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Tottenham Hotspur are making some big plans for the January transfer window in an attempt to arrest the team’s slide.

While the Thomas Frank era started very positively at N17, it has now quickly soured, with Spurs fans starting to lose patience with the lack of ambition and creativity.

The Dane and his coaching staff have to go back to the drawing board after being humiliated in their first North London derby in charge having suffered a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Frank will be hoping that reinforcements are on the way in January, and it has now been revealed what the Tottenham board are planning for the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham are ready to invest in the squad in January

According to a report in The Telegraph, Spurs are ready to spend money in January to strengthen some key positions.

Interestingly, it has been revealed that, as they did in the summer, Tottenham will look to sign players who can improve their starting eleven.

The club are not just expected to add squad depth but remain determined to make signings that can have an impact on the team.

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The outlet says that the Lilywhites are very much ready to act if the right opportunities arise, with the club prioritising additions to their forward line, particularly a left-winger and striker.

Who are the wingers and strikers on Spurs’ radar?

It has been widely reported that Tottenham remain keen on landing Antoine Semenyo, but doing so will not be easy as Spurs are battling Liverpool and Man City for the Bournemouth star’s signature.

According to some sources, Spurs have already made contact over a deal for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, who is viewed at the North London club as the perfect fit for Thomas Frank’s system.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of a young South American starlet has just got a lot more complicated ahead of the January transfer window.

It has been reported over recent weeks that Tottenham want to add another centre-back to their squad in January.

This is despite Kevin Danso’s solid displays this season and Radu Dragusin’s impending return to fitness from his ACL injury.

It first emerged last month that Spurs have expressed an interest in River Plate starlet Lautaro Rivero, who is quickly building a reputation as one of the best young defenders in Argentine football.

However, the Lilywhites now face competition from some of the biggest clubs in Europe for the 22-year-old.

Real Madrid enter race for Tottenham target Lautaro Rivero

A few weeks ago, a Razon claimed that Atletico Madrid are ready to challenge Spurs for Rivero’s signature in January.

Now, a new report in El Desmarque has claimed that Tottenham and Atletico Madrid have been joined in the race for the centre-back by Real Madrid.

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It is explained that with Antonio Rudiger’s exit on the cards next summer, Los Blancos have identified the River Plate youngster as a potential option to replace the German.

However, this has not put off Tottenham, who remain determined to unite Rivero with his senior compatriot Cristian Romero at N17.

How much would Spurs have to pay for Rivero?

El Desmarque also spoke to journalist Lucas Gatti, who says that River Plate would be open to offers for the centre-back and would sell him for under his €100m (£87.7m) release clause in January.

Gatti is quoted as saying about Rivero: “He’s already a starter at River Plate under Marcelo Gallardo. He has a contract until December 31, 2028, with a €100m clause, but that’s a symbolic figure, since if an offer comes in that’s interesting for all parties, they’ll sit down and analyse it.”

Tottenham fell to a bruising defeat against PSG in a game that swung wildly from hope to frustration under the Champions League lights, leaving Thomas Frank facing unwanted questions after another chaotic display.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from PSG 5-3 Tottenham:

Tottenham throw away chance to earn a huge result

Coming into this Champions League fixture off the back of a derby day defeat, no doubt added more pressure on Tottenham, who will have been desperate to secure a victory in a fixture that required composure and conviction under the lights.

Spurs started this Champions League encounter against PSG brilliantly, taking the lead after some solid defensive work.

However, that lead did not last thanks to a Vitinha strike, and although Tottenham went ahead again in the second half, PSG clawed their way back before eventually moving in front, and at that stage the game drifted away from Frank’s side.

Given how the night unfolded, it does feel like a missed opportunity for a huge result, because had Spurs seen things through, the pressure on Frank and this group would have eased, and some belief would have been restored, yet the defeat only piles on the weight already sitting on the Dane.

