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Tim Sherwood has made a surprising claim about Mohammed Kudus after the Ghana international’s impressive start to life at Spurs.

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

However, the £55m that the Lilywhites spent on the 25-year-old now looks like a bargain, with the winger comfortably being the club’s best attacker so far this season.

In fact, Tottenham have been accused of being over-reliant on Kudus in attack, given the lack of cutting-edge that Thomas Frank’s men have been plagued with in the final third this campaign.

Tim Sherwood questions Kudus’ consistency

Kudus has been named in WhoScored’s Team of the Season so far, being the only Tottenham player to make the eleven.

The former West Ham player has six goal contributions to his name in 10 Premier League outings so far this season, and while Sherwood has labelled him ‘refreshing’, he suggested that the winger lacks the consistency to become an elite player.

Sherwood told Sky Sports: “They’ve (Tottenham) got the likes of Kudus, who’s been refreshing. He’s picked up a few injuries, but when he’s played, he’s been a plus.

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“He’s not been outstanding, but I don’t think he’s ever going to be outstanding. He’s not consistent enough to be that man. But he has moments, and hopefully he can have a moment at the weekend.

“They’re all similar the wide [players]. I wasn’t convinced when they brought Xavi Simons in because I felt he was similar to [Wilson] Odobert, who is similar to [Mathys] Tel, who is similar to what they’ve already got.

“Kudus has come in, I thought he was quite similar but he’s got a little bit more personality. I think he takes the game to the opposition a little bit more, and he’s got more end product.”

Sherwood has not been impressed by Thomas Frank’s Spurs

The former Tottenham midfielder and interim coach claimed that he has not seen signs that Frank is taking the team in the right direction.

He suggested that failing to win a trophy and missing out on Champions League qualification would mean that the Dane has failed at N17 this season.

Sherwood added: “I haven’t been really impressed with Tottenham, even though their position in the league is fine at the moment.

“They’ve had Europa League success, they’ve had the open top bus, they’ve tasted it. If they were to finish outside the Champions League and didn’t win a domestic trophy, it would be a failure.

“They’ve already lost the biggest game of the season [so far] which was the Newcastle game in the Carabao Cup. That was a huge game of football, they had to win that.

“So, they’re up against it to have a successful season because the only thing that Tottenham fans will see as success is to finish in the Champions League. Europa League will not tick the box for them.”

Former Tottenham defender and interim head coach, Chris Hughton, has launched a passionate defence of Thomas Frank and his start to life at Spurs.

There is no doubt that Spurs have not been at their fluent best for the majority of their games this season so far, and Thomas Frank has come in for plenty of criticism of late.

However, the Dane may be a little bewildered at the reactions from Spurs fans and the media, given that Tottenham sit fifth in the Premier League table and are unbeaten in the Champions League.

Frank has even seen his substitutions being booed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is something the 52-year-old would not have experienced at Brentford.

Chris Hughton believes Thomas Frank has made a good start at Spurs

Hughton has now opined that, given Spurs’ bloated injury list so far this season, the Danish coach has made a positive start to his time at N17.

He pointed out that it takes time for a manager to implement his style and culture at a club and urged the Tottenham faithful to give Frank some time.

The 66-year-old told Flashscore: “I think you have to look at the league position, where the team is at the moment. The team had won the Europa League last season, which was incredible, but the league position was disappointing.”

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“So the league position at the moment is a good position. The club, because of last season’s success, are in the Champions League. So I think overall you have to say that he has started well.

“It takes time. To give Thomas Frank some justification and credit, he’s been missing some big players. (Dejan) Kulusevski, (Dominic) Solanke, (James) Maddison, these are all big players. So I think it will take him time.

“I think when you’re a new manager going into a club, sometimes it can take another two windows to formulate your best team, the way that you want to play. Taking all that into consideration, it’s been a good start. But everybody always wants more; it’s normal. But I think it’s been a good start.”

