some stick, but it won’t compare to what I got when I returned to Spurs as an Arsenal player. That wouldn’t be allowed to happen these days.

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“What happened back then has been shut down and no-one wants to talk about it anymore. I still get abuse now and it will never stop.

“You could see what the move meant for Eze. It felt like he was home when he walked out at the stadium. He was an Arsenal fan as a kid and started his career there.

“This is his club and when Arsenal came in, that was that. It feels like a reunion.”

Spurs have recovered well from Eze snub

No Eze, no problem! Tottenham have signed a much younger midfielder who has experience playing in the Champions League. On top of this, he will cost Tottenham less money than what Arsenal paid to sign Eze.

Simons bagged 10 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season and is just as good a player as Eze, with a much higher ceiling. Many have enjoyed taunting and mocking Spurs for their failed negotiations, but they are the true winners in the end.

Arne Slot has made a confession about when Tottenham Hotspur were interested in hiring him as their new manager and his decision changed the course of the club’s history.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have not always had the best relationship. From Moussa Sissoko’s alleged handball in the Champions League final to Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota being sent off during a 2-1 Spurs victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there has always been drama when the two sides clash.

However, even the most diehard Spurs supporters should be able to appreciate Arne Slot as a manager. The Dutchman arrived at Anfield after a third-place finish in the Premier League and the season before, Jurgen Klopp’s men sat in fifth at the end of the campaign.

This did not prevent Slot from winning the league title in his first season as manager, yet it could have been a very different story if he had accepted a previous job offer from North London.

Arne Slot would have loved to become Tottenham manager

Ange Postecoglou was not the only name floating about when Spurs were searching for a manager two summers ago. Many will remember that Slot, who managed Feyenoord at the time, was also linked with the job. In fact, a number of supporters were in favour of bringing him to North London.

Slot instead signed a new contract at the Eredivisie outfit, but he has revealed that he would have loved to become the new Tottenham manager. However, some things are bigger than football and there was an obstacle which prevented Slot from taking on the role.

Slot told the Dutch author Mikos Gouka, in his biography Arne Slot: The New Era (Independent): “The fact I didn’t go to Spurs was 99 per cent a family decision. We talked a lot and I told my kids it would be great to come and visit me in London during the school holidays, though my daughter said she might want to go do things with her friends sometimes.

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“I’d have loved to have gone to Spurs, because who goes straight from Feyenoord to Tottenham, but when Liverpool approached me last season it was very different.”

Spurs losing out on Slot worked out in the end

Certain things happen which seem unfavourable at the time, but turn out to be a good thing. Heung-min Son’s miss against Manchester City comes to mind, one which cost Tottenham a spot in the Champions League. However, this paved the way for Spurs to be placed in the Europa League and we all know what happened next.

In a similar way, by missing out on Slot, Tottenham were able to hire Postecoglou, another key component in the Europa League triumph.

Of course, Slot himself could have had success at Spurs, but there is no way of knowing. Therefore, it is unlikely anyone at Tottenham is too bothered about failing to land the Dutch manager.

Ben Davies has lifted the lid on how different life at Tottenham feels without former captain Heung-min Son around.

In the past few weeks, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have had to get used to the unusual sight of not seeing former club captain Heung-min Son bursting down the left wing and leading the line with his trademark energy.

Son said his farewell to N17 earlier this summer during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Asia, bringing to an end a ten-year stay in north London that had seen him rise from fan favourite to one of the Premier League’s deadliest attackers.

Since then, Spurs have turned to Cristian Romero for leadership, handing the Argentine the captain’s armband, and he has stepped into the role with authority and composure, leading Tottenham to two victories in the Premier League so far.

Ben Davies opens up on Tottenham without Heung-min Son

Heung-min Son and Ben Davies had long been two of the most experienced heads at Tottenham before the forward made the move to LAFC.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Davies reflected on how different life has been at Spurs without his close friend and revealed that Son still plays an important role in his personal life.

Introducing the topic, he admitted how strong their relationship is before confirming: “Yes, he is my son’s godfather. It is strange without him here. I think I had ten years just seeing him pretty much every day at the building, so it is definitely a weird one. But he is happy, I speak to him regularly.”

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Davies went on to add that the pair remain in constant communication, saying: “We are still in contact and he seems to be enjoying it so far.”

Spurs yet to replace Heung-min Son

On the pitch, Son was a talisman for Tottenham, delivering countless goals, vital assists, and moments of brilliance that often dragged the team forward in difficult games.