Tottenham concede nine goals in two games as creative midfielders run riot

It all seems to be unravelling for Thomas Frank, whose once steady start is now beginning to resemble the early weeks of Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure, where initial promise faded quickly.

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Frank began well, with organised displays both in attack and in defence, and Tottenham conceded just one goal in their first five outings, which highlighted how disciplined the structure appeared at the time.

However, cracks have appeared sharply, and the defensive base that Frank received plaudits for is now creaking badly, because nine goals conceded across the last two games is a poor look for this side, especially when they are being beaten by long-range efforts from central creative players.

Spurs often operate with a double pivot, but in the last two matches, they have been nowhere to be seen when Eze and Vitinha have aimed at distance, and although Frank spoke about the importance of winning duels after the Arsenal game, that focus was once again completely absent.

Randal Kolo Muani announces himself at Spurs

It was not entirely doom for Tottenham, as the one major positive from the night was the performance of Randal Kolo Muani, who finally looked like the forward Spurs believed they were signing.

The Frenchman delivered a brace and an assist, with two well-taken goals that highlighted his instincts as a forward, because the first was an instinctive finish and the second a blend of quick feet and a touch of fortunate ricochet.

Spurs need a consistent goal scorer, and Muani looked like he could step into those boots. Beyond the goals, he also linked play effectively and showed a willingness to be involved throughout the match.

Thomas Frank rolls out 4-2-2-2 shape in search of stability

Tonight also produced another shift in shape from Thomas Frank, who is still searching for a settled formation despite a full pre-season and 12 league matches already behind him.

Rather than a back five, it was a 4-2-2-2 structure, and although it looked relatively compact during the early exchanges, it all fell apart once the third PSG goal went in and the momentum swung decisively.

You do feel for the manager at times, because this squad often struggles to maintain a tactical plan across a full 90 minutes, and while Frank is clearly willing to adapt, it remains to be seen which shape he turns to on Saturday against Fulham.

Spurs may need three wins from final three games to reach Champions League top eight

Tottenham suffered their first Champions League defeat of the season at the hands of the holders, leaving their top-eight hopes slightly more delicate but not beyond reach.

They sit just two points off eighth-placed Sporting, so nothing is gone yet, although the reality is that Spurs will likely need to win all three of their remaining fixtures to give themselves the strongest possible chance of making the next round.

The full-time whistle has blown between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham full-time player ratings vs PSG

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian has conceded nine goals in his last two games, and that is never a good look for Frank and his side. There was little he could do about any of the goals tonight. 5

Pedro Porro – Gave away a needless corner kick, which led to Paris Saint-Germain’s fourth. Once again, it stemmed from Cristian Romero being sloppy in possession and putting his team-mate under pressure. 4

Cristian Romero – After a somewhat decent first-half performance from the Tottenham captain, Romero undid all of that work by presenting Paris Saint-Germain with an early Christmas gift. His sloppy pass to Pape Sarr invited pressure and allowed the visitors to score their third and take the lead. His loose passing continued, putting Porro under pressure and resulting in the needless corner that produced the fourth. The errors kept coming, with the Argentine giving away a penalty after a handball. 2

Micky van de Ven – Offered very little in this game, with Tottenham’s defending leaving nothing to write home about. He failed to close anyone down, and his pace offered no real value, as most of the damage came from distance or set pieces. 4

Djed Spence – Looked to offer some attacking threat with a few forward bursts, but there was no end product. Paris Saint-Germain offered little threat out wide, with most of their danger coming through the centre. 4

Rodrigo Bentancur – Far from an inspiring performance from the Uruguayan. The early warning signs were there when Vitinha scored from range in the first half. In the second half, he and his midfield partner allowed a very similar goal. Bentancur was even seen avoiding the striker’s effort for Vitinha’s second. Put your body on the line. He did, however, pinch the ball from Vitinha in midfield, which led to Randal Kolo Muani’s second of the night. 4.5

