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Tottenham are set to make an important January move as reports claim the club is expected to open discussions to sign one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders.

Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer window was one filled with variety, as the club managed to secure several different deals across both permanent signings and loan agreements, reshaping the squad in the process.

The Lilywhites sealed the arrivals of Xavi Simons, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus, all of whom were brought in permanently to strengthen Frank’s long-term project in north London.

Alongside those deals, Tottenham also worked the loan market effectively, bringing in Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani to provide proven quality and depth ahead of a demanding campaign both domestically and in Europe.

Tottenham to open talks with Joao Palhinha in January

Many of these new signings have settled quickly into life in north London, with Joao Palhinha in particular standing out as he has already brought much-needed stability and control to a midfield position that was previously seen as a problem area for Spurs.

According to TBR Football, Tottenham are now preparing to act decisively, with the report stating that the club are fully expected to open discussions over a permanent deal for Palhinha once the January window comes around.

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey said: “He is exactly what they expected. When he left, he was already one of the Premier League’s best holding midfielders.

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“Watching Palhinha play in that position probably frustrates Manchester United fans, knowing he was available and could have joined them.

“To make matters worse, he would have been exactly what United needed. But yes, he is absolutely top class. I fully expect discussions about a permanent deal to begin in January once the transfer window opens.”

Bailey also suggested Spurs could even look to accelerate the process before the window opens, as he added: “They may even try to finalise the permanent deal sooner. He is very happy in London, and I do not see him moving elsewhere. Tottenham are fortunate that there is really no other club in London that could challenge them.”

Further praising Palhinha, Bailey concluded: “We have seen players like Christian Norgaard move to Arsenal, but he is on another level: an absolute top-class player, a Rolls-Royce of a footballer. Since returning, he has not missed a beat. Tottenham are thrilled with him, they genuinely believe they have one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and it seems they do.”

Spurs could secure bargain £26m Joao Palhinha deal

Tottenham already have a track record of turning loan moves into permanent ones, with the recent case of Mathys Tel highlighting how quickly the club acts when they are convinced of a player’s long-term value.

It is understood that Spurs have an option to buy Palhinha for just £26m, and given how important he has already become for Thomas Frank, that figure could prove to be a major bargain in today’s transfer market.

Palhinha barely featured for Bayern Munich during his time in Germany, but in north London, he has been given the platform and minutes to thrive, and there is little doubt that he will be pushing to make his move to Tottenham a permanent one.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on a Swiss international after failing to get a deal for Savinho over the line in the summer.

According to various sources, Tottenham are targeting ‘elite’ signings in January, with the Lewis family thought to want to show ambition in the post-Daniel Levy era.

It was well documented that Man City refused to sell Savinho to Spurs during the summer, and it remains to be seen if the Lilywhites will go back in for the Brazilian in January.

Over recent days, we have heard that Tottenham have turned their attention to a La Liga winger, but it has now been revealed that the Lilywhites may face competition in the pursuit.

Sevilla star not deemed a priority for Tottenham

According to a recent report, Tottenham are plotting a move for Sevilla’s Ruben Vargas in January, with the Lilywhites allegedly wanting to add more depth to their attack.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now suggested that Spurs have identified Vargas as an alternative to Savinho, but interestingly, he claims that signing a winger may not be a priority for Thomas Frank’s men in the summer.

When asked about the speculation linking Vargas with a move to N17, O’Rourke told Football Insider: “It’s an interesting one. Tottenham tried for Savinho in the summer, but weren’t able to get a deal done as City blocked that.

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“Vargas is a player who’s done really well for Sevilla, a Swiss international as well. So he’s obviously, I think, attracting interest from a number of clubs, not just Tottenham.

“Spurs are quite well-stocked out wide after they got a deal done for Simons, who plays in the same position as Vargas.

“They’ve also got Odobert, Tel and even Richarlison who can play out wide, so I don’t think it’s a priority for Tottenham to be signing another wide player.”

Why a winger is no longer a priority for Tottenham

Thomas Frank reportedly sees Kolo Muani as an option for the left-wing role, while the Dane has also used Xavi Simons in the position.

With the arrival of those two in the final days of the transfer window, Spurs are well stocked in the attacking positions, particularly with Dejan Kulusevski expected to be fit before the turn of the year.

Unless someone like Wilson Odobert leaves the club in January, it appears unlikely that Tottenham will sign a winger.