Frank and Spurs star have called for better support at home

The Tottenham boss has called for better support from the home fans during the matches, urging them not to boo the side when the game is ongoing.

Guglielmo Vicario has also said that the players would like a little more help from the supporters, but those comments have not gone down well with the Spurs fans.

Unless the team manage to turn around their results at N17 in front of their expectant home fans, the toxic atmosphere will likely not go away.

Jamie O’Hara has given his thoughts on whether Tottenham Hotspur can realistically hope to build a Premier League title-winning team in the next few years.

After Daniel Levy’s exit, it has been reported that ENIC are keen to usher in a new era at Spurs, where on-pitch success is prioritised.

According to some sources, Tottenham are prepared to back Thomas Frank with big funds in the next few transfer windows, with the Lilywhites wanting to make some statement signings.

It has even been suggested that Spurs are ready to do away with their self-imposed wage cap in order to compete for the best players in the world.

Tottenham are yet to win the Premier League title

Back in June, Thomas Frank said that he shares the Tottenham board’s ambition of eventually winning the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, O’Hara believes that it will take a very long time before his former side can build a squad capable of competing for the biggest prizes in the game.

When asked how long it will take for Tottenham to win the Premier League, the pundit told Sky Sports: “You just never know, new owners, and it looks like we’re going in a different direction if we spend money.

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“Are we ever going to be Liverpool? No, Man United? I just don’t think we can ever unless there’s a season like when Leicester won it, and there was that fall away. I just don’t think Spurs…I’m gonna say 10 years.”

Why a Spurs title challenge is not as far away as it may seem

Fans and pundits always tend to underestimate the kind of impact just a couple of top-class signings can have on a team.

Spurs finished fifth in Mauricio Pochettino’s first season in charge, but they competed for the Premier League title over the next two seasons and even came close to winning the Champions League in 2019.

Arsenal also went from a mid-table side in Arteta’s first couple of seasons in charge to consistent title-challengers over the next few years.

The quality of Tottenham’s recruitment under Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange is arguably the biggest factor that will dictate how soon the Lilywhites can close the gap with the best sides in the Premier League.

Michael Dawson believes that Tottenham Hotspur have a player who is one of the best in the world in his position.

The current Spurs squad is not blessed with as many world-class players as it was previously, particularly after the departures of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

However, one player who firmly falls in the category of world-class is Micky van de Ven, who is reportedly on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in the world.

According to reports, Tottenham want to tie down Van de Ven to a new deal quickly to ward off the transfer interest, and one former Spurs man believes that the Dutchman has no weaknesses in his game.

Dawson makes a bullish claim about Micky van de Ven

Some pundits have pushed back against the idea that Tottenham have a world-class centre-back pairing, with many pointing to the number of goals the Lilywhites let in last season.

Dawson has now rejected the claim that Van de Ven’s pace bails him out at times, insisting that the former Wolfsburg man is an excellent reader of the game and up there with the best in the World.

The 42-year-old told BetMGM: “For me, Micky van de Ven is one of the best centre-backs in the world, not just the Premier League. I honestly believe that. I’m a huge, huge fan, and I think he’s got everything. There aren’t many centre-backs around that have the pace he does, but also are able to read the game in the way he does.

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“I know people will probably say his pace gets him out of trouble at times but I don’t really buy that, and I think at times last season he was left to cover an awful lot of ground because of the way the team was set up.

“That goal he scored in the Champions League was mind-blowing. For a centre-back to do that was special, and I don’t really see any weaknesses; he’s got all the attributes to go right to the top.”

Dawson believes one Van de Ven quality has come to the fore this season

Van de Ven has been named in Tottenham’s leadership group by Thomas Frank ahead of the likes of Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur, which caught some fans by surprise.

Dawson, who knows what it takes to wear the captain’s armband at Spurs, believes that the Dutchman is undoubtedly a future Tottenham captain.

