Football FanCast

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is personally in awe of a marquee player who he believes is the ideal player for his Spurs system, and the Lilywhites are also reportedly prepared to table a bid for him in January.

Tottenham's reported January transfer plans

We're now 11 games into Frank's tenure as Spurs boss, and the Dane appears to already be transforming the North Londoners into a far more resolute side.

Despite some recent concerns from a section of the fanbase after their 'narrow escape' draws against Brighton, Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham displayed real grit at Leeds United last weekend to end their run of seven straight defeats in games just prior to an international break.

Goals from Mohammed Kudus, who was the player of the match, and fellow summer signing Mathys Tel sealed a 2-1 in Yorkshire to also end Leeds' year-long unbeaten run in the league at Elland Road.

The win means Spurs sit third in the Premier League table with the joint second-best defensive record in the division, with only table-topping Arsenal conceding fewer goals - a stark contrast to Ange Postecoglou's final season in charge when they were far more fragile at the back.

So far, ex-chairman Daniel Levy and the board's decision to appoint Frank is paying off, despite Simon Jordan urging Levy to consider Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner before Spurs hired their current boss.

The reshuffled Tottenham board following Levy's departure, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham taking a more prominent role in the day-to-day running of the club, are also poised to try and back Frank in the January transfer market.

Spurs are reportedly keen to sign another winger and centre-back when the winter window opens, after they tried and failed to sign Man City forward Savinho in the summer, with the Brazil international since extending his Eastlands contract and ending all hope of a potential deal.

One of their rumoured targets for 2026 is Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who also signed fresh terms earlier this year, and this has elevated his market value to north of £75 million.

Tottenham preparing January bid for Antoine Semenyo amid Thomas Frank belief

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that Tottenham are positioning themselves to make a major January move for Semenyo and could be "next to bid".

The winger's explosive form so far this season has made him one of the Premier League’s most sought-after wingers.

Semenyo has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first seven league games, including a brace against Liverpool at Anfield, helping Bournemouth to a surprise top-four position and attracting attention from England’s top clubs, including Arne Slot's side, Manchester City and Spurs.

Frank is said to view Semenyo as the "perfect fit" for his squad, particularly given the inconsistent displays from Brennan Johnson and the club’s need for more dynamism out wide.

Semenyo’s ability to play on either flank — combined with his raw pace, directness, and clinical finishing — makes him a tailor-made fit for Frank’s tactical system.

Tottenham’s pursuit of the Ghanaian international is expected to intensify in mid-season as a result, with an offer exceeding £60 million likely to test Bournemouth’s resolve, despite their price tag of £75m.

The Cherries, after extending his deal until 2030, are in a very strong position — and it is even believed that Semenyo rejected an approach from Arsenal in the summer.

However, the 25-year-old's camp are apparently open to exploring other moves in January if a top side can meet Bournemouth's lofty demands.

Tottenham Hotspur’s deal to land Tanguy Ndombele back in the summer of 2019 was one that generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, with the hope that the midfielder could take the club to the next level.

The hierarchy forked out a then club-record fee of around £62m for his signature, but it rapidly transpired that such a deal would be a huge waste of money.

He only featured 91 times for the Lilywhites over a five-year period, before being released in the summer of 2024 - leaving on a free transfer to join Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.

Whilst Ndombele was capable of producing a moment of magic, they were too far and between, leading to his attitude and fitness being brought into question.

However, one other big-money addition has also struggled to make himself a fan-favourite, which has once again highlighted the club’s struggles within the transfer market.

Richarlison’s struggles at Spurs in 2025/26

After costing £50m back in the summer of 2022, Brazilian forward Richarlison also had high hopes to succeed at Spurs, but he’d largely been a backup option in years gone by.

However, the arrival of Thomas Frank has given him a new lease of life in North London, with the Dane handing him a start in five of the seven league outings during the 2025/26 campaign.

The 28-year-old scored twice in the opening day victory over Burnley, but has since scored just once, often struggling to have a positive impact on any of the encounters.