However, Spurs are yet to secure a like-for-like replacement in the final third, and with the summer transfer window edging towards its conclusion, the need for reinforcements is clear.

Tim Sherwood has raised doubts over whether Tottenham’s new signing Xavi Simons is capable of taking the club to the next level.

It has most certainly been an eventful past few days for Tottenham Hotspur, who have finally confirmed the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The Netherlands international now follows in the footsteps of Micky van de Ven and Rafael van der Vaart as some of the high-profile names from his country to wear the white of Spurs, with expectations already building that he can replicate the impact made by those who came before him.

Simons will be hoping to make an impression as quickly as possible, but his debut for Tottenham may have to wait until after the international break, with the trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham looking the most likely stage for his first Premier League appearance.

Tim Sherwood questions Tottenham signing Xavi Simons

Tim Sherwood, speaking on Sky Sports, has admitted he is not fully convinced that Spurs’ new number seven is the right man to push the club forward.

The former Tottenham manager compared Simons to some of the alternative transfer targets Spurs were chasing, such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, arguing that the Dutchman may not be the reference point player that the team requires.

When pressed about Simons’ profile and ball-carrying ability, Sherwood said: “They have got a lot of players who do that, Tel, why did they bring him in? For me, he is blocking pathways; they are all as good as each other.

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“What I am saying is that I wanted them to sign a player who would go straight into the first team, be a mainstay, be a reference for the side. I am not sure Xavi Simons is that man.”

He then expanded on his thoughts, saying: “For me, he excites me at times, he is like a bottle of pop, sometimes he fizzes and grows and you think wow, but then for a couple of games you do not see him.

“Sometimes he can be that. I hope I am wrong. I hope he can get some consistency. But as Alan said, he is absolutely right, this is the toughest and most competitive league in the world. It is not easy. He will be playing on the front foot. It is a fantastic club, wonderful stadium, and I wish him well.”

Tim Sherwood famously wrote off Pedro Porro early in his Tottenham career before the Spaniard settled to become one of the finest right-backs in the league.

Why Spurs can trust in Simons

Despite the scepticism, Xavi Simons arrives at Tottenham with a wealth of top-level experience, having already played for Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and the Dutch national team, which makes him far more seasoned than many players his age.

At just 22 years old, he has already featured on the biggest stages, including the Champions League, which is an experience neither Gibbs-White nor Eze possess, and that alone gives Spurs a different dimension in midfield and attack.

Simon’s underlying numbers are impressive too, with 46 goal involvements in 78 matches for RB Leipzig, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists, which underlines exactly why Spurs felt he was worth the investment.

Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to climb to the top of the Premier League table after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Let us take a look at the five things we learned from the match.

Still work to do in the transfer market

A defeat is never an easy pill to swallow, and for some time now, at least in the last two Premier League games, Spurs had avoided that outcome.

However, Bournemouth brought Tottenham fans crashing back down to earth by handing Thomas Frank his first defeat of the league campaign, and the timing of it could yet prove useful, given there are still a few days left before the transfer window closes.

If Daniel Levy and the hierarchy were in any doubt about the need for further investment, this was the clearest reminder yet that the squad is short in several key areas.

Dominic Solanke has now picked up an injury, and it remains to be seen how long he will be out. A central defender continues to be linked with Tottenham, as reports suggest a bid has gone in for Manuel Akanji.

Meanwhile, quality out wide is also a pressing concern, with Brennan Johnson failing to inspire confidence on the left today. The message could not be clearer – over to you, Johan Lange, Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

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Xavi Simons greets the crowd, and boy do Tottenham need him

Tottenham Hotspur have been riding their luck in the opening two games without a natural creative number ten, and makeshift solutions have done just enough to mask the problem.

Today, though, Spurs simply lacked invention, failing to register a single shot on goal in the first half and only testing the Bournemouth goalkeeper late in the second through Lucas Bergvall, which underlined just how blunt their attack was without someone pulling the strings in midfield.

The silver lining for Tottenham is that Xavi Simons is now officially a Spurs player and was watching on from the stands, following his unveiling at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Frank, undoubtedly, would have been hoping he could call on the Dutchman at least from the bench, after that performance laid bare just how desperate this team has been for a player of his mould.

The hope now will be that he can hit the ground running in a Tottenham shirt.

Spurs struggled to create chances from out wide

Of course, Tottenham were second best for large periods of the game, and with no number ten linking play through the middle, the burden fell heavily on the wingers, who were simply not up to scratch.

