Football London

Under-pressure Tottenham boss Thomas Frank would be wise to avoid an unnecessary £70m during the January window – as he must fix two areas first

Tottenham Hotspur's inconsistent start to the season continued on Sunday afternoon when they were beaten by Nottingham Forest. As a result of the 3-0 defeat at the City Ground, Thomas Frank's future has been thrust back into the spotlight once again.

However, there is no sense that the Dane's future is under any immediate threat. And Frank has recently been linked with a reunion with Igor Thiago.

The forward has been in inspired form for Brentford this season. He has scored 12 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.

Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has outscored Thiago in the Premier League this season. Given his outstanding form, it's hardly surprising that he is already being linked with a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium.

But according to a report from ESPN Brazil, the Bees will demand a transfer fee of £70m for the forward. The report claims that although Brentford have little desire to part with Thiago, they are said to be conscious that bids could materialise over the coming transfer windows, possibly even as soon as January.

And while it is easy to understand why Spurs are being linked with the forward, you can't help but think that they would be better served investing a sum like £70m into other areas of their squad.

Firstly, in the shape of Dominic Solanke, they already have a proven Premier League centre-forward. Granted, the former Bournemouth man is currently out injured; when he does return, he will offer Frank and his side something they don't currently have.

Also, it is clear that Guglielmo Vicario is fast becoming a problem. The goalkeeper was at fault for two of the goals his side conceded against Forest.

A costly mistake playing out from the back was punished by Callum Hudson-Odoi, who then scored with an overhit cross as Vicario was caught out of position. It isn’t the first time this season that Vicario has cost his side.

The 29-year-old was booed during the 2-1 defeat to Brentford following a comical error. How many more days to forget can the Italian endure before Frank considers a change?

But what if Spurs were to splash out £70m on Thiago next month? Who is going to create chances for him?

Against Sean Dyche's Forest side, Spurs managed just one shot on target. And it wasn't the first time this season that Frank’s side have struggled to carve out openings.

With James Maddison expected to miss most if not all of this season, Tottenham would be better served securing a creative playmaker next month. To put it simply, there is little point in bringing in a centre-forward if there is no one on hand to create opportunities for them.

So, while it is understandable that Spurs are being linked with Thiago, Frank has much more pressing concerns to address and problems to solve rather than splashing out £70m on a centre-forward.

Tottenham Hotspur have conceded far too many goals from outside the box this season, and Thomas Frank needs to find a solution

Thomas Frank can no longer ignore one of the biggest faults in his system, and it could cost him his job if he doesn't find a solution. The Dane currently faces somewhat of an uncertain future at Tottenham Hotspur, having struggled to demonstrate much progress after six months in the dugout.

The Lilywhites have only won one of their last five games in the Premier League, slumping into the bottom half of the table. While Spurs boast one of the better records on the road, which is ironic following the defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Frank has failed to transform fortunes on home soil.

Spurs have only won four games in the English top-flight at their own ground in 2025. Having drawn three and lost the other 10, it makes Tottenham the worst team at home this year, aside from the now-relegated or recently promoted sides.

The Dane isn't entirely to blame, of course, but he's hardly turned things around. To take the Lilywhites to the next level, Frank needs to solve his side's vulnerability from range.

This season in the Premier League, Tottenham have conceded an absurd number of goals from outside the box, costing them far too many points in the race for European football. Yasin Ayari beat Guglielmo Vicario from range in the 2-2 draw with Brighton back in September.

As did Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in October, Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham in November, as well as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ibrahim Sangare in the 3-0 defeat to Forest at the weekend.

While it's easy to point the finger at Vicario, who should be held accountable, the opposition are often afforded far too much space and time before taking aim.

Whether the goalkeeper needs to adjust his positioning or the outfield players need to be more aggressive in the press, Frank has a fault in his system that he needs to solve.

On Sunday afternoon, the Dane was asked whether the squad are taking his ideas on board. He said: " It's very simple. If you don't perform, you can say all the right things, if you're a little bit out of sync, then you see things like this.

"When you are on track and in sync, you see the last three performances. That's very simple. If you perform, you keep doing the right thing, then it makes it easier of course and then I just think the little small thing that is difficult.

"We win together, we lose together, but I can't pass the ball on the pitch. So, if we lose the ball 25 times, I think it's fair to say that it's pretty difficult to create something."

Then, Frank was asked if he believes whether he'll be given enough time at the club to implement his philosophy. The Dane said: " I can't see why not.

"I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix."

Tottenham could see one player return from his loan deal in January, causing a potential problem for the side in finding a new place for him if he doesn't have a future at the club

The January transfer window is just around the corner, and for Tottenham, it could provide an opportunity to push through some deals. Thomas Frank's side have been inconsistent so far, as a lack of attacking prowess and mistakes in the defensive line have been costly.