His latest start came against Bodo Glimt, but he was unable to make the desired effect, only registering ten touches of the ball during his 90-minute performance.

He was subsequently dropped to the bench for the recent victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, further highlighting his inability to impress as of late under Frank.

Throughout his 101 appearances for the Lilywhites, the Brazilian has only managed to find the net on 23 occasions - a tally which has fallen way below the standards set by the fanbase.

However, despite his lack of success, another player currently on the books looks like a bigger waste of money, with such a deal being one of the worst in their recent history.

The Spurs player who’s the biggest waste since Ndombele

Spurs supporters have previously voiced their concerns over the lack of spending from former chairman Daniel Levy, with the 63-year-old often coming under fire for his lack of ambition.

Whilst the Lilywhites were the most profitable club in England’s top-flight during his tenure, such a feat largely came down to his lack of spending during his two-decade spell in North London.

He oversaw numerous high-profile departures from the club during his spell, with Harry Kane’s £82m transfer to Bayern Munich leaving a huge hole in the final third of the first-team squad.

The Lilywhites paid a club-record £65m to prise him away from the Cherries in the summer of 2024, with real hope and expectations placed upon his shoulders amid the transfer fee.

Last season was his first in North London, but he struggled to hit the ground running, scoring just nine Premier League goals in his 27 appearances - subsequently finding the net every three matches.

As a result of his disappointing opening year in the capital, he was labelled “woeful” by one analyst, but he was given the benefit of the doubt to try and improve his performances in 2025/26.

However, the 28-year-old has once again suffered another injury setback, with his ankle issue preventing him from making a case for a starting role under Frank.

Solanke has only featured for a total of just 31 league minutes in 2025/26, with his fitness issues also a concern in recent times - which has certainly contributed to his lack of impact.

He also earns a small fortune in North London, with the board currently paying him a staggering £140k-per-week and taking home just shy of £7.3m in wages alone last campaign.

When coupling his transfer fee and wages together, he’s currently costing in the region of £8m per Premier League goal he’s netted - an absurd amount of money despite the huge fees constantly being spent within the modern game.

There’s no denying he still has the chance to turn things around in North London, but his injury record and lack of impact is there for all to see at present - with no end yet in sight for the England international.

If he is unable to transform things in the months ahead, he could certainly be one of the worst signings in the club’s history, potentially competing with Ndombele for that title in the process.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been told he needs to figure one thing out about summer signing Xavi Simons, as Spurs' boss is informed of the "reality" surrounding his new statement arrival.

Tottenham experiment with Xavi Simons after potential £125m deal

As explained by Paul O'Keefe, the eventual cost of Simons' £52 million transfer from RB Leipzig to North London could reach £125 million when factoring in wages and transfer fee over his potential seven-year contract.

The 22-year-old is already off and running with his first assist for the Lilywhites, which came 47 minutes into his Premier League debut against West Ham, when Simons swung in an excellent corner for Pape Sarr to head past Mads Hermansen.

However, since that delivery, Simons has failed to register another goal contribution despite coming close on a few occasions.

Frank has experimented with the former PSG sensation in a few different positions, including as a traditional centre-midfielder against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup, with Simons making the rest of his appearances either out on the left or as a CAM in James Maddison's role.

It is still far too early to properly judge the attacker, who was also a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, but Spurs will be hopeful he's set to find his feet very shortly.

Simons is currently Tottenham's joint-highest paid player alongside star defender Cristian Romero, and Frank was personally involved in talks to convince the Netherlands international to join Spurs over Chelsea, according to super agent Ali Barat.

Despite what could be seen as a slow start to life at N17, those who've watched Simons in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie are adamant that he will be a "sensation" for Tottenham.

Tottenham told Xavi Simons "reality" as Frank already gets one thing wrong

That being said, journalist Süleyman Öztürk is convinced that Frank needs to realise Simons is not actually a playmaker in the mould of Maddison.

"We’re talking about the top of the Premier League. And then excelling in your first match is something only a few can do. You’re talking about the Woltemades of this world. But Xavi Simons is incredibly young. He has a new manager, new teammates," Ozturk said to Voetbal International this week.