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Pape Sarr – There is an argument to be made over whether he should have taken an extra touch when Romero played him the ball while building from the back. Regardless, it was not a strong performance, as he allowed Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha far too much space in the centre of the pitch. 4

Lucas Bergvall – He was electric in the first half, but his influence faded as the game wore on. His standout moment remained his neat link-up with Archie Gray, which created the opening goal. 6

Archie Gray – The teenager delivered a display he can be proud of. He was involved in both goals, linking up with Bergvall for the opener before producing a fine cross to the back post. He reacted quickest to Richarlison’s header from the corner, and although his own effort was deflected onto the crossbar, Muani converted the rebound. 8

Randal Kolo Muani – The on-loan Paris Saint-Germain forward scored his first Tottenham goal against his parent club, volleying into an empty net after a well-worked corner routine. He added a lovely second, combining skill and fortune to glide past Parisian defenders before finishing calmly. A brilliant display that included an assist for Richarlison’s opener. 9

Richarlison – Took his goal well in the first half but was largely non-existent afterwards, with very little service coming his way. 5

Substitutes

Mohammed Kudus – Came on for Lucas Bergvall and immediately got involved with a few forward bursts and set-piece deliveries. N/A

Joao Palhinha – Replaced Archie Gray. N/A

Destiny Udogie – Came on for Djed Spence and had little impact on proceedings. N/A

Wilson Odobert – The young Frenchman came on late, replacing Pape Sarr. N/A

The half-time whistle has blown between PSG and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham went ahead through a Richarlison header, but were pegged back on the cusp of half time through an impressive strike from Vitinha.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs PSG

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian was not troubled for most of this encounter, but when PSG did hit the target, there was nothing he could do about it. 6.

Pedro Porro – There is a clear intent from Tottenham Hotspur to be more positive in their play, and that has been evident from Porro, who has gone on the overlap a few times while also playing several forward passes to get Spurs on the attack. He has also kept Barcola quiet for most of the game. 7.

Cristian Romero – This has been a much better defensive showing than at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend. The Argentine has been aggressive when needed and has given Paris Saint-Germain’s attackers very little space to penetrate the Tottenham box. 7.5

Micky Van de Ven – The Dutchman has at times been too quick to lunge into challenges, allowing the Parisians to go past him. However, when the Spurs defence has been settled, he has stuck to his task well. 7.

Djed Spence – He has stuck to Khvica and allowed the wide forward very little space or time on the ball. He managed to inject pace with a run from defence to the byline during the first half, but his final delivery was poor. 6.

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Rodrigo Bentancur – Once again, Tottenham are too slow when closing down players at the edge of their box. Bentancur needs to do better, as Paris Saint-Germain have come close twice with efforts from distance. Vitinha did find the back of the net from the edge of the box after a short corner. 5.

Pape Sarr – Paris Saint-Germain look very dangerous through the centre of the pitch, which is no surprise given the technicians they possess. Spurs, however, have not defended the edge of their box well, often allowing the Parisians ample time to pick a pass or a shot. Sarr has been more conservative, and he needs to close down Fabian Ruiz and others far more effectively. 5.

Lucas Bergvall – A livewire for Tottenham, with the Swede offering support in attack and full of running, ready to contribute at the back. He has arguably been Tottenham’s best player on the pitch, given how positive he has been. A neat exchange between him and Gray led to Tottenham’s opener. 9.

Archie Gray – Gray is being deployed in midfield rather than as part of a back five. The teenager is working hard, contributing to Spurs pressing and closing down Paris Saint-Germain’s players. 7.5.

Randal Kolo Muani – The Frenchman has been full of running and has produced slick touches and flicks to help maintain possession. He assisted the opening goal with a lovely header after meeting Archie Gray’s cross at the back post. 8.

Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention back to Europe tonight, yet a familiar opponent stands in their way as Paris Saint-Germain prepare for another high-stakes meeting between the two sides.