Despite that, European qualification is still in their sights, and a strong winter market could see Spurs improve in the coming weeks. While focus is naturally on potential signings, there could be some exits on the cards too, as well as some questions over the current status of their loan stars.

One of them is Manor Solomon, who could be set to terminate his loan deal at Villarreal after just half a season in La Liga. That's according to El Periodico Mediterraneo, which claims that the winger has a clause in his contract that will allow him to "unilaterally terminate" the loan in January.

Solomon has had a restricted role with Villarreal, more recently featuring as an impact substitute and playing from the bench. The 26-year-old has one goal and four assists across all competitions, but the lack of playing time has seemingly become an issue for him and his entourage.

As a result, they haven't completely ruled out the possibility of the player moving in January, which would see him make a return to Tottenham.

The forward could cause a problem for the north London club as a result, with a bit of a headache over what Frank and the hierarchy would do next.

It is unlikely that Solomon would make much of an impact in the senior team, due to the current options available in the wide areas. Therefore, another move in January would seem most likely, though it remains to be seen if that would be a loan switch or a permanent transfer.

It marks a potentially disappointing campaign so far for the winger, who was off the back of a positive loan spell with Leeds United last season.

While it seemed as though they were interested in a reunion over the summer, that move never came about again, and it remains to be seen whether they could reignite that interest if a switch were to be available again.

For now, there will be reflection on how the Villarreal move came about, with a late transfer deadline day switch bringing the move into reality. Speaking back in September, Solomon told Sports Walla: "I kept saying that my goal was to stay in England.

“I was supposed to stay. I was already close to Crystal Palace, but if I’m going to an amazing place like Villarreal, which plays in the Spanish league, which is the second best, a strong team, I’m very happy.”

Solomon now has a decision to make over his future, with the little game time he has received so far. However, it is unclear whether he will decide to stay at Villarreal with the limited opportunities, or if he risks a return to Tottenham with no guarantee of another move in the next month.

For Frank and the hierarchy, it adds another headache on top of the growing problems they face on the pitch, in trying to sort everything to get some order back.

Anyone seeking last-minute Christmas presents for the Spurs fan in their life is in luck as we’ve spotted a club jacket with more than £100 off. The deal comes from Oodie, which has unveiled big price cuts across its entire English Football Collection, including the Tottenham Hotspur Zip Through Outdoor Jacket.

It’s usually priced at £139 but is now down to £19 in Oodie’s last-chance Christmas sale. The deal marks a whopping discount of £120 or 86%.

Designed in classic Spurs colours of white and navy blue, the jacket is touted as being ideal for a cold match day or weekend walk. It’s available in a choice of sizes: small/medium, large/extra large or OOD.

The Tottenham Hotspur Zip Through Outdoor Jacket is similar in style to a puffer jacket and features Oodie’s ‘ultra-soft’ ToastyTek fleece on the inside. Its outer-layer is a nylon fabric finished with a water-repellent coating, ensuring fans keep dry in the stands.

The jacket also boasts a ‘roomy’ hood, extra large side pockets and the Spurs crest on the left chest. However, Oodie states the effectiveness of the jacket’s water repellence may vary based on use, environment, and care, adding it may gradually fade with regular use.

Also in the sale is the classic Tottenham Hotspur Oodie Original, which is now pretty much half price, reduced from £79 to £39. This oversized hoodie also comes in Spurs white and navy blue, with Oodie’s Sherpa fleece lining keeping the wearer warm through the winter.

It also has an extra-large pocket with the Spurs crest and is perfect for watching the game at home. Elsewhere, sports retailer Kitbag is knocking up to 50% off Spurs kits until December 19, including dropping the Tottenham Hotspur 2025/26 Home Stadium Shirt from £84.99 to £50.99.

It comes as Spurs gear up their last Premier League fixture before Christmas when they host Liverpool on December 20. The game will broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports Premier League, meaning fans hoping to tune in will need a Sky TV package such as the £35 Essential TV, Netflix and Sky Sports bundle.

For those sticking with Oodie, the Tottenham Hotspur Zip Through Outdoor Jacket is yet to receive any reviews, but the brand’s Man City edition has earned a perfect five-star rating. One says: “My daughter is over the moon with her early Christmas present.”

Another says: “Warmest jacket I’ve ever owned. I now own four in all different designs. Best ever, can’t recommend enough.”

A third says: “Grandson loved his jacket and wears it all the time.”

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is under increasing pressure after just a few months in the job, with a lack of consistent results and struggles in front of goal seemingly costing his side

Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker has urged people to be patient over the future of Thomas Frank, while claiming that only the board will truly know how much pressure the manager is under. It comes after yet another lacklustre performance and result over the weekend.

