Football London

Thomas Frank has come under scrutiny due to Tottenham's recent performances

Thomas Frank has been urged to lay down the law to his Tottenham players and stop being "nice" about their poor performances.

Spurs suffered a humbling defeat in the north London derby against Arsenal on Sunday. Frank was only appointed as Tottenham's head coach in June after making the move from Brentford.

However, there is a growing sense of unrest among the club's fanbase over the Lilywhites' sub-par displays after falling to their fourth league defeat of the season. The Danish manager stopped short of blaming his players after the loss against the Gunners and said he took full responsibility for the result.

However, former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster reckons Frank needs to be more forthright in delivering his assessment of his team to the press, despite expressing doubts over whether he shows the same calmness in the dressing room.

Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster said: "You don't know what he's like behind closed doors, but he is very nice in the media. I don't think that performance warrants nice. I think he's got to come out all guns blazing there, because the Spurs fans are fuming.

"They were abysmal and they were miles off it. From the get go, you knew how the game was going to go because Spurs just straight away went, 'We're just going to sit here and we're not really going to give this a go.'"

Spurs officials are reportedly keen to give Frank time to turn things around despite the run of poor results. According to The Telegraph, the club's owners, the Lewis family, are steadfast in their belief that Frank's appointment should be seen as a long-term project.

Tottenham are currently in Paris ahead of the Champions League clash against champions PSG on Wednesday night. Frank will be without the suspended Brennan Johnson, taking the total number of unavailable players for Spurs up to eight.

Speaking before the game, Frank said: "Part of taking this job was to sit here and have the challenges. Of course, I would have loved to sit here and we've beaten Arsenal and then face Paris. We lost and we lost badly. Part of this is to manage those setbacks and learn from it and move on from here.

"One thing I'm 1,000 per cent sure of is that I know how to build a team. I know how to build a club and we will do that. Along the way, we'll learn and the big thing is how we learn from the bad spells.

"The first four months, I learned a lot about the team. I learned a lot about the individual players and all that learning needs to materialise in how we find the right formula, with the right players on the pitch and with some players coming back."

A trio of Tottenham players will be taking a trip down memory lane on Wednesday night and one will have some fond childhood memories of tonight's stadium

It will be a full circle moment for Wilson Odobert when he steps back on to the pitch at the Parc des Princes as Tottenham take on PSG in the Champions League.

Three Spurs players will be returning to the club they have played for with Odobert and Xavi Simons both coming through the Ligue 1 outfit's academy and Randal Kolo Muani currently on loan from the Parisian giants. Odobert turned down a professional contract from PSG after five years in their youth set-up, but did enjoy one big memory as a 15-year-old ball boy on a Champions League night in the Parc de Princes in 2019.

"I remember holding the big UEFA flag and now it is so great to be able to be back as a player,” said the 20-year-old. "It was such a dream and now I have objectives and goals, because I am not a kid any more, I want to perform and give as much as I can back to my team."

It was a story that inspired Odobert's Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank, who believed it demonstrated the beauty of football.

"What a wonderful story with Wilson there, being part of that as a 15-year-old player. Now he's sitting here, I think we need to remember that. We always forget that in all the focus on winning and losing. That’s what football’s about," he said. "That’s why we do it. We're all part of loving football and we started, all of us, playing in different levels. That's why we're here."

Frank has high hopes for Odobert as he looks to rebuild a Tottenham team that has lost its biggest attacking stars in recent years in Harry Kane and then captain Son Heung-min to Bayern Munich and LAFC respectively.

This current Tottenham side and Frank have been criticised for not playing with the free-flowing attacking style the fans demand and the Dane was asked how long it would take to build something more adventurous.

"I think hopefully it will not take that long time, but it's fair to say, the young man next to me, Wilson, who I think is a fantastic player and has got huge potential, I think he, compared to last season, is really taking a step up and I’ve a big hope for Wilson, but he's still taking over from a club legend in Sonny, for example, who played last year," said Frank.