Focus is now on the Champions League for Tottenham Hotspur, who are desperate to bounce back following their crushing 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League.

Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, come into this cup tie off the back of a comfortable 3-0 win against Le Havre in Ligue 1.

The last time these two sides met, it was PSG who came out on top after Tottenham let a two-goal lead slip, leading PSG to equalise before going on to win on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup final.

Thomas Frank makes changes from Arsenal match

Coming into this tie, Thomas Frank will need to make a few changes as he looks for a reaction from his players.

Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr all returned to the bench for the defeat at the Emirates on Sunday.

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Randal Kolo Muani came on in the second half for his first minutes since injuring his jaw against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Mathys Tel is not an option for selection since he is not registered, having been left out along with and the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai.

This is the Spurs team which takes to the field under the lights at the Parc des Princes Stadium.

PSG: Chevalier; Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Ndjantou, Barcola

Tottenham: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Bergvall, Bentancur; Kolo Muani, Richarlison, Gray.

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Danso, Palhinha, Davies, Thompson, Williams-Barnett, Xavi, Udogie, Kudus, Scarlett

PSG are not flawless and could definitely be beaten. They have lost once in the league phase this season, after Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 win over Luis Enrique’s side in matchday four.

Tottenham are in a good position to qualify

The Champions League league phase is gradually nearing its end with three games left after this tie.

Spurs are currently out of the automatic qualification places, as they sit tenth, with just one point separating them from eighth-placed Liverpool and fifth-placed PSG.

Avoiding a defeat will be important for their qualification chances, but Tottenham will have to do the business against Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in their upcoming fixtures.

Jamie O’Hara and Charlie Adam are in a disagreement regarding an England international, for whom Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a January move.

Several energetic midfielders with Premier League experience have been mooted as targets for Tottenham in January.

The latest name being named by the media is Ruben Neves, who Spurs are reportedly in a three-horse race to sign. It has also been widely reported that Tottenham are eyeing a move for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay.

However, the midfielder who has been most heavily linked with a move to N17 for the longest is a former Chelsea man.

Tottenham have been backed to go back in for Conor Gallagher in January after exploring a move for the 25-year-old in the summer.

Jamie O’Hara and Charlie Adam disagree on Conor Gallagher

O’Hara and Adam discussed Conor Gallagher’s future, and the latter is convinced that the Englishman could play for any side in world football.

The former Spurs man disagreed, suggesting that the midfielder cannot be considered elite, given his inability to become a key player at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

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However, O’Hara still believes that the arrival of Gallagher would improve Thomas Frank’s starting eleven at Tottenham.

Watch their discussion on Sky Sports below:

Gallagher has sent a big hint about his future

The Chelsea academy graduate has seen himself fall down Diego Simeone’s pecking order since the arrival of Johnny Cardoso in the summer.

A few days ago, Gallagher admitted that he is not satisfied with the minutes he is getting at Atletico, and that he wants to play more.

An injured Tottenham Hotspur man has made his way to Qatar to continue his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

The stats suggest that Tottenham have been the club worst-hit by injuries across Europe’s top five leagues this season, but there is now finally some light at the end of the tunnel for Thomas Frank’s men.

Spurs welcomed back some key players against Arsenal, and according to reports, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai and Ben Davies are now edging closer to fitness.

While James Maddison is expected to be out for at least a few more months, Spurs fans will be hoping that Dejan Kulusevski is able to return sooner rather than later.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma travels to Qatar for rehabilitation

Yves Bissouma’s proposed move to Turkey fell through in the summer due to his fitness issues, and unfortunately, for the midfielder, he suffered another injury setback.

Bissouma picked up a knee injury in his first game back for Mali during last month’s international break, and Tottenham have not given a clear timeline for the 28-year-old’s return.

The former Brighton man has now confirmed on his Instagram stories that he has travelled to the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in Qatar to step up his recovery.