A 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday saw Spurs slump in the face of pressure, as a brace from Callum Hudson-Odoi was followed up by an Ibrahim Sangare goal. With just one shot on target in the whole match, fans have been concerned not just by results, but by the lack of attacking initiative shown under Frank so far.

That has put the manager under some early pressure with the supporters, who want to see results and performances improve in the near future. For Lineker, however, it's too early to be questioning the future of the Danish head coach, who believes only the owners will know what his status is.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: "Do you think Thomas Frank is under pressure or not? The truth is, when we say these things, only the owners know really, don't they?

"They've had a decent week, going ok in the Champions League, generally, but one or two good results, it's a bit up and down, isn't it? But it's like all these... you need time, don't you? You need time."

Micah Richards then said: "There's only four points between 12th and fifth. 26 points [Crystal] Palace are on, and Spurs are on 22 points. So you know you can have a good week.

"Around Christmas time, normally, obviously, it's more ferocious – only one game on Boxing Day, but normally around that Christmas period, you can change it around, can't you? And [Frank's] only four points off fifth place, where when we're making our predictions at the start of the season, Spurs are fourth, fifth, sixth, in that.

"So they're on track for where they need to be – I just think the fans are a little bit disappointed in the football that they are seeing, so that's where the pressure comes from."

Lineker noted the change in style from Ange Postecoglou to Frank, while also pointing out the struggles they faced last season. He said: "Well they were very gung-ho with obviously Ange Postecoglou, weren't they? We did get entertaining games one way or the other. Whereas I think Thomas is probably more pragmatic in his approach."

Lineker added, though: "But I can't see why he would be under pressure at the moment. You've got to remember as well that Tottenham finished 17th last season. Now I know that towards the latter stages of the competition, there was obviously a clear priority, and that was the Europa League, but having said that, they still did finish in 17th place.

"It's way too early really, you've got to establish yourself at a football club, he's not really had one window yet. He came in halfway through and one or two transfers mostly fell through, didn't they? Morgan Gibbs-White, Eze, who ended up going to Arsenal. So that was difficult before you start. So cut him some slack surely."

While the Premier League table is still tight at the top, giving Tottenham a way back into the conversation for European qualification, that is still reliant on them finding some form. Errors at the back have been a concern, while the lack of cutting edge going forward has only underlined those issues.

It's not just the fans who have been left frustrated, however, as Frank himself has revealed his fury after the Nottingham Forest defeat. He told reporters: "I think I do everything to control my emotions. There is a hurricane inside me, because, it's deeply frustrating we are not doing better (here) after three good performances. I think it is extremely important to be calm and measured and of course, have very direct and clear messages.

"We will say it at the right time, so they're not in doubt of what I think. I'm very honest about where we are as well. I was also very honest – this was a very bad performance. No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time.

"No one will want to hear about that. It's just reality. I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, it's fair to say there's been a few not too consistent performances, and that's the thing. We are working very hard."

Attention will quickly have to turn towards the upcoming clash with Liverpool this Saturday evening, who have been struggling themselves. If Tottenham want to keep climbing up the table, then they will need to do their best to overcome the current champions in the race for the top four.

Here are our Tottenham talking points after another horrendous display in the Premier League with a heavy defeat at lowly Nottingham Forest

Tottenham are approaching a point where they must decide whether to finally stick with a manager to see what lies on the other side of a rough patch or determine whether they have jumped on the wrong train and showing patience would simply take them to the wrong destination.

Thomas Frank, who believes there is no quick fix to the problems at Spurs, may just benefit from the same problems that prolonged Ange Postecoglou's tenure just long enough for him to win a trophy.

On Sunday afternoon, the north London club gave all of their travelling fans free scarves on their seats at the City Ground but they could only muster a single shot on target as another gift against 16th-placed Nottingham Forest during a mistake-riddled display.

The scarves might as well have had 'Sorry' printed on them rather than Spurs for Pedro Porro became the latest candidate wheeled out to apologise to the supporters on the club channels. You have to wonder whether the players draw straws to see who has the dubious honour each time.

The apologies wore thin a long time ago. Under Frank, Tottenham have picked up just 22 points from their opening 16 Premier League games this season, their lowest tally in 17 years.

Impatient Spurs are not exactly known for offering their managers lengthy tenures and the Dane is hoping he will be given time to turn things around after Callum Hudson-Odoi struck twice before a rocket from Ibrahim Sangare condemned the Lilywhites to yet more pain this season.

"I can't see why not. I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around," Frank told football.london. "This is not a quick fix."

The problem is that there remains little evidence that the 52-year-old has even got his spanner, wrench and screwdriver set out yet and if he has, whether that spanner has fallen in the works.