Joao Palhinha has quickly emerged as one of Tottenham’s most influential players under Thomas Frank, and the numbers behind his performances will not shock many fans who have watched him closely in recent weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-fought point in their last Premier League outing, fighting back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw.

Richarlison pulled one back before the interval with a clinical finish, while a late Van Hecke own goal saw Spurs level the contest, although they could not quite find the decisive strike to complete the turnaround.

Several of Frank’s players caught the eye across the 90 minutes, with Mohammed Kudus and Destiny Udogie standing out in particular. Yet, the underlying statistics have now highlighted just how crucial another figure was for Tottenham.

Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha leads tackling stat in the Premier League

According to Squawka, no player has made more tackles in the Premier League this season than Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha, who has already recorded 19.

The 30-year-old only joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich in the summer, with the deal carrying an option to buy, but he has wasted no time in stamping his authority on Frank’s side.

In fact, 13 of those tackles have come in his last two matches, with six against West Ham and seven against Brighton, underlining just how dominant he has been in the centre of the pitch.

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Spurs midfield finally addressed with Palhinha

Last season, the holding midfield role proved to be a problem for Tottenham, with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur tasked with the job but often struggling to provide the consistency required.

Palhinha, however, brings a different edge, as his raw ball-winning ability gives Spurs balance, freeing Frank’s more attacking players to push forward while he anchors the midfield with assurance.

That was evident once again yesterday when Frank introduced Xavi Simons, leaving Palhinha to handle the defensive responsibilities almost single-handedly, allowing Tottenham to chase the game while still maintaining security in the middle of the park.

Tottenham’s Alfie Devine produced a world-class strike for Preston North End to help them emerge with all three points from an away trip to Derby County.

Devine had joined Preston on a season-long loan deal after extending his Tottenham contract in the summer, and the attacking midfielder has made an impressive start to life at Deepdale.

Devine scored in his first start for Preston against Leicester last month and has been getting regular football under his belt.

The Tottenham youngster has already won over the Preston faithful, and his heroics on Saturday will only further endear him to the Championship club’s supporters.

Tottenham’s Alfie Devine scores a world-class goal against Derby

Devine started as part of a midfield three as Preston lined up in a 3-5-2 against Derby, and the Tottenham man got 85 minutes under his belt.

The Spurs youngster scored the game’s only goal in 29 minutes, and it was undoubtedly the best strike he has produced in his senior career so far.

Devine received the ball centrally and unleashed a strike with his left foot from over 20 yards out, which flew into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

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This season is make-or-break for Devine

The 21-year-old has not developed as quickly as some at Hotspur Way would have hoped for and has stagnated a bit over the last two seasons.

Alasdair Gold has said that this could be a make-or-break season for Alfie Devine and his aspirations of forcing himself into the Tottenham first-team set-up.

The attacking midfielder has certainly made a strong start to the season and Spurs fans will be hoping that this is the season where his potential finally starts to be realised.

Thomas Frank has eased some concerns around Tottenham injuries after offering a positive update on Randal Kolo Muani, with the striker’s absence against Brighton explained and hopes of a swift return shared by the manager.

Thomas Frank has had a few injuries to contend with since his move to Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term absentees for the Dane, while Radu Dragusin continues to work his way back to full fitness following his ACL injury last term.

Against Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham welcomed Destiny Udogie into the starting eleven for the first time this season after a few spells on the sideline.

However, there were still some absentees from the Tottenham squad, with Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Kolo Muani all missing from the matchday group.

Frank has since revealed that Muani suffered a dead leg and that was the reason for his absence, but the Tottenham boss has now provided a further update on how long he could be out.

Speaking to football.london, Frank explained the situation in more detail when asked about Muani: “Hopefully, it was a dead leg. He has actually been struggling with it for four or five days. It is just not settling as we hoped for. So hopefully Wednesday.”

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Spurs could be boosted by potential returns

Muani might not be the only Tottenham player in line for a return this midweek under Thomas Frank, with several other injured stars edging closer to full fitness.

Kota Takai and Dominic Solanke, who have also spent spells on the sidelines, are back in training outdoors and could be in contention, although it remains to be seen how the manager decides to rotate.

Thomas Frank has revealed what has impressed him the most about one of his new Tottenham Hotspur stars so far this season.

Some pundits were not convinced by Tottenham’s signing of Mohammed Kudus, pointing out that he had a tendency to blow hot and cold at West Ham.

However, the winger has been Mr Consistent for Tottenham Hotspur so far this season, having been the only attacker who has started every single game for the Lilywhites so far.