"And Maddison and Solanke and Kulusevski, who were the main guys, I’ve said that before. That’s not saying that Wilson, Brennan [Johnson], Mo [Kudus], Xavi, Mathys [Tel], Richy, whatever, they can't do it. It just takes a little bit of time in that. And then the next bit, we have to play every third day in Premier League and in Champions League. So just, no complaints, just the way it is. It just makes it a little bit more complicated."

Odobert is looking forward to continuing his relationship with fellow PSG alumni Xavi and Kolo Muani over the coming months at Tottenham.

"Being younger and playing with Xavi, we definitely have a natural connection. It is the same with the other players though. I am trying to connect with everyone, but I know Xavi very well. It is lovely to combine with him, if he wants to combine with me, and it’s really natural to combine together," he said.

"Kolo Muani is a quality player. To have him with us is really beneficial. He always gives the best of his ability at training as well. It can only be beneficial for us."

Odobert lost much of his first season at Spurs to a serious hamstring injury and a subsequent setback following his £30million move from Burnley and he told football.london that it would not stop him making an impact at the north London club.

"I always gave my all. I was injured, but I worked hard to get back to my level. I'm young. I don't limit myself," he said. "I have goals and I will always give my all, no matter what happens."

Tottenham Hotspur have been hampered by injuries so far this season, but they did welcome back a number of key stars to their matchday squad against Arsenal.

Thomas Frank was able to welcome back a number of key players ahead of the weekend's disappointing defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby as their injury crisis eased. Tottenham Hotspur have been blighted by injuries to some of their star names since the season began.

Mohammed Kudus, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani returned to their matchday squad for that defeat to Arsenal and could feature against the current Champions League holders. Spurs also have a crucial clash with Fulham on the horizon when they return to Premier League action this weekend.

With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest Tottenham injury news and when those currently missing could return;

Dominic Solanke

Spurs boss Frank is hoping to have Dominic Solanke back for the busy festive period with the striker yet to start a competitive fixture this season.

What Frank has said: "Dom is not ready yet. We want to be absolutely sure, as sure as we can be, that there's no setback going forward. I'm confident he will soon be ready, but I will not put a time frame on it."

Potential return date: December/January

James Maddison

James Maddison is expected to be out of action until May 2026 at the earliest as he recovers from an ACL injury.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

Dejan Kulusevski

Sweden star Dejan Kulusevski had surgery on his knee back in April and is expected to return in the New Year.

What Frank has said: "Deki is still not on the grass. We're working very hard to get him fit as quickly as possible."

Potential return date: January 2026

Radu Dragusin

Spurs defender Dragusin took another step towards a return to the first team with a 45-minute appearance in a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier on this month. He's also trained with his international side during the recent international break.

What Frank has said: "He played his first 45 minutes in nine months, something like that, last Wednesday, very happy with that. He's trained fully today. He's definitely getting very close to being selected - it's just a matter of performance and probably just a few more game minutes to be fully available."

Potential return date: December 2026

Brennan Johnson

The Spurs forward is suspended for their showdown with PSG after being shown a red card in their 4-0 win over Copenhagen in their last Champions League outing.

What Frank has said: "I think I understand why it can be given. But I think it's a little bit - what I've talked about before - that still footage, studs on leg, is what the ref sees the first thing. That's where it looks bad.

"There was no recklessness in this tackle from Brennan. He goes down into a sliding tackle. You can say; 'Why give the opportunity'? But when he goes down, there's literally no leg in front of him.

"So when he slides, then the player steps down, then it looks bad after that. I think it was a little bit unfortunate, and I think it was harsh."

Potential return date: November 29 vs Fulham (H)

Ben Davies

Ben Davies is nearing a return after suffering an injury during last month's international break.

What Frank has said: "Kota (Takai) and Ben (Davies) both trained with the team today - first time - so that's also positive."

Potential return date: December

Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma had a minor surgery on his ankle after picking up an injury on international duty back in October.

What Frank has said: "Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw it, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks."