Spurs' Premier League displays were criticised last season, but at least under Postecoglou, the team had goals in them even if they looked defensively brittle in the Premier League. There was entertainment within the chaos. Not that that should be celebrated but it's still better than the snooze-fests that have been repeatedly served up to the fans this season.

At this point Frank's team have scored 11 goals fewer in the league than his predecessor's side and for all the talk of improving the defence being the priority, Spurs have conceded two more at this stage under the Dane and with their first choice centre-backs for most of it.

Tottenham have one point fewer than last season and sit a place lower in the table. While the past three matches looked to be a corner turned, it appears to have been a mirage, for the trip to Nottingham brought more of the turgid, shot-shy, dour displays that have marked this season.

Frank would once call upon the performance against Bournemouth as the sole bad display in a bright start. Those seem now like halcyon days. Now every time Spurs slide to defeat or a miserable draw it's difficult to work out whether each latest calamity is the worst of the bunch.

After the Cherries loss, there was the double whammy of the home draw against Wolves, one of only two points the West Midlands side have managed this season, then the very different display in Bodo compared to last season's Europa League semi-final win. Defeats to Villa and Newcastle followed, not forgetting a draw in Monaco that was as undeserving as you'll care to find. The derby despair against Chelsea felt like the nadir, but then came the surrender against Arsenal and a collapse against PSG after a promising first half.

The pain continued with the home defeat to Fulham before the brief respite for the Spurs fans ended with Sunday's hammering in Nottingham. Even Robin Hood would not have been able to steal a point for this limp, lacklustre Tottenham side.

Spurs have now racked up five errors leading to opposition goals in the Premier League this season, with only Wolves recording more with seven. The Lilywhites lead the league for most errors made leading to opposition shots, handing 20 opportunities to opponents.

If you want the perfect example of how disorganised this group of Spurs players was on Sunday, they couldn't even get their half-time huddle right. In each game the team have been coming together as a unit before walking off the pitch together at the half-time whistle to show their solidarity.

At the City Ground, Mohammed Kudus forgot that new habit and started to head down the tunnel. His team-mates shouted to him, so he came back a few steps before they all started to walk off anyway. Even a group huddle lacked coordination and communication.

It was another game in which Frank's players often looked in disarray, showing their displeasure to one another at times and Djed Spence argued with the decision to substitute him before hurling his jacket to the ground as he took his seat. When he sat down, the England international, who had looked injured in the first half, continued to moan and look at the back of the head coach.

It's not the first time the full-back has shown his irritation in a moment involving Frank. In pre-season he stropped towards his seat after coming off in the rout in Munich, choosing not to go along the bench slapping hands with the other substitutes as Frank watched.

Then Spence and Micky van de Ven went against Frank's wishes for the players to applaud the supporters after the defeat to Chelsea and they walked past him muttering and down the tunnel as he looked after them forlornly.

"You're the third one that said that to me today," Frank said of Spence's latest moment of displeasure. "I didn't see it. Of course I will look back to be aware of it. I think there can be three reasons. He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team's performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I'll ask him about that."

For Postecoglou's tactical faults, his players never appeared to show dissent publicly. There was frustration certainly and private irritation as James Maddison admitted last week about being taken off frequently in games.

Perhaps a group that now contains mostly trophy winners are getting too big for their boots and struggling to see their own part in this malaise.

This was another game in which the Tottenham players were outrun, outmuscled and outfought and they failed to complete the simple task of passing the ball to one of their own.

Frank had been raging with his team but looked unflustered as he analysed a defeat in which he claimed his players gifted Forest the ball 25 times. The former Brentford boss explained that his exterior could not betray what was going on inside.

"I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me because of course it's deeply frustrating that we're not doing better today after three good performances," he said.

"It's extremely important to be calm and measured, and have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time so they're not in doubt of what I think, and very honest about where we are. That's why I was very honest today. It was a very bad performance. No two ways about that."

He added: "But also know that to change this, this will take some time. No one wants to hear that. It's just reality. I think those who have followed the club and the team, it's fair to say there have been a few not-too-consistent performances and that's something we are working very hard on."

The goals Spurs conceded were as messy as anything they've managed so far under the Dane.

The first came from an Archie Gray mistake. The 19-year-old has been a solid presence in recent games but after screaming for a pass from Guglielmo Vicario, the teenager tried to take a touch rather than sweeping it out to the sides and duly lost the ball to Sangare.

Vicario did well to save the Forest man's shot as he ran into the box, but Callum Hudson-Odoi poked home the follow-up.

Gray immediately held his hands up and various team-mates patted him on the back and the youngster will learn from the moment.

"That happens. I've said before, mistakes happen, stuff like that," Frank told football.london. "Of course I'll be irritated about it because you like to avoid it, but he will learn. I think it was a classic thing, you see, week in, week out.