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Spurs draft Bissouma plan in case he does not leave in January

There is no shortage of transfer interest in Bissouma ahead of the January window, with clubs from the Premier League, Serie A and Turkey vying for his signature.

However, there is a risk that the midfielder’s injury puts off the interested clubs if he does not recover before the January window.

Thomas Frank has made an interesting admission about Randal Kolo Muani ahead of the club’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain this evening.

The Frenchman has struggled with injuries since arriving on loan from PSG in the summer and is still waiting for his first goal in Tottenham colours.

Kolo Muani will be hoping to get his goal against his current employer this evening, with the 26-year-old having a point to prove on his return to Parc de Princes.

The striker played just over 25 minutes in the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal with a protective face mask on after fracturing his jaw, and Frank has now hinted that he might be back in the starting eleven this evening.

Thomas Frank reveals Randal Kolo Muani can do things other Tottenham strikers cannot

Despite not scoring yet, the on-loan PSG man was showing signs of promise ahead of the international break, and appeared to have become Frank’s preferred number nine.

The Tottenham boss has now confessed that the 26-year-old has attributes that Mathys Tel and Richarlison do not possess.

When asked what Kolo Muani offers compared to the other Spurs forwards, Frank said (via Football.London): “I like his link-up play. I think he is very good at that. His ability to run in behind and also his ability to go one-on-one. I think he is very good in those situations. That is probably a little difference. And then he is very good in the box.”

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Frank will be eagerly awaiting the return of Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke is edging close to fitness after undergoing ankle surgery back in September, and the Spurs head coach will be desperate to have the centre-forward available.

When he arrived at Spurs in the summer, Frank named Solanke as the player he is most looking forward to working with, but unfortunately, the 28-year-old is yet to start a game for the Lilywhites this season.

One can understand why the Dane likes the England international, as he possesses the attributes he lists for Kolo Muani and is also an elite presser off the ball.

As Thomas Frank’s role at Tottenham continues to come under scrutiny, Joe Hart has revealed what he thinks about the club’s decision to appoint the Dane.

It appears that Tottenham’s ultra-defensive showing in the North London derby was the final straw for many associated with Spurs regarding their new head coach.

Some ex-Tottenham players have said that Frank is simply not the right fit for the club, and that is an opinion that appears to be shared by many on social media.

The Spurs boss has come out fighting and remains determined to turn things around, and one former Tottenham star believes that the 52-year-old deserves an opportunity to do so.

Joe Hart claims Thomas Frank was the right appointment for Tottenham

Hart has now revealed that when Frank was announced as Ange Postecoglou’s successor in the summer, he felt it was the right decision by the Spurs hierarchy.

The former Tottenham goalkeeper maintains that the former Brentford boss was the best candidate the club could have got and urged Spurs fans to give him time.

Joe Hart told BBC Radio 5 Live: “When Thomas Frank was brought in, it felt like the right appointment. It didn’t feel like the right appointment, as in everything’s going to change now, and they’re now going to win the league, and everything that’s gone is gone, and Thomas Frank is the Messiah.

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“It was. ‘This feels like a good move for a bit of stability’ and Tottenham, where they were, in terms of the situation, it’s not like if they were to go into the market, they couldn’t just take the PSG manager, they couldn’t just take the Barcelona manager. They’re not in that position.

“You’ve got to give the guy time to see where he is and see where it lands, because I still believe he’s a really good appointment for Tottenham Hotspur.”

Spurs are expected to stick with Frank

Despite all the noise on the outside, reports indicate that the Tottenham hierarchy are not entertaining any thoughts of sacking Frank.

In fact, according to a recent update by The Telegraph, the Lewis family view Frank’s project as a long-term one and will not be forced into a knee-jerk decision.

It appears that the 52-year-old will thus get time to turn this situation around, but the worry is that his position could become untenable if the supporters turn on him.