Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have been hunting for a new talisman over the last couple of seasons, but none have been able to emulate the incredible levels achieved by Harry Kane.

The 32-year-old rose through the ranks in North London, even being sent on numerous loan spells in the EFL, before making himself a fan-favourite in the Lilywhites' first-team.

He would spend a decade scoring goals for fun in the Premier League, subsequently achieving a total of 280 goals for the club - the most of any player in their history.

Such a feat highlights his incredible goalscoring prowess, but his ability to score 30+ goals in 50% of his ten years in North London further showcases his eye for the back of the net.

Whilst no player has been able to replicate such levels in recent months, Thomas Frank could be about to be rewarded with a new talisman to help him in his quest for success.

Spurs prepare move for Premier League striker in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs’ hunt for a new striker has taken them across Europe, subsequently leading to links over a move for Porto star Samu Aghehowa.

The Spaniard has been a player in tremendous form during the 2025/26 campaign, as seen by his remarkable tally of 18 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions.

However, any deal could well prove to be one outside of the Lilywhites’ range, especially considering the Portuguese side currently value him at £80m.

As a result, their hunt for a new striker has brought them back to England, with Manchester City star Omar Marmoush one player the hierarchy are targeting at present.

According to TEAMtalk, Frank’s men are considering an approach for the Egyptian international who has only started two league games so far this campaign following a mega-money £63m move last January.

The report also states that a loan deal with an option to buy could be the perfect option for all parties, but that other sides are also keen on a move this January.

Why Marmoush would be Spurs’ best striker since Kane

Since Kane’s move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, Spurs have tried a whole host of options in the number nine position to try and fill the void at the top end of the pitch.

Richarlison is currently Frank’s number one option in such a position, as seen by his tally of 10 starts and seven goals in the Premier League so far this season.

As a result, Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel have both been impact players, often having to resort to minutes off the bench - leading to a combined tally of two goals in the league during 2025/26.

However, prior to the Dane’s arrival, Solanke was the main number nine for the Lilywhites, something which was to be expected given his club-record £65m transfer.

He ended last season on 16 goals across all competitions, but has been restricted to just 31 minutes of league action this time around due to an ongoing ankle issue.

There’s no doubt he’s been the closest replacement to Kane, but that could be about to change should Marmoush make a switch to North London during the upcoming window.

Whilst he’s often struggled to dislodge Erling Haaland from his number nine role at the Etihad, his form at Eintracht Frankfurt is evidence of the talent he possesses.

Prior to his move last January, the 26-year-old netted a staggering 15 goals in his first 17 league games, not to mention also registering nine assists in the process.

His underlying figures further highlight his quality, with many of which place him above the likes of Kane in the Bundesliga during the 2024/25 campaign.

Marmoush, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, registered 2.3 shots on target and 0.93 goals per 90 - with both the highest of any player in Germany’s top-flight.

He also created 2.2 chances per 90, whilst also achieving a dribble success rate of 60% - subsequently showcasing his ability to provide for those around him in the final third.

The Egyptian’s talents were further reflected in his tally of 7.8 touches in the opposition box per 90, which could hand Frank the poacher-type forward he’s craved in recent months.

Whilst it’s unclear if the player or his current club would sanction a move this winter, it’s evident that Marmoush would be a sensational addition for the Lilywhites.

If he can replicate his numbers from his time at Frankfurt, he would certainly be the starting centre forward in North London and allow the club to end their hunt for a new talisman.

Tottenham Hotspur are now exploring a stunning move for an "unbelievable" Premier League forward, as an alternative to AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo.

Spurs eyeing new forward as Semenyo alternative

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Spurs are very keen on signing Semenyo, who has already scored eight league goals this season, with the transfer expert saying: "Tottenham have genuine and strong interest and are being very aggressive. But the final decision will depend on the player."

However, it could be difficult to get a deal for the Ghanaian over the line, given that he is attracting interest from a number of top clubs, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal also being named as potential suitors.

Such is their level of interest, Tottenham have already held talks to sign the forward, but it remains to be seen whether they are able to lure him to north London, given that they are not enjoying the best of campaigns.