"It's ball-playing to one of the two sitters. Bounce it up, first touch, not take a touch. He will learn from that. I'm pretty sure he'll use one touch next time."

When asked whether Vicario was at fault for passing it to the youngster, Frank shook his head.

"No. I think you see that every week in the Premier League, from every team, all over the world. So there's no problem with that," said the Dane.

You could argue that Vicario could have made it easier for Gray by aiming his pass towards the youngster's right foot but the teenager could still have turned his body to knock it to Romero. He could have shouted that there was a man coming or simply picked someone else out but this was a move Spurs have executed repeatedly in every game.

The fault for the second goal will probably be laid at Vicario's door but he would have had to be a fortune teller to predict that Hudson-Odoi would miss-hit a deep cross so badly and right into the far corner of his net. The Italian was positioned to deal with a cross, not an unintended shot from an unexpected angle.

Vicario's kicking certainly warranted criticism with a couple of aimless balls out into touch or nowhere near the intended targets, but this defeat was not fully on him as others huffed and puffed.

The attack appeared bereft of ideas, aggression or preparation. Having Richarlison up front was like building a yellow brick wall that the ball bounced off repeatedly.

Mohammed Kudus did his best impression of Lucas Moura, constantly running into two or three Forest players rather than passing to team-mates who would have been free. Xavi Simons worked hard at both ends of the pitch but struggled to do much with the ball after recent promising displays.

Randal Kolo Muani was the only one making any impact but that's relative praise for the Frenchman was beating his man repeatedly without much quality afterwards, other than an early cross that Richarlison headed wide.

For all of the tactical praise Frank has received over the years, he had no real idea of how to change his misfiring attack. If at 2-0 down you would have expected the Dane to bring on fresh legs to reshape the front line, you would have been wrong.

Instead he brought on a defensively-minded left-back, a defensively-minded midfielder and Lucas Bergvall, who at least does run towards the opposition box.

It's worth noting as well that it took an age for Ben Davies, Joao Palhinha and the young Swede to come on - they missed their first window when the ball went of out play - because they were being shown a manual's worth of instructions by Frank. If it's not simple enough to get straight into the players' head then it's all probably just white noise.

"We had four offensive players on the pitch. I think that's fair to say," Frank would offer as an explanation for that eventual triple change. "So I felt that, just to go back to the bit before where I said we're disjointed. So if you're disjointed, you can have 11 offensive players on the pitch. It will not help. So we need to be in sync, and then it helps, and hopefully we can find a way back after that."

Spurs did not find a way back. They did not even muster a second shot on target - the first came from Gray in the opening 45 minutes - and rather than grab a foothold in the game, they instead fell 3-0 down to Sangare's excellent effort with the outside of his foot that crashed in off the right-hand post, Vicario again beaten from distance.

It was only then that Frank thought to bring on Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson. By then the game was already well and truly lost.

Neither Tel nor Johnson could be at Spurs long into 2026 at this rate. Frank signed off on the Frenchman's permanent move from Bayern Munich but has shown very little interest in actually playing him. A loan move could await in the January window with Roma previously linked.

Johnson's situation is perhaps stranger. Frank tried to sign the Wales international at Brentford but the indications seem to be that the 24-year-old is not part of Frank's plans going forward at Tottenham.

In a team that has scored far fewer goals than last season, it seems odd that the previous campaign's top scorer is not getting more minutes to do the same again.

Kudus can beat a man at will and likes to cut inside on to his left foot while Johnson plays better on the right. Perhaps playing the Ghanaian on the left, where he spent a number of games in his exciting 18-goal first season at West Ham, with the Wales international who scored 18 goals last season on his stronger flank, it might start putting square pegs into square holes.

Instead it seems like Spurs will entertain offers for Johnson in the coming window, with Crystal Palace among a string of interested suitors, and look to replace him.

The key for Tottenham now ahead of games against a Liverpool side that has remembered how to win - or a least not lose - and away at a fifth-placed Palace side is just how much they trust Frank in the January transfer window.

They have to either back him fully and let him shape how he wants his Spurs side to look if they feel he can attract the players required, or decide they want to go in another direction. A half-measure of a window, which Postecoglou got last January as doubts surrounded him, helps nobody.

With the promised Lewis family financial backing there's a chance to create a much stronger squad. Spurs have to go full throttle in January to start the chase for they already sit 11 points off third-placed Aston Villa. That they are only six points off fourth-placed Chelsea is a Christmas miracle but that could be no more once the festive season ends.

After the game, Frank swerved a question about his assistant coach Matt Wells' future, with the highly-rated 37-year-old having held talks with MLS side Colorado Rapids about taking on his first managerial role.