The 42-year-old added about the Netherlands international: “Without a shadow of a doubt, he’s a future Tottenham captain. I look at Virgil van Dijk, and he’s the benchmark for me in terms of how long he’s been at the top for, but I don’t think Micky is far off that, I really don’t.

“He’s got all the attributes to be a leader, and I’m sure the reason Spurs want to tie him down to a long-term contract is with that in mind.”

An injured Tottenham Hotspur star has taken to social media to share what is driving him through his recovery.

Next on the agenda for Tottenham Hotspur is a fierce encounter with bitter north London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League.

These are the sort of games footballers naturally look forward to, given the edge and jeopardy that is often attached to these encounters.

This is the first time both sides will be clashing this season, and Thomas Frank made it clear that the north London derby is one of the two games each year that carry a bit more importance.

James Maddison shares recovery motivation

Unfortunately, not every Tottenham player will be available to Frank on Sunday, as a few continue to work their way to full fitness.

James Maddison is a player still a long way away from a return as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

The playmaker has shared his motivation to return to full fitness with an Instagram post that showcased passionate Tottenham fans before writing his message to supporters.

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Maddison wrote: “Oh how I miss this feeling. It is also my motivation every single morning to gain it back. A day closer than I was yesterday.”

Spurs boosted by key returns ahead of Arsenal derby

While we wish Maddison a speedy recovery, Frank has been handed a couple of huge boosts coming into this derby encounter.

Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Kolo Muani have all trained and are available for selection.

Three defenders are also close to getting back on the playing pitch, with Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies and Kota Takai having also trained.

It is a major boost for Frank as his side now looks to hit full gear with no more pauses in club football until March, and the return of depth will be vital as Spurs approach a demanding run of fixtures.

Thomas Frank has weighed in on whether Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a £100m signing and what the club needs to do to reach the next level.

There have been plenty of reports suggesting that Thomas Frank will be backed with big funds in the upcoming transfer windows.

In fact, it has even been alleged that Tottenham want to make a statement signing in January to signal their ambition.

In the post Daniel Levy era, ENIC are allegedly ready to do away with Spurs’ self-imposed wage cap to compete for the best players in the world.

Thomas Frank calls for player development

Frank’s predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, suggested that Tottenham will never sign a £100m player like some of their rivals do.

However, the current Tottenham boss is less concerned about spending nine figures on a single player.

While he admitted that investment in the squad is necessary to push onto the next level, he suggested that developing players is just as crucial.

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When asked if Spurs will ever spend £100m on a player, Frank told Football.London: “In the next 50 years? Then yes! It’s very evident that every successful club, not for one year, but over five, six, seven years, to build, you need a combination of time and doing the processes, depending on where the team come from, of course, but to stay up there is still very difficult.

“So time and process, and, then of course, investment. If you want success in football, you need to invest in players. Hopefully, do it cleverly and we want to do it smart, so we don’t invest too much on the wrong players. But you need to invest. £100m, I don’t know. Let’s see. I don’t think we are close to spending £100m, put it that way. But I don’t know, let’s see what happens in the future.”

“I’m a big believer that we need to develop the players we have, and if we do that, it’s about if you can develop players, not all of them should cost £60m, £70m, £80m, £90m, whatever the amount. I don’t think anybody has done that. Liverpool didn’t do that to get to the top. Even City hasn’t done that.

“So you need to be good at developing the players, which I believe we are and we will be very good at. But then you also need to invest in the right potential of a player. He could be 22, or 26. Declan Rice is a good example. How old was he when he joined Arsenal? 24 or 25? That’s important. Nobody achieves the top without investing.”

The quality of recruitment is more important than transfer spending

Tottenham’s net spend has been among the highest in the Premier League over the past few years, but that has not brought the team much closer to the best sides in the division.

One only has to look at how some of the club’s most expensive additions, such as Tanguy Ndombele and Richarlison, have performed to conclude that just spending big alone is not enough.