The Ghana international was a handful for the Brighton defence on Saturday, showcasing his strength and one-v-one ability again, and Frank has now waxed lyrical about one part of his game.

Thomas Frank reveals what is unique about Mohammed Kudus at Tottenham

Kudus assisted both goals as Tottenham came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at the Amex Stadium.

Frank has lauded the former Hammers star’s work ethic and remarked that the Ghanaian’s ability to hold up the ball and beat his man is a huge plus to his side.

When asked what has impressed him the most about Kudus so far, the Spurs head coach said (via Football.London): “I think two things. One, his work ethic has been really good. It’s big for me, how hard he works in the counter-press, high pressure, defensive side of it.

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“But his hold-up play, when it goes into him, it just sticks. You can’t get it off him. So he just keeps it, he doesn’t lose a 50-50 ball. And then the third thing is his one-on-one ability is crazy. He’s so strong, he’s so explosive. He just dominated the right-hand side.”

Frank believes he can improve several Spurs players

Back in the summer, Daniel Levy mentioned Frank’s ability to improve players as one of the main reasons Tottenham hired him.

We have already seen him do that with some players in the squad, and the Dane insisted that he and his coaching staff will continue working with the players to make tiny tweaks to their game.

When asked about his track record of improving players at Brentford and whether he can get around 10 or 20 per cent more from individuals at Tottenham, the 51-year-old responded: “Hopefully. We try to put a good structure in place. Offensively and defensively, clear principles. Keep reinforcing the right messages.

“For example, today we put so many crosses in. That’s a big part of what we want to do. There could be a little bit more quality, we could also have a little bit more runs.

“And then we’ll keep coaching them, running in the right gaps. I think if Richy had run in the right gaps, he’d have scored maybe two goals more today, for example. I believe any player can keep developing. That’s a big part of what I believe in, and my coaching staff believe in as well.”

Tottenham assistant coach Matt Wells has revealed why he is proud of his players after they salvaged a draw against Brighton.

A little over half an hour into Saturday’s game at the Amex Stadium, it appeared as if Tottenham Hotspur were in for a typically chastening Premier League away day, of which they had many last season.

The Lilywhites had conceded two goals against the run of play despite dominating early proceedings, and the home crowd had found their voices.

Given Tottenham’s physical and mental exertions against Villarreal in midweek, it would have been easy for them to crumble, but what we saw instead was the players throw everything they had at the Seagulls, and salvage a well-deserved point.

Matt Wells hails Tottenham’s mentality in Brighton comeback

Time and again last season, we saw Spurs crumble away from home in the Premier League, but this side proved at the Amex Stadium that they are cut from a different cloth.

Wells was part of the coaching staff under the previous regime and has seen the team’s transformation first-hand, and he took to Instagram to hail the mentality shown by the players.

The Tottneham assistant coach wrote: “An elite mentality shown today to come back from being behind. Proud of these players, a group united, ready to fight for everything together. Unbeaten week, now we prepare for Wednesday night back home.”

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Tottenham’s squad depth comes to the fore

Frank has not been shy of rotating his squad even in the early stages of the season, and the players who have come into the side have delivered.

Lucas Bergvall showed his class against West Ham and Villarreal, while Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert delivered against Brighton.

The only place where Frank has not rotated is in central defence, and some pundits believe that Tottenham have to keep Romero and Van de Ven fit to have a good season.

With Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin to come back into the side (and eventually James Maddison), the squad is certainly looking strong.

Michael Owen has been very impressed with what he has seen of Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank this season.

While Tottenham Hotspur may not have got the result they wanted at the Amex Stadium, they showed a different string to their bow.

So far this season, Spurs have been defensively resolute but have sometimes struggled to click into gear in attack.

However, they were firing on all cylinders going forward at the Amex Stadium, and in the end, would have felt that they fashioned enough opportunities to have taken all three points despite going 2-0 down.

Michael Owen claims momentum keeps building for Tottenham

Thomas Frank has praised the resilience that Tottenham showed against Brighton after they came back from two goals down to salvage a point.

Owen remarked he thought Spurs were playing well even at 2-0 down and admitted that the Lilywhites look a completely different unit to the one they did last season.

The pundit told PremierLeague.com about Tottenham after their draw at the Amex Stadium: “Totally different style of play, different tactics [to Ange Postecoglou’s reign]. It looks like a much more functional team. They can defend pretty well, although you wouldn’t have said that in the first few minutes.