Potential return date: n/a

Kota Takai

Summer signing Takai is yet to appear for his new team because of plantar fasciitis and a quad issue.

What Frank has said: "Kota (Takai) and Ben (Davies) both trained with the team today, first time, so that's also positive."

Here's the Tottenham team that we reckon Thomas Frank will select to face PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday evening

Tottenham are looking to restore some pride as they take on the reigning Champions League winners PSG in Paris on Wednesday evening.

Thomas Frank's side were humbled in the north London derby with a 4-1 hammering at Arsenal on Sunday resulting in criticism from the fans who felt that the team's back five was too negative, with no shots taken by Spurs in the first half and three from outside the box in the second.

Frank had some success with a back three against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup back in August just after the Ligue 1 side had returned to pre-season training following their Club World Cup exploits, although Tottenham let a 2-0 lead slip in the final minutes before missing out on the trophy in a penalty shoot-out.

Sunday's criticism may force Frank to abandon any potential plans to use an extra defender again and that could open up a space in the midfield. That means Xavi Simons likely comes into the team against his old side as a playmaker and the question is then whether the Dutchman plays in a midfield three or off the left of the attack.

Pedro Porro will return to the starting line-up, leaving Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence to fight it out over the left-back spot. Frank could decide to bring in one of his returning players and that may mean the introduction of either Pape Matar Sarr or Lucas Bergvall to add some legs in the middle of the park. Up top Randal Kolo Muani could come in to face his parent club in place of Richarlison.

Here's the Tottenham team we reckon Frank could select to take on Luis Enrique's Parisian giants.

Thomas Frank is facing criticism from Tottenham fans following a woeful north London derby defeat by Arsenal on Sunday

Thomas Frank has made it clear Tottenham must continue to back him by declaring: "I know how to build a club and we will do that".

Spurs are in Paris ahead of the Champions League clash against champions PSG on Wednesday night, with Frank facing criticism from the club's fans following a woeful north London derby defeat on Sunday which made it just two wins in eight matches under the 52-year-old.

The Frank era began solidly but has fallen off the rails in recent weeks with Tottenham struggling to create chances - and they have now conceded more goals at this stage of the Premier League season than they had under Ange Postecoglou last year.

With the north London outfit having gone through managers like new kits, with six hired in six years, Frank was asked in France how important it is that he becomes the one who breaks that cycle.

"Very important!" he said with a grin. "Part of taking this job was to sit here and have the challenges. Of course, I would have loved to sit here and we've beaten Arsenal and then face Paris. We lost and we lost badly. Part of this is to manage those setbacks and learn from it and move on from here.

"One thing I'm 1000% sure of, I know how to build a team, I know how to build a club and we will do that. Along the way, we'll learn and the big thing is how we learn from the bad spells.

"The first four months, I learned a lot about the team. I learned a lot about the individual players and all that learning that needs to materialise in how we find the right formula with the right players on the pitch and with some players coming back."

Spurs will face a PSG side that has been transformed from a team of Galacticos into a balanced outfit under Luis Enrique to become Europe's best. Frank believes the Ligue 1 giants show how football is about building something special.

"Even Luis Enrique here, I think it's fair to say PSG have been on another level than Tottenham the last five, six years, but also, this is his third season," said the Dane.

"His first season he also had to take on a lot of battles and those years turned everything around from playing with the biggest players in Europe to less stars, very determined players that play for the team and he created one of the best teams in the world by making those changes. That's the beauty of football."

Spurs will face the Parisien side without the suspended Brennan Johnson, with the Wales international making it eight unavailable players for Frank for the big clash.

Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur head coach said in Paris on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League match at PSG

Thomas Frank faced plenty of questions on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's Champions League match at PSG.

The Spurs boss discussed the fallout from 4-1 defeat at Arsenal as the Dane must lead his team to face the European champions in their Paris home on Wednesday night. Frank also delivered an update on injury news and whether there are any fresh problems in the squad.