“And you also have to consider, what is Xavi Simons’ strength? And at Leipzig, at some point, the team was adjusted for him. But this is a completely different reality. And they expect him to have a bit of a Madison-like role. But he’s not Madison. Madison is a playmaker. Xavi Simons isn’t a playmaker or any other type of playmaker.

“And I think the coach still has to figure that out. You have, of course, the Ghanaian player who came from home and really plays like a shot. Koudous, yes. I think we need to give Xavi Simons time to make that adjustment to the Premier League, where you really have much less time to think. And that takes some getting used to.”

Simons bagged 11 goals and eight assists in 33 total appearances for Leipzig last season, despite suffering an ankle injury early on in the campaign, and he did it in a mixture of positions.

The forward played seven of his final 2025 Bundesliga games out on the left, and one as a second striker. However, the majority of his German top flight appearances from January onwards actually did come as a CAM.

In that role, he scored and assisted in a match-winning performance against Borussia Dortmund, and bagged a brace against Werder Bremen in a central attacking midfield position before that.

On the left-hand side, among many of his contributions were racking up two assists in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Bayern Munich towards the end of 2025/2026 — so it is clear by the numbers that he can in fact deliver in both areas.

Harry Kane. The greatest goalscorer in Tottenham Hotspur history. Perhaps their greatest ever player too.

The prolific striker left Spurs behind in 2023, finally departing after scoring a swashbuckling 280 goals in 435 games for the Lilywhites.

For too long, Kane had failed to win a trophy, to pick up an award that his performances for well over a decade deserved.

That curse continued during his first campaign in Germany. Now of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen topped the German heavyweights' monopoly on the title.

Kane's first piece of silverware finally came last term, his side victorious in the league. England's greatest centre-forward has his major trophy, he can rest easy.

However, might there be thoughts of returning to Spurs?

Spurs targeting £86m Harry Kane alternative

Reports emerged late last month that Spurs were ready to launch a move to re-sign their former talisman if given encouragement on the player side.

Kane's contract in Munich ends in 2027 and there is a release clause of £56.7m in his terms that could reportedly be activated at the end of the current season.

Sadly for those of a Tottenham persuasion, a move looks to be unlikely. Speaking to the press this week, Kane revealed that he could definitely see himself remaining in Germany.

"In terms of staying longer I could definitely see that. I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation. Obviously it depends on how the next year or so goes, what we achieve together. We are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else."

With that move off the table, if Spurs have desires of improving their forward line, something they need to do given the injury-prone Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, an alternative will be required.

Reports from Spain this week suggest that Porto striker Samu Aghehowa could be that man.

Indeed, it is claimed that Spurs are one of the major contenders to sign the Spanish striker in 2026, but they do face a few obstacles.

The first is Samu's £86m release clause. The second is competition from further Premier League clubs, primarily Aston Villa and Newcastle.

His former club, Atletico Madrid, are also keeping a close eye on his development, perhaps regretting the decision they made to sell him to Porto.

Why Samu is such an exciting striker

Kane is the best goalscorer Spurs have ever seen, but he's remarkably taking his game to new heights since moving to Germany.

Last term, the England international bagged 41 goals in 51 games. This season, he's in the form of his life, netting 18 times in ten outings. It's Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo levels in their pomp.

Such form has seen calls for Kane to win the Ballon d'Or, but as the player himself has admitted, he may well need to win the Champions League or World Cup to be in the conversation. Wouldn't that be something, eh?

Despite that, Kane is now 32 and while he only looks like he's getting better in front of goal, there is no resale value here for Spurs and you do have to doubt just how long he will be able to do it at this rate of knots.

Spurs fans will no doubt lust after his return to north London but it's not exactly a signing for the future. Samu, however, certainly would be.

He's no mug in front of goal either. Just 21 years of age, the Spain international scored on 27 occasions in 45 fixtures throughout 2024/25.

The young attacker has been similarly rampant this season, scoring five goals in eight fixtures. As European football expert, Zach Lowy, has alluded to, Samu "has everything it takes to be one of the best strikers in Europe."