Some more cynical reporters than this one might suggest that Wells, grandfather of Spurs legend Cliff Jones, should stick around a little bit longer to see what happens next at his boyhood club.

If Tottenham were to spin their biennial wheel of doom even faster than normal so Frank gets thrown off almost as quickly as Nuno Espirito Santo, then it's difficult to see where they would go next at this exact time.

There may well be a distrust of managers stepping up after overachieving at smaller clubs now, which might count against the likes of Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola. Palace, who lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City on Sunday, sit four points above Spurs while Bournemouth lie two points below and travel to Manchester United on Monday night.

There should also be concerns over Fabio Paratici's inclinations when it comes to appointing managers. This after all was the man who pushed for Spurs to appoint Nuno after missing out on Gennaro Gattuso and Julen Lopetegui and getting cold feet with Paulo Fonseca. The odds of Paratici looking towards his native Italy would be overwhelmingly high.

The currently available big names for Tottenham are few and far between, other than the prospect of Xavi managing Xavi, with the Spaniard untested in major leagues outside of Barcelona, a club he knows inside out and back to front. Spurs are not Barcelona.

Jurgen Klopp would not come back to the Premier League to manage someone against Liverpool while Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino will not be available until after the World Cup, if at all.

That could work in Frank's favour, much as it did for Postecoglou last season until the summer eventually did come around.

It all feels so depressingly familiar at Tottenham Hotspur right now. There's deja vu at every turn when there shouldn't be. Like many of his predecessors, the Dane has his favourites among the squad who he talks to regularly, while others struggle to get the odd word from him. Yet he will need the group behind him for what lies ahead.

It has been a time of unprecedented change at every level behind the scenes inside the north London club, but on the pitch it feels like precious little has changed and if it has then it's got worse.

Big decisions lie ahead. There's no quick fix as Frank says, but does he have the tools and the power to make the repairs? The jury remains out.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is under pressure after Sunday's dismal 3-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest left them 11th in the Premier League table

Former Tottenham Hotspur part-owner Alan Sugar has called on the club to replace Thomas Frank with ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Spurs' head coach is under pressure after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest continued Frank's underwhelming start to life in north London. The Dane arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Brentford in the summer, but supporters have not been happy with their team's style of play and poor home form.

Tottenahm have won just twice in the league at home this term and sit 11th in the top-flight table after Ibrahim Sangare and a brace from Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed all three points away at the City Ground. There is now increasing pressure on Frank, whose side sits six points off the top four, which will guarantee automatic Champions League qualification for next season.

And Sugar, who was Spurs chairman for a decade between 1991 and 2001, has called on the club to look towards a change in the dugout. The 78-year-old has called on Tottenham to bring in Klopp as Frank's replacement.

He said: "With the massive fortune of the Lewis family, it would be a win-win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January.

"Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees?"

Sugar may be left disappointed, however, if he wants to see Klopp take the top job at Spurs. The German left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season after nearly nine years - citing a lack of energy for the demanding job.

The former Dortmund and Mainz boss has since made it clear that he has no intention of returning to management. He also insists that coaching a different English club to Liverpool is off the table - even if he were to change his mind about becoming a manager again.

"I said I will never coach a different team in England. So that means if [he returns] it's Liverpool," Klopp told the Diary of a CEO podcast.

"So yeah, theoretically it's possible. I love what I do right now, I don't miss coaching. I don't. I mean I do coach, just different, not players. And I don't miss it.

"I don't miss standing in the rain two-and-a-half, three hours. I don't miss going to a press conference three times a week, having 10-12 interviews a week. I don't miss that.

"I don't miss being in the dressing room in the sense that I don't have it often enough. I coached 1,080 something games. So, I was in the dressing room very, very often.

"I'm 58, that's from your perspective, old from the other side, it's not that old. That means I could make the decision in a few years. I don't know. [If] I had to make the decision today, I won't coach again, but thank God I don't have to do that. I can just see what the future brings."

Spurs fell to a 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

Some Tottenham fans have taken to social media to demand that Thomas Frank is sacked following the Premier League defeat against Nottingham Forest.

A first half goal from Callum Husdon-Odoi was followed by a second strike by the same player not long after half time. Ibrahim Sangare sealed the victory for Forest with a long-range effort of his own with 11 minutes left to play.

The defeat leaves Spurs in 11th place in the Premier League table with 22 points from their 16 games so far. It has piled the pressure back on Frank after two wins in the previous two games.

Tensions have been high between Frank and fans after he called supporters out for booing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario following his mistake in the defeat against Fulham.

During the game against Forest, there also appeared to be a clash with Djed Spence who was unhappy at being substituted.

With frustrations high all around, during and after the game, some fans showed their frustrations towards the manager on X (formerly Twitter). One wrote: “I’m done with Thomas Frank football now. Sack him tonight.”