He was also asked about the criticism from a run of just two wins in eight matches and questions over his tactics and the lack of adventurous play.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is out in Paris and was among those putting the questions to the pair. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at the Parc des Princes.

If I could just start off with the usual team news question?

Yeah, everyone available for Arsenal is ok for tomorrow.

After the nature of the approach against Arsenal, is it vital that you show some attacking intent tomorrow night? Is tomorrow night a game where almost the intent shown and the performance is more important than the result?

I think the performance is always the most important thing, because if you do that on a consistent basis, you have a bigger chance of getting results. I watched the game back, that was a hard watch. We were not good, bad performance, not running away from that in any way. The biggest thing, there was plenty of intent and what we wanted to do, but we just couldn't execute it on the day. The biggest thing for me, the most disappointing thing was that we were not able to compete and I was convinced that we could compete on the day.

That didn't happen, we had 53 situations where it was like a duel, second ball situation where either Arsenal went long or we went long, like in a normal football game. We came out on top on 17 of those and lost 36. If you don't do that, that is the basic, then it's very difficult to win a football match.

Tomorrow we are facing another of the best teams in Europe away from home, so it's a nice challenge that we are 100% up for and I'm convinced we'll bounce back with a good performance.

You were visibly pretty angry in the Emirates press conference room on Sunday evening and I can tell you're still pretty annoyed about that performance. Have you seen that same anger from the players and the same will to put things right tomorrow?

Yeah, no doubt. I think it's been two good days with talks and meetings, of course. A meeting yesterday, of course, a main meeting and a meeting today, a main meeting mainly about us. How we improve, how we go forward, because in football there are setbacks and it was a setback on Sunday.

It's all about how you react, because one thing for sure you're not going through life without setbacks, you're not going through our football season without setbacks. It's how you react to it.

How much does Randal Kolo Muani want to perform?

Of course he wants to perform. Every player wants to perform and show their best, no doubt about that. That’s mostly the feeling with Kolo. He was very happy to join Tottenham and perform for us and we were very happy to have him.

Then he got that dead leg that took longer than we thought it would do, and then he got the broken jaw. So it’s definitely been stop-start. Plus he came and was fit, but not top fit, because he came from pre-season where (he didn’t play much).

So all of that meant he was playing catch-up. I’m convinced we will see more and more good stuff from him.

There's unfortunately been a lot of negativity after the Arsenal game. I just wondered how you were trying to reframe, almost reset, with the squad, with the players?

First, what a wonderful story with Wilson there, being part of that as a 15-year-old player. Now he's sitting here, I think we need to remember that. Thank you for that question. Because we always forget that in all the focus on winning and losing. So, that’s what football’s about.

The actual joy of why we do this?

Yes, exactly. That’s why we do it. We're all part of loving football and we started, all of us, playing in different levels …. just watch it. That's why we're here. But back to your question. When you have tough defeats, and tough defeats can be two different things, but especially if you don't hit a top performance …. if you hit a bad performance. That's why I need a bit deeper analysis and talk about a bit of a reset, but definitely that bounce back. I think there's something in …. as I said from the beginning when I came in … we are in a fantastic four-game spell, if you can say that. Four games in ten days. Arsenal away, PSG away, Fulham home and Newcastle away. Three very difficult away grounds. Difficult game against Fulham. Two of the best teams in Europe we are facing inside three days [after Arsenal]. That's the challenge we want. That's the challenge we want to embrace. And on the way to be very competitive, there will be ups and there will be downs. It's how we react to it, how we learn from it. The players will learn from it, I will learn from it and we'll move forward from here.

Secondly, I was just going to ask this in terms of the back five? Given what what said and all of the fallout from the game on Sunday, would you have any hesitation about playing that back five again, as you did in the Super Cup?

The beauty of the first part of your question is good, because all the fallout, I don't read anything. No articles, no social media. So I don't know if there was a fallout. But of course, my good friend here to my right said there could maybe come a question about that. We'll go back to the first question with Jamie, I think it was. We didn't win enough of these duels. We were not aggressive enough. We were not going forward enough and playing forward enough. And if you play 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 7-9-13, it doesn't matter if you're not doing that. I'm not in doubt of that.