Lowy mentions that while Porto's star man is certainly still "rough around the edges" at his age, he holds the ball up brilliantly and chases the ball down "like a madman".

Combine that with his ability to score goals on a regular basis and you have a complete package ready to take one of Europe's top five leagues by storm.

There is a reason Chelsea nearly signed him too. They've been busy hoovering up some of the best young talent in the world in recent years and had agreed a deal worth £35m before the move collapsed. That could be to Spurs' gain if they do seal Samu's signature next year.

Some might be concerned about the fact that the striker is unproven in a major league. Viktor Gyokeres has had an indifferent start at Arsenal since swapping the Portuguese top-flight for the Premier League.

He was more prolific than Samu, too, notching 54 goals last season, but it's key to remember that the Spurs target is younger. His future in the game looks immense and while it's a stretch to suggest he'd replicate Kane, he can certainly help them forget about making a move for a player who will be in his mid-30s by the time his contract in Germany expires.

Samu, on the other hand, will still only be 23. He has the world at his feet and he's ready to dominate European football for years to come.

Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase this summer, with the Dane having the chance to build on the Europa League triumph.

He spent seven years in charge of Brentford before his arrival, often relying upon talents such as Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within the final third across the capital.

The Cameroonian international thrived under Frank’s guidance in the Premier League, netting 20 times in the top-flight last season, subsequently making him one of the division’s hottest properties.

After the 51-year-old took charge of the Lilywhites, a real sense of excitement built at the prospect of the Dane bringing the 26-year-old with him in an attempt to sustain the recent European triumph.

However, despite interest in his signature, Mbeumo would move to Manchester United in a £71m transfer - a huge amount of money and potentially a slight overpay.

As a result, the new boss has had to rely on another summer addition and one player already on the books to try and provide the impact he desires within attacking areas.

Kudus & Johnson’s start to the 2025/26 season at Spurs

After missing out on Mbeumo’s signature, Spurs forked out £55m for the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to try and hand the manager his next version of the Cameroonian.

Such a deal may have been an expensive one, but it’s a transfer that has been worth every penny to date, with the Ghanaian already registering one goal and four assists in his first ten outings.

His first goal for the Lilywhites came in the recent triumph over Leeds United, subsequently highlighting his ability to pop up with crucial goals when the side need him most.

Kudus isn’t alone in falling into that category, with teammate Brennan Johnson also able to score key goals for the Lilywhites, as seen by his winner in the Europa League final last campaign.

Whilst he’s already scored three times across all competitions, the Welsh international has failed to start a single league game since the end of August and has rapidly fallen down the pecking order.

The 24-year-old will likely be disappointed with his lack of action, which has potentially been impacted by the arrival of Kudus during the recent transfer window.

Whilst both are hugely talented players, it remains to be seen if any can reach the levels produced by Mbeumo in recent times, but one other star already in the ranks could achieve such a feat, given the similarities in their careers.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s next Mbeumo

Over the last couple of seasons, Spurs have splashed the cash to try and compete with teams around them, as seen by the respective deals to land Kudus and Johnson.

Around £400m has been spent in recent years to catapult the club to the needed success, with such spending undoubtedly helping them claim European glory back in May.

Various recruitment strategies have been in place over recent times, often signing a mixture of youth talent for the future, or players entering their prime and able to make an immediate impact.

However, players sometimes cross over both categories, as seen by the arrival of attacker Wilson Odobert from Burnley back in the summer of 2024.

A deal for the Frenchman certainly came out of nowhere, with the Lilywhites hierarchy paying £25m for his signature after the Clarets suffered relegation back to the Championship.

Whilst the 20-year-old has only made 30 appearances throughout the injury, he’s still managed to impress in North London and show glimpses of his potential and talents.

Odobert, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already scored three times for the club, two of which came during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25 - already highlighting his ability to produce the goods in key moments.

Whilst his goalscoring tally isn’t as impressive as Mbeumo’s, the similarities are there for everyone to see, with the Frenchman moving to England from Troyes.