“Sack Thomas Frank I’m not joking sack that coward now!!!” a second wrote.

A third wrote: “Playing how Thomas Frank wants us to play is only ever going to be mid table at best. He has to go.”

Another fan said: “I’m not one for keep changing the manager but I feel that after today Thomas Frank is out of his depth here. I can’t understand his tactics. I don’t understand his substitutions. I can’t see how it’s not getting more out of this squad. He lost me today. #FrankOut”

It wasn’t only fans who were worried by Tottenham's performance against Forest. Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit Andy Reid said: “It was a worrying performance from Spurs.

"There were just starting to be some signs of a recovery with Thomas Frank looking like he was starting to impress himself on the club and this team.

"But they have turned in a performance like this where they haven't got going and not shown any desire. The body language didn't look good at all.

"Nottingham Forest have ran over the top of them and played better than them in every area of the game. Man for man, they were fitter and they have been better all over the pitch. Spurs got what they deserved from the game, which was nothing."

While Frank is under pressure, there seems to be no current suggestion that he is in any immediate danger of losing his job. Speaking earlier this month, the manager outlined his confidence that he will be given time.

"I'm very confident. I think the ownership - of course I'm just starting to know them - but it seems like they're good guys, intelligent people,” he said. "They know how to run businesses and learning about football, learning more now they've become owners.

"I think when we're dealing with intelligent people they can see every successful dynasty, every successful club has taken time. Yeah you have one where you maybe win one year or the second year, but you can't sustain it if you don't build something sustainable. It's impossible."

Igor Thiago has been in inspired form for Brentford this season, with the Brazilian striker having scored 12 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions

Tottenham have learned that it would require a hefty £70million to lure Brazilian striker Igor Thiago away from Brentford. The prolific forward is believed to be of interest to several clubs ahead of the January transfer window, following his impressive performance this season.

The 24-year-old joined the Bees in the summer of 2024, transferring from Belgian team Club Brugge for a then club-record fee of £30 million.

However, he spent most of last season on the sidelines due to a knee injury, making a mere eight appearances across all competitions.

This season, however, has seen a dramatic turnaround for Thiago, who has taken the Premier League by storm. The striker has already netted 12 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, adeptly filling the gap left by Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo after their summer exits.

Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has outscored Thiago in the Premier League this season, with Hugo Ekitike, Danny Welbeck and Jean-Philippe Mateta trailing not too far behind.

Given his outstanding form, it's hardly surprising that he is already being linked with a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium.

ESPN Brazil reports that the London club would demand a fee of around £70 million for their star player should they agree to a sale in the upcoming transfer windows.

The report states that Spurs and Aston Villa are amongst his Premier League admirers, whilst two clubs from Spain and Italy are also showing interest. Although Brentford have little desire to part with Thiago, they are said to be conscious that bids could materialise over the coming transfer windows, possibly even as soon as January.

The striker position has proved somewhat problematic for Spurs this campaign, with Dominic Solanke ruled out by an ankle problem picked up in August.

The 28-year-old managed just two Premier League appearances and the UEFA Super Cup Final before sustaining the injury.

Richarlison and summer loan acquisition Randal Kolo Muani have deputised in the No. 9 role at different stages this season, but there's little question it's an area Spurs must tackle sooner rather than later.

Frank acknowledged in his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference this week that they anticipate being active in next month's window.

"Of course. We will definitely be in the market," the Spurs boss confirmed. "No doubt about that.

"We want them as early as possible, like every other time and let's see if we can have them before the 31st of January."

Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur boss said after the heavy defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday

Thomas Frank faced questions aplenty at his press conference after Tottenham's horrendous 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs handed their hosts an early festive gift on 28 minutes. Archie Gray was dispossessed by Ibrahim Sangare on the edge of his own box and while Guglielmo ] Vicario did well to save the Forest man's shot as he ran into the box, Callum Hudson-Odoi poked home the follow-up.

Hudson-Odoi then grabbed a second goal, albeit with a touch of fortune as his deep cross looped over everyone and into the far corner of the net.

It was 3-0 in the 79th minute when Hudson-Odoi breezed past Pedro Porro and knocked the ball into the run of Sangare, who struck a shot from outside the box with the outside of his foot which flew in off the right-hand post.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank after the game. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at the City Ground.

It feels like two steps forward, a big leap back today?

Yeah, absolutely agree. That was very disappointing. It was a bad performance. Frustrating, because I think the last three games were good on performance and results, normally linked. And you can lose a game like this. That's the frustrating part, of course.

I think every game, I think, until the 1-0 goal, it was a little bit back and forth for both teams. Hard transition both ways. And then after the first goal, I think we lost structure and were more disjointed.