It’s been three wins in 11 games, why are things unravelling and how confident are you of getting this project back on track?

That’s a good question. I think sometimes there will always be a little not unstable, but performances that are up and down. If we look at that we play 60 games in a season, maybe 10 to 12 perfect games, there will be 30 average plus games in some areas above or below that and it’s about being consistent enough and performing at a high enough level in the games. And I think we accept some games because one thing is defeat, but let’s say except take the Chelsea and Arsenal game, the other games we have been competitive in and it’s about that and then keep doing everything we can to be better and to create enough chances to win the football matches. We have still scored quite a few goals, my teams always score goals and Richy is on five goals, which he has not been on a long time, so we will keep working hard on it.

You've got this great mantra 'if you don't take risks, you are taking risks'. Does it frustrate you or maybe hurt you when people are claiming that this Tottenham team of yours isn't taking risks?

If they don't think we do, I think we do. Maybe we should do more. I think it's fair to ask the questions. We're not creating enough chances, which is reality. It's my job to do everything to make sure that we do what we can to create more and more chances, be better and better at it.

That's what we work very hard on every day, to find the right formula for that. That's part of the play, but part of it is also how aggressive we are under pressure, how we can win it, and there can be half more open, spacious opportunities, half-transitions, full-transitions. I think it's also fair to say that Arsenal's three of their goals were on half-transitions.. So that's where we need to be good as well, in those situations.

What does Randal Kolo Muani offer compared to your other forwards?

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 v 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.

You mentioned there were 53 duels/second ball situations against Arsenal. Was there a particular reason why you lost 36 of them?

Very simple, we were not aggressive enough in my opinion when we pushed forward. We were not securing the ball well enough which is also part of that. We were not landing in the right areas for where the second ball landed and stuff like that. That was the main bit."

You'll be aware that Tottenham have had six managers in six years. How important do you think it is that they stick with you and have some continuity?

Very important! Part of taking this job was to sit here and have the challenges. Of course, I would have loved to sit here and we've beaten Arsenal and then face Paris tomorrow night. We lost and we lost badly. Part of that is to manage those setbacks and learn from it and move on from here.

One thing I'm 1000% sure of, I know how to build a team, I know how to build a club and we will do that. Along the way, we'll learn and the big thing is how we learn from the bad spells, because that's where we also can see that when we go 1-0 down, how do we react as a team? The best teams, they just continually move on. They still run hard, they still do the same thing. There's no doubt in that. The first four months, I learned a lot about the team. I learned a lot about the individual players and all that learning that needs to materialise to how we find the right formula with the right players on the pitch and also with some players coming back. Then we play every third day. That's the big challenge, but that's what I embrace.

When you say you know how to build a club, I guess that's time, isn't it? It's players getting used to your methods?

Yes, of course. I think no one, even Luis Enrique here, I think it's fair to say that PSG has been on another level than Tottenham the last five, six years, something like that. But also, this is his third season. His first season also had to take a lot of battles and those years also turned everything around from playing with the biggest players in Europe to less stars, very determined players that play for the team and he created one of the best teams in the world by making those changes. And even last year, that's the beauty of football. Fantastic season, winning the treble and they were close to getting knocked out of the Champions League. It's marginal sometimes.

Can you give us an idea of how much – bear in mind the way the team played last season – how much work you had to do defensively?

I think we've been quite good defensively, of course. Maybe we didn't look that way against Arsenal. But how much work have you invested in changing the team from the way you played last season? When you went to Brentford and you came up and you said that you started by making sure they were solid at the back. Has the same operation started the same way at Spurs?

Yes, because that was for me the biggest thing to focus on. Because, again, no team wins anything if they can’t defend. You can look at the team that is on top of the table, no matter how hard and how tough it is to name Arsenal as a Tottenham head coach, they defend very well. Liverpool when they want, defend very well. City when they want, they defend very well. So that’s part of it.