The now Man Utd talent did the exact same upon his transfer to Brentford back in the summer of 2019 - subsequently needing time to make a huge impact in England.

He struggled to register double figures in goals for each of his first three top-flight campaigns, but the Bees’ patience was certainly rewarded, as seen by his tallies and fee generated in recent times.

Odobert could do the exact same for the Lilywhites in the years ahead, with the club and fanbase needing to support the winger in his attempts for success in North London.

At just 20, he has bags of time to live up to the potential he arrived with, but it’s crucial that Frank works his magic once again to create another world-class attacker.

Should he get anywhere close to Mbeumo’s level, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could help the Lilywhites sustain their recent success in Europe or even domestically.

Tottenham return to action against Aston Villa on October 19 once this round of international fixtures ends, with Thomas Frank looking to build upon an unbeaten run which has stretched their last seven games in all competitions.

Spurs were forced to dig deep in their last outing at Elland Road, securing a 2-1 win over newly-promoted Leeds United and ending the Yorkshire side's year-long unbeaten run at home in the league.

Player of the match, Mohammed Kudus, was once again a nightmare to deal with in the wide area and looks like the Lilywhites' best summer signing thus far alongside Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha.

Mathys Tel also staked his claim for a starting nod over fellow striker Richarlison, and he rewarded Frank's faith with their opening goal as Dominic Solanke continues to work his way back from minor ankle surgery.

Despite concerns surrounding some of Tottenham's performances against lesser sides, with the North Londoners stealing draws in dramatic fashion against the likes of Brighton, Wolves and Bodo/Glimt, it has been a very solid start to life for Frank overall.

It is a far cry from the defensive frailties which haunted Ange Postecoglou's version of Tottenham last season, with Frank's new-look side displaying a real grit and resilience to see out needed results.

"Yes, of course I am," Frank said, when asked if he is happy about Spurs' start to 2025/2026.

"I think 14 points in seven is two on average. That's very good. That overall start I'm happy with. I'm extremely happy that we now on the road have won three and a draw, which is part of that — if you want to achieve anything, you need to do that. So, overall start, a good start, but we need to continue, of course."

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been vital to Tottenham's solidarity, with pundit Jamie O'Hara even suggesting that they're the best centre-back partnership in the world right now.

"When you actually look at Spurs' side right now, it's a strong team, mate," O'Hara said on talkSPORT.

"Van de ven is top drawer, he is top drawer, he walks into Real Madrid's team, Romero, walks into Real Madrid's team, both of them play for Real Madrid.

"Name better centre-halves than them as a partnership."

Spurs' full-back options have also impressed for the most part, and ex-defender Sergio Reguilon would've certainly struggled to battle his way back into the team.

The Spaniard is now a free agent after being forced to leave the club when his contract expired in July, but according to reports, he's now closing in on a free transfer to the MLS.

Sergio Reguilon in advanced talks to join Inter Miami after Tottenham exit

According to ESPN and other reliable media sources, Reguilon is in advanced talks to join Inter Miami as he finalises a switch to David Beckham's MLS franchise.

The 28-year-old did attract rumoured interest from West Ham and Everton, but it is Javier Mascherano's side that have won the race to snap up the ex-Real Madrid starlet at zero cost.

Reguilon's five-year stint at Tottenham was a mixed bag, with the former Sevilla man spending time out on loan at Brentford and Man United during his time there.

Postecoglou could barely find a place for Reguilon, despite the odd appearance during Tottenham's injury crisis last season, and he was still allowed to leave on a free soon after Frank's appointment in June.

Interestingly, Tottenham's new boss briefly worked with him at the Gtech Community Stadium and actually praised Reguilon after he put pen to paper on a move there — calling him a "proven" Premier League player and a "perfect fit" for his former side.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are enamored with another young "potential superstar" at the club who could be set to rival teenage duo Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray making real progress at Tottenham

When called upon, Thomas Frank could hardly ask for more from both men.

The youngsters have played key roles at times under Frank, and not just the Dane, with Gray forced to play out of position with extreme professionalism and stuck to his duties as best he could during Spurs' injury crisis last season.