Following the 2-1 loss against Liverpool on Saturday, the north Londoners sit 13th in the Premier League table, which means the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may not be the most attractive of destinations.

As such, alternatives to the Bournemouth star are now being identified, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they are now exploring a stunning move for Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, who arrived at the Etihad Stadium for £59m back in January.

Marmoush's game time has been very limited this season, which means he could be open to a move away, although Pep Guardiola is hesitant to sanction a departure, as the manager is keen to have strength in depth, given the busy fixture list.

With Semenyo making a move to Spurs deemed 'increasingly unlikely', amid rival interest, Thomas Frank has started to scour the market for other forwards, and there are indications the City ace could be an excellent addition to the Dane's squad...

"Unbelievable" Marmoush could flourish at Tottenham

The 26-year-old has found it difficult to force his way into Guardiola's plans, so it may be wise to move on this January, and his goal and assist record for Eintracht Frankfurt suggests he could flourish at Tottenham.

The former Frankfurt man also put in some eye-catching performances during his first season with City, amassing seven goals and two assists in 16 Premier League outings.

One of those goals was particularly impressive, with the Egyptian scooping up the Goal of the Season award courtesy of a remarkable strike against AFC Bournemouth.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool on home soil last night will no doubt have cranked up the pressure onto the shoulders of manager Thomas Frank.

The Dane’s side were unable to get anything out of the clash with Arne Slot’s men, subsequently leaving the Lilywhites in 13th in the Premier League to date.

Frank’s side have now lost back-to-back games once again, subsequently shipping five goals in the process - and highlighting the struggles that face them in the defensive third.

After yet another defeat, the fans are now starting to get desperately impatient with the manager, especially after the struggles endured under Ange Postecoglou last campaign.

The club have now already racked up seven defeats out of their first 17 league outings, with no doubt two players taking the majority of the blame for Saturday’s defeat.

Spurs’ poor performers against Liverpool

Despite failing to impress against Nottingham Forest last weekend, Frank decided to stick with Xavi Simons from a starting position in the number ten role.

The Dutchman struggled to get into the game early on, only registering one dribble completed, but he certainly announced himself in the contest for all of the wrong reasons.

He was originally booked for a lunge on compatriot Virgil van Dijk, but after a VAR check, the midfielder was sent off for the first time since his £52m move in the summer.

Simons wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with centre-back Cristian Romero once again being unable to deliver at the heart of the backline alongside Micky van de Ven.

The Argentine was unable to stop Hugo Ekitike from leaping above him to put Slot’s side into a two-goal lead, whilst also failing to win a single tackle in the contest.

Like Simons, he was also handed his marching orders after being adjudged to have kicked out on Ibrahima Konate in the closing stages after already being booked.

The Spurs star who’s becoming more unreliable than Simons & Romero

After winning just one of their last eight Premier League matches to date, there are evidently some key issues that Frank needs to address within the Spurs squad.

The Lilywhites’ only win in such a run came against the manager’s former side Brentford, whilst subsequently suffering a defeat in five of those outings.

It’s evident that something has to give in the next few games, especially given the slump in the table, which has seen the Dane fall below his former employers, whom he left to join the Lilywhites.

One of his biggest issues has been his inability to identify his best starting eleven in the Premier League, which has no doubt cost him in key matches of late.

He’s often started with a two-man midfielder with Simons in the number ten, with Rodrigo Bentancur one of the men usually called upon to start in such a role.

The Uruguayan has now started 13 out of a possible 17 league games this campaign, including a run of four in a row - including the two most recent defeats.

However, despite the faith shown in him by the manager, he’s rapidly becoming an unreliable option, with his constant selection now even becoming a baffling one.

His stats against Liverpool showcase his lack of impact, with the 28-year-old also becoming a bigger issue than the aforementioned duo despite their dismissals.

He featured for the entirety of the clash against the Reds, subsequently losing six of the duels in which he entered - a tally higher than any other player on the pitch.

Bentancur also managed to achieve an 80% pass completion rate, but was often wasteful, as seen by his tally of 10 times possession lost - one of the highest of any Spurs player.

The midfielder was often unable to live with the intensity of the opposition - especially in the second half - resulting in two fouls committed and leading to yet another booking.