Then we hope we can keep up creating chances that we struggle a little bit with. So we need to look into that as well. But defensive part of it is just very important.

Then on top of that, how conscious are you of the way that the fans at Spurs demand that you play? And how long realistically does it take to build something a bit more adventurous on top of being solid at the back?

I think that hopefully it will not take that long time. But I think it's fair to say, I think the young man next to me, Wilson, which I think is a fantastic player and has got a huge potential. And I also think he, compared to last season, really taking a step up and I’ve a big hope for Wilson. But he's still taking over from a club legend in Sonny, for example, that played last year. And a Maddison and a Solanke and Kulusevski, who were the main guys, I’ve said that before. That’s not the same that Wilson, Brennan, Mo, Xavi, Mathys, Richy, whatever. They can't do it. It just takes a little bit of time in that. And then the next bit, then we have to play every third day in Premier League and in Champions League. So just, no complaints, just the way it is. Just make it a little bit more complicated.

Tottenham Hotspur face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League - and Thomas Frank is already without Brennan Johnson after being sent off against Copenhagen

Tottenham Hotspur face Paris Saint-Germain with Micky van de Ven, Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison all one yellow card away from missing their next Champions League match.

The three players have already received two bookings during the league phase. A third yellow card triggers an automatic one-match suspension.

Article 63.02 of the Champions League regulations states: "From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.)."

They were all shown their first cautions during the 1-0 win over Villarreal in Spurs ' opening match of this season's competition. Van de Ven then received his second a fortnight later in the 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt.

However, he has gone through the two matches since without a third being forthcoming, even after playing every minute of those games. Richarlison also managed to get through the Copenhagen win without going into the book during his appearance as a second-half substitute.

Kolo Muani was the only Tottenham player booked during that match. Brennan Johnson, of course, was shown a red card, which is why the Wales international cannot play in Paris.

Thomas Frank believed that sending off was harsh and unfortunate. He said after the match: "I think I understand why it can be given.

"But I think it's a little bit - what I've talked about before - that still footage, studs on leg, is what the ref sees the first thing. That's where it looks bad.

"There was no recklessness in this tackle from Brennan. He goes down into a sliding tackle.

"You can say, 'Why give the opportunity?' But when he goes down, there's literally no leg in front of him.

"So when he slides, then the player steps down, and then it looks bad after that. I think it was a little bit unfortunate, and I think it was harsh."

Johnson will be able to play in the Champions League again when Slavia Prague visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December. Spurs then host Borussia in January before travelling to Eintracht Frankfurt for their final match of the league phase.

Yellow cards also carry forward to the knockout phase. Cautions only expire after the quarter-finals, in time for the semi-finals.

Midway through the league phase, Tottenham are 10th in the table, one of only five teams remaining unbeaten. However, they have yet to win away from home.

Their current position leaves them in line for a place in the play-offs as a seeded team. Teams who finish ninth to 16th are seeded, while the 17th to 24th seeds are unseeded.

The striker reportedly has a release clause in his contract and has been linked with a transfer to Barcelona as well as a return to the Premier League.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has brushed off reports of a transfer to Barcelona, saying he’s had ‘no contact’ over a possible move.

The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a transfer to the Nou Camp as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Kane reportedly has a release clause in his Bayern Munich contract of around €65 million (£57m). However, the clause needs to be activated by the player himself and expires at the end of January.

There has also been talk around a return to the Premier League, linking him with a return to Tottenham. He left the club for Bayern in the summer of 2023.

Speaking to Bild, Kane addressed the transfer speculation. He clarified: "I haven't had any contact with anyone, nobody has contacted me.

"I feel very comfortable in the current situation, even though we haven't yet discussed my situation with Bayern."

He added: "There's no rush. I'm really happy in Munich. You can see that in the way I'm playing. If there's contact, then we'll see. But I'm not thinking about the new season yet.

"First up is the World Cup in the summer. And it's very unlikely that anything will change after this season."