Gray's versatility was invaluable for Ange Postecoglou, who struggled for options throughout 2024/2025, and he can certainly feel hard done by when it comes to match action this term.

The former Leeds United starlet has played just one Premier League minute since starting against Burnley on the opening day, but he showed flashes of true quality when coming off the bench away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League recently.

Frank, despite barely picking him so far, has tipped the Englishman for a "big future".

Gray is looking to battle his way into a stacked Tottenham midfield where Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha have formed an indomitable partnership in his position, with the 19-year-old also having to contend against Bergvall.

Every time the latter plays, Bergvall makes his £8.5 million transfer fee from Djurgardens look like daylight robbery.

In the space of a few days against West Ham and Villarreal earlier this season, the Swede picked up two Player of the Match awards, scoring his first ever Premier League goal against Spurs' London rivals and impressing when given the nod ever since.

“I think he had a good season last season. It laid the foundation for this season. He is going from strength to strength, and he has that extra confidence," Frank said about Bergvall earlier this campaign.

“He has so much energy where we have to tell him not to run (in certain moments). More of the deep runs and arriving in higher positions are key. He is learning to be more and more clever in the pressure. We need his enthusiasm."

The Lilywhites also signed 22-year-old Dutch sensation Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in the summer, in a deal which could be worth £125 million when factoring in wages over a possible seven-year contract (Paul O'Keefe).

The attacking midfielder notched his first Premier League assist for the club against West Ham, swinging in a corner for Pape Sarr to head home, but hasn't managed to register a goal contribution since then.

Tottenham convinced Xavi Simons is a "potential superstar"

Some minor concerns have surrounded the Netherlands international's form as a result, but according to journalist Graeme Bailey, there are zero worries inside Tottenham.

It is quite the opposite, as Spurs insiders are "so impressed" by Simons and believe the North Londoners have a "potential superstar" on their hands.

“The belief in the club is that they have a potential superstar; they have been so impressed with him," Bailey told TBR Football.

“Thomas Frank is taking his time finding the best role, but that is true of much of the squad. But he loves what he is seeing. The player is happy, committed and feels he made the right choice in the summer."

Interestingly, Ruud van Nistelrooy has already said that Simons has an "unprecedented" mentality, and this appears to be coming to fruition at Hotspur Way as the versatile forward turns heads behind-the-scenes.

Simons could've joined Chelsea, but according to super agent Ali Barat, Frank was key in convincing the former PSG sensation to choose the other side of London instead.

The glory hasn't always followed, but Tottenham Hotspur have had some truly world-class stars play for them over the last ten to 15 years.

The one who was able to cement his legacy with a trophy was Son Heung-min, but the likes of Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé and Luka Modrić were just as brilliant for the North Londoners.

However, when it comes to a combination of otherworldly talent and entertainment value, it's hard to look past Gareth Bale.

The Welshman transformed into one of the best players in the world at Spurs, and it now looks like the club might have a new version of him.

Bale's rise at Spurs

Ask any Spurs fan what season Bale hit his peak at the club, and the vast majority will say his final season, 12/13.

That campaign saw the Welshman reach levels nobody really knew he could, as he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3,891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal or assist every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.

Such a ludicrous rate of return for a team that only finished fifth was enough for Real Madrid to come sniffing, and one world record bid of £85m later, the Spanish giants got exactly what they wanted.

However, while the memory of the international legend at Spurs is a great one, things were not always so straightforward for him, nor was he always such a goal machine.

In fact, when the club signed him from Southampton in May 2007, he wasn't even an attacker; he was a highly rated full-back.

That's the position he continued to play, through injuries and poor form, for a couple of years in North London, until, partway through the 09/10 season, Harry Redknapp decided to move him up the pitch and play him on the wing.

The rest, as they say, is history, and while Spurs might not have another winger as devastatingly effective as Bale, they might have another international in the making who could be as good in their own position.

Spurs' new Bale

Spurs have several exciting young talents com

ing through the academy at the moment, from Luca Williams-Barnett to Oliver Irow, but there is one out on loan who could just be the best of the lot.