In fact, some of Spurs’ best signings over recent years, such as Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall, were relatively inexpensive by modern-day standards.

The quality of recruitment is thus much important than just spending £70m-£100m on a single player for the Lilywhites to close the gap with the likes of Man City and Arsenal.

Thomas Frank has provided an update on Dominic Solanke’s rehabilitation and whether the striker would need another operation on his ankle.

The England international’s ankle has been troubling him since the summer, and he finally had surgery in September to fix the issue.

Solanke has refused to put a timeline on his recovery, with the striker still waiting for his first start of the season.

Thomas Frank previously hinted that Solanke could be back after the international break, but the Tottenham boss has now given an obtuse answer about the 28-year-old’s return.

Thomas Frank hints Tottenham will not push Dominic Solanke too hard

The good news for Spurs fans is that the striker is unlikely to require any further operation on his ankle.

Speaking to Football.London ahead of the North London derby, Frank said that he is “pretty sure” that the striker will be back soon and will not have to go under the knife again.

The Spurs head coach added about the former Bournemouth man: “We are very aware of how we do things, when do we really push and when do we not push. Now we are in a place where we think he will go forward, and we’ll take it from there.”

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Spurs have been handed Randal Kolo Muani boost

While Solanke may not be ready just yet to return to the pitch, Spurs fans have received positive news regarding another striker.

It has been reported that Randal Kolo Muani trained with a protective face mask after fracturing his jaw against Manchester United.

Alfie Devine scored his third goal of the season for Preston North End in their home defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Friday.

Several Tottenham youngsters have been impressing on loan this season, none more so than Luka Vuskovic, who has been one of Hamburg’s best players so far.

Another man who has been quietly putting in consistent performances this term is Alfie Devine, who has produced some moments of real quality for Preston North End.

The Tottenham midfielder showcased his skills again on Friday, scoring an excellent goal for the Championship outfit.

Alfie Devine continues his loan spell at Preston

It was Blackburn who took the lead on 45 minutes at Deepdale, with Lewis Miller heading the away side in front from a corner.

However, the home team hit back through Devine just a minute later.

The Tottenham midfielder showed took an impressive touch, played a one-two at the edge of the box before showing good strength to keep hold of possession and lob the goalkeeper.

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However, the evening ended in disappointing fashion for Devine and his Preston teammates, with Andri Gudjohnsen scoring the winner for Blackburn in the second-half.

Watch Devine’s goal below:

A make-or-break season for Devine

The 21-year-old has not developed as quickly as some at Hotspur Way would have hoped 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.

Devine has been solid but unspectacular so far this term, with three goals and an assist to his name in 15 Championship outings, but one suspects that the youngster will have to do even better if he is to catch Thomas Frank’s eye.

Thomas Frank has opened up on how much time he needs to build his Tottenham Hotspur squad in his own identity.

Thomas Frank has a lot of work to do as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, and he is quickly finding out how difficult it will be, especially as the demands at this level grow with every passing game.

We are eleven games into the Premier League season, and the Danish manager has already received stick from his own fans, despite sitting fifth in the league table.

Tottenham supporters have been left dissatisfied with the lack of attacking intent in some league matches where Spurs have been outplayed, leading to fans booing Frank.

Thomas Frank reveals whether he needs more time at Tottenham

It will, of course, take time for Frank to build his team in his own image, but in football, managers are often not given much time, especially at clubs with high expectations.

The expectation from fans and the board is for immediate changes, and Frank has found out quickly, as the pressure has intensified long before he has had the chance to fully implement his ideas.

Arsenal are up next and across north London, Mikel Arteta is one manager who was afforded time in his early years at Arsenal, and he has already built up a team that is competing for the league title, although he has yet to win one.

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In discussing whether he envisions a long process, Frank referenced Arteta’s journey and stressed the importance of patience, explaining how a clear process can yield results if a club stands by it.