And then the 2-0 goal killed the game off. Basically not in the game after that, in my opinion. And that's part of keeping the structure, keep the game plan, keep going, keep doing the right things.

So that's definitely not the first time we've seen that, this year, last year, whenever. That's something that's ongoing work in progress before we're more consistent in that.

Doesn't help that we made two mistakes with the first two goals. But again, that can happen in football. So we just need to keep doing the right things. So everything looks the right way. And then on top of that, we decide to throw the ball away at least 25 times. So we can't hit each other 25 times. That's going to make it difficult for you to create anything or to win a game.

You said before the game that you want to see more aggression, positive, brave, offence-minded football, but the team only had one shot on target, are the players not taking it on board?

No, I think it's very simple. If you don't perform, you can say all the right things. If you're a little bit out of sync, then you see things like this. When you are on track and in sync, you see the last three performances. So that's very simple. If you perform, you keep doing the right thing, then it makes it easier of course. And then I just think the little small thing that is difficult. We win together, we lose together, but can't pass the ball on the pitch. So if we lose the ball 25 times, I think it's fair to say that it's pretty difficult to create something.

Does that come into it when you're 2-0 down and make three sub and one of them is Ben Davies, one of them is Joao Palhinha? I think a lot of the fans are hoping for attacking players, but is that part of the reason, because you're looking to keep the ball?

No, we had four offensive players on the pitch. I think that's fair to say. So I felt that, just to go back to the bit before where I say we're disjointed. So if you're disjointed, you can have 11 offensive players on the pitch. It will not help. So we need to be in sync. And then it helps, and hopefully we can find a way back after that.

With Archie Gray's mistake, is that something he'll simply have to learn from as a young player?

Yeah, you know, that happens. I've said before, mistakes happen, stuff like that. Of course I'll be irritated about it because you like to avoid it, but he will learn. I think it was a classic thing, you see, week in, week out. It's ball-playing to one of the two sitters. Bounce it up, first touch, not take a touch. He will learn from that. I'm pretty sure he'll use one touch next time.

No issue with the goalkeeper with that?

No. I think you see that every week in the Premier League, from every team, all over the world. So there's no problem with that.

You're always a very calm and measured manager in these press conferences after the bad results, are you a bit different in the dressing room with the players?

I think I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me because of course it's deeply frustrating that we're not doing better today after three good performances. I think it's extremely important to be calm and measured, and of course have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time, so they're not in doubt of what I think. And very honest about where we are. That's why I was also very honest today. It was a very bad performance. No two ways about that.

But also know that to change this, this will take some time. Because no one wants to hear about that. It's just reality. I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it's fair to say there's been a few not-too-consistent performances and that's a thing we are working very hard on.

Did you have any issue with Djed Spence arguing while coming off and throwing his jacket about?

You're the third one that said that to me today. I didn't see it. Of course I will look back to be aware of it. I think there can be three reasons. He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team's performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I'll ask him about that.

It feels like people would understand the up-and-down results a bit but it still feels like the floor of this team is very low. Do you agree with that?

I think that is a fair assessment, unfortunately. That's something we need to work very hard on. That these setbacks can't affect us that much. I'm pretty sure when I watched the game... When did we concede the first goal? 28 minutes. I think when I watch it back, it was probably not that bad until the first goal. So it can't be one goal that makes it so disjointed for 15 minutes. It can't happen.

You can have a day where it's not perfect. How many games have you seen where it's not perfect? Then you find your way into it. Then you maybe win 2-1 in the second half where you eat your way into it. That's just ongoing work we need to work so hard on.

Is it a mental thing or more than that?

I think it's a combination of mental, structure, coolness. Stick to the game plan, focus.

You're trying to bed in all these new ideas, but you're at a club where the average time span of managers hasn't been that long, do you feel that you'll get the time to put everything you want into place?

I can't see why not. I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix.

Christmas and New Year is always a hectic schedule, how do you look to navigate this in the next couple of weeks?

First and foremost, we have, I think, finally a more or less full week going into Liverpool next time. After that, we have eight days in to Palace. So that gives a little bit of time to train and try to get on top of some of these things. That's also the challenge. No complaints, just the fact. We try to change things with very short time between games. It's just a little bit more tricky. But we need to utilise the time in the next two weeks massively. And then we have five games in a short amount of time.

Are you expecting Matt Wells will still be at the club next week?

There's definitely a few rumours about that. We will, how can you say, when we know if that will happen or not happen, we will announce it.

You spoke about keeping your composure and being calm. Do you think the players did that well enough in general? We had the Djed moment and it felt like there were a couple of times you were telling Pedro to calm down as well?

I think that's two small situations. I think in general, no matter what, to have that coolness on the pitch and relentless concentration and focus, that's a big thing of being a top team.