That youngster is, of course, Luka Vušković, who is currently on a season-long loan with Bundesliga side Hamburg, and by all accounts, is having an exceptional season so far.

In fact, the Croatian wonderkid has just been named the league's rookie of the month, and has clearly won over the fans, with content creator Fiago claiming that he's "the best 18-year-old center back I've ever seen in my life."

That's not all, though, as not long after the Lilywhites originally signed the youngster, respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a "freak athlete" and a "freak talent" with a "scary ceiling," which sounds quite Bale-esque.

Combine these raving reviews with the fact that he's currently playing in defence, still incredibly young, and has proven himself to be something of an attacking force over the last year or so, and the comparison is easy to make.

For example, in 36 appearances for KVC Westerloo last season, the Split-born titan scored seven goals and provided three assists, and in just four appearances this year, he has already opened his account.

Finally, he has already won a senior cap for Croatia, so it looks like he's set to dominate on the domestic and international scene for a long time to come.

Ultimately, Vušković is unlikely to become a winger like Bale, but there is arguably even more hype around him today than around the Welshman when he joined Spurs, and he looks set for superstardom.

Tottenham Hotspur have pulled off some eye-catching signings in their history, with Daniel Levy spending big in recent times.

However, Spurs have also missed out on bringing some world-class players to north London, with Eberechi Eze the latest Tottenham transfer to fall through. With a deal close to being finalised, fierce rivals Arsenal swept in and poached the attacking midfielder frim under Spurs' nose.

Unfortunately, it hasn't been just Eze. Tottenham have been pipped to the post or rejected by a plethora of legends, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappe.

Former Tottenham scout and player Ronny Rosenthal was urging the Spurs to sign Cristiano Ronaldo when he was coming through at Sporting CP.

However, Spurs didn’t listen, with Manchester United landing the Portuguese superstar for just over £12m in 2003.

“There are hundreds of players that if the clubs had listened… one of the ones I’ll never forget is Cristiano Ronaldo, who I saw because I was going a lot to Portugal at that time.”

Back in 2015, a teenage forward by the name of Kylian Mbappe impressed Spurs chiefs for Monaco during a Europa League clash against Tottenham.

Those in north London kept tabs on the Frenchman and were looking to bring him to the club, however, they quickly realised he was out of reach, with Mbappe instead choosing PSG.

Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham had two spells with Spurs and once revealed that the club were in talks to sign Diego Maradona.

Ossie Ardiles managed Spurs in 1993-1994 and once told Sheringham he was looking to partner him in attack with Maradona.

"He was like 'Diego Maradona', and I went 'Ossie, Ossie, really!? Are you?' I went 'Do, just do it’. He said 'I'm in talks with him at the moment', and I was like 'My God, do it, it would be brilliant to play with him.'"

Levy missed out on signing Brazilian icon Rivaldo in 2002 when he was on the search for a new club after leaving Barcelona.

Manuel Auset, Rivaldo’s friend and lawyer, said that Spurs offered the then-30-year-old a move to the Premier League, but he instead chose AC Milan.

“Tottenham offered him the chance to play in the Premier League and there was a meeting with me, an agent and Mr Levy. Then we went to Milan, spoke about it there, and reached an agreement.”

Now remembered as a Chelsea legend, Eden Hazard could quite easily have been a Tottenham player when leaving Lille in 2012.

Former Spurs coach Clive Allen admitted that the Belgian star was “keen to come to Tottenham” but instead chose to head to Stamford Bridge.

"The chief scout and I met with Hazard and he was keen to come to Tottenham at the time but, in the end, he decided to join Chelsea.”

Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham made a concrete effort to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP in 2019.

Fernandes, who eventually moved to England with Man Utd, once revealed he was “really angry” his move to Spurs fell through after being convinced to join by Pochettino.

"Obviously I wanted to go to the Premier League. The manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was the one who wanted me there. It was a good offer but Sporting tried their best to keep me.

"The president spoke with me but he spoke with me on the wrong day. It was the day after they decided to refuse the offer from Tottenham and I was really angry."