When asked if Bayern fans should worry, he responded with: "I don't think so."

Since arriving in Germany, the England captain has scored an impressive 109 goals in 114 appearances for the club. He will be back in London this week as Bayern travel to take on Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Kane has a good record against the Gunners, having scored 15 goals and providing two assists in his 21 competitive clashes with Spurs' north London rivals. That includes a goal he scored in the 2023/24 Champions League quarter-finals as Bayern progressed with a 3-2 win on aggregate.

A return to the Premier League would give Kane the chance to break Alan Shearer's goalscoring record in the league. He is just 48 goals shy of the 260 scored by Shearer, a record that has stood for almost 20 years.

Tottenham could have earned a huge windfall after including a sell-on clause as part of their deal to offload Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Tottenham Hotspur could have been set for a significant transfer boost in the January window, but Marseille's audacious demands may have scuppered their chances.

According to Italian publication Sportmediaset, Juventus are exploring the possibility of signing Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in January to strengthen their midfield options. Yet Marseille are understood to have placed a £52million valuation on the player.

The Serie A giants are reportedly furious at these demands, describing the asking price as "prohibitive." For the time being, Juventus appear to have abandoned their pursuit, meaning Tottenham will miss out on any potential financial benefit from the transaction.

Spurs have an eye on the winter market as an opportunity to strengthen their squad with new additions and any financial windfall would have been a major boost.

The Lilywhites have experienced a varied start under the guidance of Thomas Frank, who was appointed to bring some stability after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season under Ange Postecoglou. There's been considerable change at the north London club beyond the managerial position.

Daniel Levy's departure has triggered a reshuffle within the club's hierarchy, as the Lewis Family aim to elevate the club's status.

As the boardroom changes settle, the team currently sits ninth in the Premier League, still harbouring ambitions of a top-eight finish in the Champions League. The January transfer window could be pivotal to achieving this, especially with injuries affecting the Spurs squad and questions lingering over the quality available to Frank.

It's yet to be determined how much Frank might be given in terms of transfer funds, with potential departures likely before any arrivals. With this in mind, Tottenham were poised for a possible windfall that could have provided them with some much-needed revenue, thanks to a strategic move.

This came through a sell-on clause Tottenham had negotiated when Højbjerg departed for Marseille during the summer window. Spurs received approximately £17million for the Danish international once his loan spell became a permanent arrangement.

Frank's time at Tottenham may ultimately be judged by the quality of players available to him. The manager's long-term prospects depend on developing a squad that evolves alongside him, mirroring what north London rivals Arsenal have achieved under Mikel Arteta.

The comprehensive defeat in the derby highlighted the considerable work required, both tactically and in terms of recruitment, as expectations mount for Spurs to compete at elite level. Ahead of that fixture, Frank addressed questions about whether his squad could undergo a transformation comparable to Arsenal's.

He said: "I think it's natural. If I'm here in six years' time, it will be a completely different squad. It's just natural. Some will be sold, some will develop, some will maybe not develop as much as you want to. So, I think that's a natural thing.

"It's not like I'm going to say and take my decision on him and him needing to leave now, but of course, during the Spring we'll look into that, which is natural in terms of developing a squad."

Thomas Frank and Wilson Odobert are speaking to journalists on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's Champions League match at PSG.

The duo will have plenty to discuss following Spurs' woeful North London Derby performance at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening as Eberechi Eze plundered a hat-trick against the team who thought they had signed him in the summer. With Leandro Trossard scoring in the first half for the hosts before a long distance Richarlison goal in the second period, Tottenham fell to a 4-1 defeat amid plenty of criticism for Frank's tactics.

The Spurs boss will discuss the fallout from that match and his conversations with his players as well as turning them around to face the European champions in their Paris home on Wednesday night. Frank will also deliver an update on injury news and any fresh problems in the squad.

For Odobert, the 20-year-old will be returning to the club where he spent five years in the academy and the winger will also discuss that dismal derby defeat.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is out in Paris among those putting the questions to the pair. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at the Parc des Princes.