Mohammed Kudus was often used as the outlet ball, with Spurs looking to his ball-carrying ability to relieve pressure, but even he struggled to create much as Bournemouth doubled up on him and cut off his space.

On the opposite flank, Brennan Johnson was way off the pace, his final ball lacking quality and only adding to the frustration of a disjointed attack.

Whether this comes down to tactical issues or a lack of quality personnel, Spurs clearly need at least one more wide forward capable of beating his man and providing a genuine threat.

Destiny Udogie returns from injury with a bright cameo

It was not all doom and gloom for Tottenham, as Destiny Udogie’s return to action was one of the brighter moments of the afternoon.

The full-back had not featured in a competitive game since the Europa League final, but he made his comeback here, replacing Pedro Porro as Djed Spence shifted across to the right.

Udogie looked solid, showed very little rust, and even came close to grabbing an equaliser with a late header that flashed wide.

With the Champions League on the horizon after the international break, having Udogie back to full fitness will be a welcome boost for Frank and his staff.

Tottenham’s international break curse continues

Spurs have made a habit of beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City year after year, which has now become a meme, and so is their International break run.

When it comes to fixtures before an international break, the curse continues to hang over Spurs, who have not won a game before the international break since October 2023.

Once again today, they fell flat, looking nothing like the energetic side that impressed so much in their opening two matches.

It means that going into the break, the sting of this defeat will linger, but with the transfer window still open, a few smart additions could quickly change the mood amongst supporters.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered their first defeat in the Premier League this season under new manager Thomas Frank, and our player ratings are in.

It was not to be for Tottenham Hotspur in front of their home crowd this weekend, as Bournemouth outplayed Frank’s men to come away with a 1-0 victory.

We’ve rated every single Tottenham player from 1-10 based on their performance from the fixture against Bournemouth in North London.

Tottenham player ratings vs Bournemouth

Guglielmo Vicario – It could easily have been more than 1-0 had Vicario not produced some outstanding saves, particularly in the second half, to keep the scoreline respectable. 7.

Pedro Porro – More of the same in the second half, as Porro continued to struggle with Semenyo’s pace and trickery. The Bournemouth winger found plenty of joy down Spurs’ right. 4.5.

Cristian Romero – Far from convincing from the Argentine, with Bournemouth constantly threatening Spurs’ back line and exposing gaps in defence. 5.

Micky Van de Ven – His standout moment came with a last-ditch block late in the first half to keep it at 1-0, but beyond that, it was an average display from the Dutchman. 5.

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Djed Spence – Looked to provide some attacking threat with overlapping runs, but they rarely troubled Bournemouth’s back line. He did create a lovely chance for Tel on the edge of the Bournemouth box, but the Frenchman struck wide. 5.5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Took on the role of anchor in the second half, but it did little to stop Bournemouth playing through Spurs with ease. 5.

Joao Palhinha – Had minimal impact, handed just a few minutes to influence proceedings in the second half. More of the same from the defensive midfielder before Frank replaced him. 5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Barely made an impression. Dropped deeper following Palhinha’s withdrawal but offered little control or bite in midfield. 5.

Brennan Johnson – Poor in the first half and no better after the break. Hooked by Frank in the second half. 4.

Richarlison – Only came to life late in the first half, setting up Bergvall for a strike. Other than that, he was largely anonymous. 4.

Mohammed Kudus – Used as Spurs’ outlet, but Bournemouth crowded him out effectively, often doubling up. Showed flashes of promise, but no end product. 5.5.

Substitutes

Lucas Bergvall – Replaced Palhinha and injected energy into Spurs’ attack, even registering their first shot on target. 6.

Wilson Odobert – Came on for Johnson and should have done better when the ball broke kindly in the box, only to blaze high and wide. 5.

Destiny Udogie – Back in action after injury, replacing Porro. Offered some overlapping runs but little time to make a difference. 5.

The half-time whistle has blown between Tottenham and Bournemouth in Spurs’ final Premier League game before the international break, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham trail 1-0 to Bournemouth following a disappointing display from the home side.

We’ve rated every single Tottenham player from 1-10 based on their performance from the first forty-five minutes in North London.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Bournemouth

Guglielmo Vicario – Has been called into action a few times in the opening forty-five, making a couple of saves, but there was nothing he could do about Evanilson’s opener. 5.

Pedro Porro – Semenyo has started brightly and already looks to have the beating of Porro, who is tasked with marking the Ghanaian. 4.

Cristian Romero – The Argentine centre-back tried to get a block in on Evanilson’s strike, but the ball cannoned off him instead, leaving Vicario with no chance. 5.