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“Even when Brighton were a couple of goals ahead, I thought Spurs were playing alright. I think Spurs do deserve something from the game. Xavi Simons was very good when he came on. The momentum keeps building for Spurs. They’re in a good place at the moment.”

Tottenham’s performance against Brighton was their most encouraging of the season

Frank has said he wants Tottenham to play brave and offensive football, and his side certainly did that against Brighton.

Spurs showed that they can press teams high up the pitch, pin the opposition back and create chances, while not being as open at the back as they were last season.

At this stage of the season, one can argue that performances are more important than results, and Tottenham’s display at the Amex Stadium was evidence that this team can go up several gears once they get used to Frank’s system and principles.

Thomas Frank has hailed the performance of one Tottenham player who was making his first start of the season against the Seagulls.

With Frank, Tottenham Hotspur fans have already come to expect surprises in the starting eleven, and that was the case again on Saturday.

Spurs’ left side had Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert, both of whom were making their first starts of the season.

The pair combined well down the left, which is where most of Tottenham’s attacks came from, especially in the first period, and Frank was pleased with what he saw from the Frenchman.

Thomas Frank assesses Wilson Odobert’s Tottenham performance

Odobert was linked with a move away from Tottenham in the summer, but Frank decided to keep him at the club, and he gave the 20-year-old an opportunity to impress at the Amex Stadium.

The Spurs head coach confessed that he was happy with what he saw from the former Burnley man, claiming that Brighton were afraid to get tight to him.

When asked what he thought of Odobert’s performance, Frank said (via Football.London): “Happy with it, I must admit. I thought he looked lively. Clearly, it looked like they were a little bit afraid of him.

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“So he got time to turn and run forward. I think he produced some crosses, some good opportunities. He was also involved in a goal, worked hard. So, a good first start.”

Frank enjoyed Tottenham’s performance despite the lack of control

So far at Tottenham, Frank has repeatedly emphasised defensive control and has prioritised keeping clean sheets.

The game at the Amex Stadium was thus not typical of what one sees from a Frank side, but the Tottenham boss was delighted with the aggression that his players showed.

When asked if he enjoyed the end-to-end nature of the game, the 51-year-old responded: “I think you always want to control if you can. But I liked how aggressive we were and there were some very good opportunities going forward. And I liked that we looked very dangerous. That I liked a lot, I must admit.”

Thomas Frank has lauded the performance of Xavi Simons for Tottenham against Brighton, but admits he could have had a goal and an assist.

While Tottenham Hotspur started on the front foot at the Amex Stadium, pinning Brighton back, the home side scored two early goals against the run of play.

With Spurs 2-0 down with a little over half an hour played, it was looking like it may be one of those difficult away days in the Premier League, which the Lilywhites endured a lot of last season.

It would have been easy for the Spurs players to let their heads drop, especially after their mid-week exertions against Villarreal, but instead, they rallied and fought back, deservedly leaving the South Coast with a point.

Thomas Frank was very pleased with Xavi Simons’ impact in Tottenham draw

The Dane decided to start with Lucas Bergvall as the number ten behind a double pivot of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, but the game changed when he replaced the Uruguayan with Xavi Simons on 61 minutes.

The new Tottenham signing looked extremely lively, and Frank hailed his impact, but admitted that the Dutchman could have ended up with a goal and an assist to his name.

When asked what he thought of Xavi’s performance, the Tottenham boss told Football.London: “Yeah, I’m very, very pleased with that. I think Xavi came in and did exactly what we thought he could do in that 10 position. Of course, he had a good pre-season and he played two games in Germany and all that, but he’s still coming into a team and all that.

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“And I think on any other day, he’d score a goal. He got a great finish on the first one, great save from Verbruggen. And the other one, he mistimes. And I think maybe he could have got an assist to Richy, where Lucas takes the ball, he doesn’t see him.”

Frank makes an admission about Xavi’s position

Xavi has said that he prefers playing as a number ten, and on the evidence of his display against the Seagulls, one can understand why.

The former RB Leipzig man looked far more threatening when he picked up the ball in the central areas as opposed to out wide, but Frank insists that the 22-year-old is more than capable of playing on the left.

When asked if playing as a 10 is a more natural position for Xavi, the Tottenham boss responded: “I think he can play both. I think he can easily play the left winger, that can go more inside. I also think he’d have the right position too.

“Sometimes the playmakers, they drift to the side because there’s no space in the middle. So I think he can do that. But 10, obviously, he can play that as well.”