Tottenham and Pochettino made Sadio Mane their top target in 2016, however, Spurs were outbid by Liverpool.

The Reds paid £34m for Mane who’d go on to become an Anfield legend, with Tottenham instead using the money that would have gone on the forward for midfielder Moussa Sissoko.

Tottenham had Virgil van Dijk on their shortlist of central defender targets back in 2015 when the Dutchman was still on the books of Celtic.

Instead of signing Van Dijk, though, Spurs brought in Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid, with Van Dijk signing for Southampton the same year.

At one point, Tottenham thought they were on course to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for just £25m.

Grealish wasn’t happy about the failed transfer to Spurs in 2018, however, three years later, he’d cost Manchester City a then-British record £100m.

Tottenham were in pole position and pushing to sign Luis Diaz from FC Porto in the 2022 January transfer window before Liverpool hijacked a transfer.

The Reds paid a guaranteed fee of £37.5m for the Colombia international, who would go on to win the Premier League at Anfield before being sold for a profit to Bayern Munich.

Tottenham Hotspur have always been a club that gives young players a chance.

Today, Thoms Frank has the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall making regular appearances, and so long as things turn around at Rangers, Mikey Moore is likely to feature more prominently next season.

Go back just over a decade, and it was a certain Harry Kane who was given the chance to lead the line under Mauricio Pochettino. Then, just a few years after that, Dele Alli was signed from MK Dons.

At his best, the former England international was a force of nature for Spurs, and while it's early, it looks like the North Londoners might just have another version of him on the books today.

What made Dele Alli so special

While he has unfortunately faded out of football almost entirely today, it is impossible to overstate just how special a player Dele was at his peak.

For example, in just his first season with the club, the Englishman was able to rack up a brilliant tally of ten goals and ten assists in 46 appearances.

Such a return would be impressive for a seasoned professional, but considering he was just 20 years old and had spent the prior campaign in League One, it was incredible.

Unsurprisingly, he was named the PFA Young Player of the Year, an award he'd win for a second time the following year after producing an out-of-this-world tally of 34 goal involvements in 50 appearances.

While it sounds overly simplistic, it was this sensational ability to produce goals and assists at an unimaginable rate for someone so young that made the Milton Keynes-born gem so special.

He wasn't necessarily the best passer in the game, and sometimes could be found lacking when it came to the defensive side of things, but he was a force of nature when it came to popping up at the right time to either score or provide the final pass to someone else who'd put the ball in the back of the net.

So, unfortunately, when the goal involvements began to dry up, everything started to go wrong for the potentially world-class talent, and while he may well get back to his best, he is currently without a club.

In more positive news for Tottenham, it looks like they have an academy gem who could potentially become their new Dele in the coming years.

Meet Spurs' new Dele

There are more than a handful of truly exciting prospects in Spurs' academy setup at the moment, but the one who stands the best chance of emulating Dele at his best is Luca Williams-Barnett.

Despite still being just 17 years old, the youngster has been a real talking point for those in the know for some time now, and when you take a look at his numbers in youth football, it's easy to understand why.

For example, in just 23 appearances last season, totalling 1857 minutes, the Luton-born wonderkid scored 20 goals and provided 12 assists, which comes out to 1.39 goal involvements every game, or one every 58.03 minutes.

Then this season, even though he's now primarily playing with the U21s, he has still scored eight goals and provided five assists in nine youth team appearances, totalling 716 minutes, which comes out to an average of 1.44 goal involvements per game, or one every 55.07 minutes.

In other words, the Lilywhites' young phenom is already a goalscoring machine, but one who is also a reliable provider of assists, which certainly helps to justify analyst Ben Mattinson's claim that he's "one of England's best talents."

Moreover, the fact that he has already made his first-team debut, combined with his ability to pop up left, right, and centre with goal involvements from a young age, is undoubtedly reminiscent of Dele at his very best.

Ultimately, it's still incredibly early in Williams-Barnett's career, but it's impossible to ignore just how immense a talent he already is, and his similarities to the Spurs' former game-changer.