Micky Van de Ven – The Dutchman was tipped by Redknapp to be a key player in this fixture, and he has so far produced an excellent recovering block to prevent Bournemouth from going two goals up. 6.

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Djed Spence – Slow to step up when Evanilson was slipped through, ultimately playing the Bournemouth forward onside, who finished coolly. Spence, however, in this fixture, has looked to make overlapping runs beyond Brennan Johnson. 5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – The Uruguayan has seen plenty of the ball in the opening half, not afraid to run beyond Spurs’ wide men at times, but still with little impact in the final third. 5.5.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese midfielder has tried to put tackles in to win possession in the middle of the park, but Bournemouth are causing most of their problems down the flanks. 6.

Pape Matar Sarr – Full of running throughout the first half, often looking to run beyond Johnson. Sarr had an early crossing opportunity at the start of the first half, but it was straight at the Bournemouth goalkeeper. 6.

Brennan Johnson – The Welshman has looked off the pace, with his final ball repeatedly failing to find its target. Poor so far. 4.

Richarlison – The Brazilian has offered little hold-up play when Spurs have gone long. He looks isolated and has yet to get a sight of the goal. 4.

New Tottenham Hotspur signing Xavi Simons has been presented to the crowd ahead of today’s match against Bournemouth.

Tottenham completed the signing of Simons on Friday, having reached a deal with RB Leipzig in a deal worth £51million.

The 22-year-old had been of interest to Chelsea all summer, but it was Tottenham who moved quickly to land the Dutch international having previously missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.

Tottenham had been crying out for reinforcements for a new ‘No 10’ with James Maddison’s ACL injury expected to rule him out of the majority of the season.

Xavi Simons is welcomed by Tottenham fans

Prior to the Premier League fixture between Spurs and Bournemouth this afternoon, Simons was introduced to the supporters in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and received a warm welcome.

Simons spoke of his delight at joining Tottenham on Friday in which he promised to bring flair to the team, but also to work hard for his new club.

Prior to his move to Tottenham, Simons scored 22 goals and assisted 24 others in 78 appearances for Leipzig, who he joined on loan from Paris St-Germain in 2023 before signing permanently in January of this year.

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Simons is unavailable to face Bournemouth as he awaits international clearance and a work permit; however, he will be hoping to make his debut when he returns from duty with the Netherlands when Tottenham make the trip to West Ham on September 13.

Will Tottenham manage to sign any other players?

Fans will be hoping that Tottenham can get at least one more transfer over the line before the summer closes at 7pm on Monday.

Another winger to help fill the void left by Heung-min Son on the left flank is needed, however, a Tottenham deal for Savinho looks to be highly doubtful at this stage.

Simons follows Kota Takai, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus as summer arrivals at Spurs while Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel made their loan moves permanent.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to secure another Premier League victory as they host Bournemouth, but they will have to get the job done without Dominic Solanke.

Dominic Solanke has not had a great start to the season. Thomas Frank made a surprise decision to start Richarlison in the UEFA Super Cup and the Brazilian has gone from one good performance to the next. As a result, he has started every Tottenham Hotspur game this season.

Solanke has only played 31 minutes in total of the current Premier League campaign. He has managed just one shot per game, while Richarlison is already on two goals and an assist.

There may be chances for Solanke as the season goes on, particularly in cup competitions. He could also benefit from Richarlison’s history of picking up injuries. However, the Englishman must ensure he stays fit himself and he is not off to a good start in this regard after Frank’s latest announcement.

Dominic Solanke still has an ankle injury

Dominic Solanke is a surprise omission from the Tottenham squad to face Bournemouth this afternoon, but there is a good reason why he is unable to face his former club.

Frank has explained that the striker is absent because on an ongoing injury which has been bothering him since pre-season. However, he is hopeful Solanke will not be out for too long.

He told the club’s official site: “He’s [Solanke] got a minor issue with his ankle which has been grumbling a bit, also in pre-season. It is just too much for this game. Now we have the international break so hopefully he can be back after that.”

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Spurs have some positive news on the injury front

Solanke may be having to sit out of today’s game, but there is some good news as Destiny Udogie has been named in the matchday squad. He has not made an appearance since July, when Tottenham defeated Reading in their first pre-season fixture.

Forgotten winger Manor Solomon also returns from injury, having spent last season on loan at Leeds United in the Championship. It will be interesting to see if he is given any minutes today, having not played for Tottenham in such a long time.