Speaking to the press, he expanded on the value of long-term thinking. He said, via club media: “I think it is a good example of a club that sticks to the process.

“I know it is Mikel in charge, me in charge, but there are so many more people working, but sticking to what we believe in over a longer period.

“I think six years… it is very rarely you get that wrong in football. I also think it is fair to say that it took probably three seasons for Arteta, so the fourth season, that is where he competed now, is in the seventh season.

“So, he is really, really ready to compete in his fourth season. So, that is how you should see it. And then we know the difference between having ultimate success to win something or not is like this – and you need margins, but the process is the most important thing.”

What Thomas Frank needs to do to be afforded time at Spurs

The early signs of Frank’s reign have shown promise, but with the fans already giving him stick, Frank will need to change his approach quickly.

The Dane will need to give the fans something to work with if he is to remain for the full length of his three-year contract or even beyond, as patience will only last if performances and results show clear improvement.

Arteta won a few pieces of silverware during his early days at Arsenal, and one could argue that it bought him some time, which ultimately allowed him to build a side that reflects his identity.

Frank might need to do similar, or at least keep Tottenham competitive in games by playing exciting football and getting results, and if he does that, then he could be afforded time.

Former Tottenham and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has once again tried to get himself some attention in the media before the derby this weekend.

The much-anticipated North London Derby takes place on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to avoid a fourth straight defeat to Arsenal while also chipping away at the rivals’ four-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table.

Thomas Frank already tasted a North London derby win, albeit in a pre-season friendly, where Tottenham were 1-0 winners in Hong Kong, and the Dane will be hoping for something far more meaningful this time around.

One player who’ll be central to that mission is Micky van de Ven, who has been outstanding at the back this season, but is also Spurs’ top scorer with 6 goals, including that outrageous, Puskas-level solo strike in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen.

We haven’t seen him fully open the throttle in defensive recoveries like he did under Ange Postecoglou’s high line, but fans won’t mind if it keeps his hamstrings intact after the struggles of the last two years. In fact, he’s already close to matching last season’s minutes, and we’re barely past November.

Van de Ven is well known for his recorded top speed of 37.38 km/h, which made him the fastest player in Premier League history since those numbers were first tracked. Even if he hasn’t had to use it much yet on the defensive end this season, that pace would definitely come in use when dealing with Arsenal’s pacey attacking threats, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze.

Sol Campbell compares himself to Micky van de Ven

Speaking on talkSPORT’s YouTube channel, Sol Campbell was asked if he knew any centre-back as quick as Micky van de Ven, to which he replied within a fraction of a second:

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“Sol Campbell,” he laughed, before explaining,

“I think you guys have to remember how quick I was. And yes, we didn’t have all the technology around, but I was rapid. You can look at all the stats and things like that… rapid.”

“Also, I could move at the same time, not just in a straight line. You’ve got to be able to change direction as a top centre-half. Definitely, he’s (Van de Ven) one of the quickest out there and a top centre-half, imposing as well, great left foot. Yeah, he’s scored that amazing solo run as well.”

Campbell even claimed he had his own version of that Copenhagen goal.

“I remember doing one of those at the 1998 World Cup, England vs Colombia, but I couldn’t finish it with a goal though.”

Sol Campbell reveals who he is supporting in the North London Derby

Sol Campbell is hardly a favourite among Spurs fans after leaving Tottenham for Arsenal on a free transfer back in 2001, despite being the club captain at the time and having publicly promised to stay.

He went on to win two league titles at the other side of North London, including playing his part in the Invincibles season, and he has been firmly associated with them ever since.

He has often tried his best to keep things neutral when asked about the derby, though he has previously leaned Arsenal’s way. However, this time, in the same chat, he played it differently.

When asked who he was supporting on Sunday, Campbell simply laughed. “No one,” he said, before joking about wearing a beige shirt (a mix of Tottenham’s and Arsenal’s colours) and adding,

“Just be in the middle, nice and easy… sit on that fence.”