Thomas Frank is said to have made it clear to Daniel Levy how many Tottenham signings he wanted before accepting the job, and it’s far fewer than you might think.
When Thomas Frank swapped Brentford for Tottenham Hotspur following the departure of Ange Postecoglou, many assumed he was walking into a fractured dressing room. Most of the squad had been firmly in Postecoglou’s corner, and the mood looked like a potential hurdle.
However, pre-season performances have hinted at a smooth transition, with the Dane quickly winning over the group. It helps that Frank inherited a side fresh off a Europa League triumph, as Postecoglou himself once noted, this is now a squad that knows how to win.
From his Brentford days, Frank built a reputation as a shrewd squad-builder and exceptional man-manager. He guided the Bees from the Championship to the Premier League, turning many of his former players into stars.
Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and David Raya are a few examples of players who thrived under him in the Championship, and they all later went on to earn the club huge profits and themselves big moves.
It’s worth mentioning that he achieved all this on a shoestring budget. At Tottenham, armed with a far bigger budget, a stronger pull in the market and Champions League football to offer, the ceiling for what he can achieve is far higher.
Thomas Frank only wanted three to four Tottenham signings
According to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, Frank told Daniel Levy before taking the job that he wanted just three or four additions to the squad. The 51-year-old identified a defensive midfielder, an attacking midfielder, and another forward as the priority positions.
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Bailey explained to TBR Football that Frank’s message to Levy was essentially: “Give me two, three, maybe four players, and we can really challenge.” He wasn’t after a complete squad overhaul, just targeted reinforcements in key areas.
A genuine holding midfielder was top of the list, while a creative number 10 was also on the agenda even before James Maddison’s injury. Another forward option remains desirable, although not a priority at the moment.
So far, Spurs have sealed permanent deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso, alongside new arrivals Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Kota Takai. With just 21 days left in the window, there’s still work to be done to complete Frank’s wishlist.
Tottenham fans will be hoping that those three or four signings aren’t already completed, but with rumours over a Spurs move for Savinho, it would appear that Daniel Levy and co are still active in the transfer market.
Who else could Tottenham sign before deadline day?
The arrival of Joao Palhinha ticks off the defensive midfield requirement, but Frank still needs at least one attacking midfielder. Maddison’s injury and Morgan Gibbs-White’s last-minute snub have left Spurs short of creativity in the middle of the pitch.
Talks are already underway with Manchester City over Savinho, with a deal potentially costing around £50 to £60 million. If that falls through, Harvey Elliott and James McAtee are seen as alternatives, though Spurs are believed to be pushing hard for Savinho.
Up front, any departure for Richarlison will force Tottenham into the market for a striker. Will Lankshear has left on loan, and Tel isn’t yet ready to lead the line in England.
Nicolas Jackson has been linked, while Real Madrid’s Rodrygo was considered but priced out of reach at £100 million. With Manchester City ready to swoop, he would almost certainly choose Pep Guardiola’s side over Spurs.
With the clock ticking down to the September 1 deadline, Tottenham cannot afford to leave it too late. If Frank is to get the players he asked for, the next week will be very crucial.