His disappointing showing was further showcased in his tally of being dribbled past once, whilst also being dominated in the air and losing 75% of those battles.

As a result of his showing, Bentancur was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Express’ Archie Griggs - further reaffirming his dismal performance in North London.

After such a showing, it should now be clear to Frank the Uruguayan is unfortunately not at the level required to achieve success during his tenure at the club.

However, the Dane will need to make huge calls in the future if he is to be a success with the Lilywhites, especially given the recent slump in Premier League form.

Liverpool might have landed their third win on the bounce in all competitions at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, but there's no question that Arne Slot's side left plenty of room for improvement, lacking control and fluency throughout.

Xavi Simons was sent off after scraping his Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk's leg in a studs-up challenge before the interval, and Cristian Romero saw red too in the closing stages, kicking out at Ibrahima Konate in a startling display of fury.

Both centre-backs came away unscathed, but the same can't be said for Alexander Isak, whose fleeting appearance down N17 resulted in a goal but an injury to his leg to go with it.

Isak misery continues down N17

Isak has not found his feet at Liverpool, having joined the Premier League champions from Newcastle United in a record-breaking £125m deal on deadline day.

The 26-year-old's goal at the weekend was only his second of the league campaign, but it was a flash of brilliance and a reminder that this is a player who had been hailed "the best striker in the Premier League" last season by pundit Jamie Carragher.

He has struggled, but much of that is because of Liverpool's dysfunctional system, with wingers and creativity as a whole struggling to be directed toward the Sweden international's line-breaking movements.

It was, however, a strong finish, rifled past Guglielmo Vicario and into the back of the net following neat interplay between Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

Slot will be hoping for more of the same going forward, but even if Isak avoids a long-term injury layoff, the threat of fitness blows is growing for a striker whose track record is not the finest.

He's a concern, the world-class striker, but he's not the biggest worry in Liverpool's first team.

Slot must drop £150k-p/w Liverpool flop

Liverpool laboured their way to a win at Tottenham, and now they have climbed to fifth place in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea ahead of them.

But so much more work must be plied if Slot is to bring his team back into the ascendancy, and one of the tougher decisions the Dutch tactician must make is dropping Alexis Mac Allister, who has been a pale imitation of his once elite self this year.

The £150k-per-week midfielder had stood out as a "superstar" throughout his first two terms in Liverpool, as was remarked by pundit Joe Cole, but he's fallen by the wayside this year, lacking all of his physicality and sharpness and completeness.

As football analyst Pythagoras in Boots puts it: "Mac Allister has gone from the heartbeat of Liverpool's midfield to its ghost."

The Liverpool Echo did give the Argentina star a solid 6/10 match rating, drawing attention to his involvement in the build-up to Liverpool's opening goal, but it was also said that he struggled to influence his team's attacking play from his creative berth at number ten, and his wider metrics from across the campaign underline that.

As per Sofascore, Mac Allister, 26, failed to create a chance, nor did he attempt a tackle. He lost five duels, winning only two. He did not attempt a dribble and made just one recovery.

This all points toward a staggering athletic regression and a crisis of confidence. He's becoming Slot's biggest problem, and he needs to be dropped.

Heading into Tottenham Hotspur's clash with Liverpool in the Premier League, Thomas Frank would have been hoping for a response from his hot-and-cold troops.

Indeed, off the back of a demoralising 3-0 loss away at Nottingham Forest, the Dane remained under intense pressure to succeed in North London, and he hasn't helped his precarious job position by following up that humiliation at the hands of the Tricky Trees with a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Liverpool.

Spurs' mission to pick up a much-needed three points was not boosted by Xavi Simons' reckless dismissal in the first half, as the number seven's bumpy start to life in England continued against the resurgent Reds.

How Xavi Simons let Spurs down

Simons' arrival in North London for £52m attracted a lot of fanfare in the summer, with the expectation that the former RB Leipzig man would instantly settle into life swimmingly in his new surroundings.

Having scored two goals against Brentford and Slavia Prague earlier in the month, the hope would have been that Simons could now kick on, having found the initial transition hard.

Unfortunately, though, he would only last 33 minutes against the Merseyside giants, with zero efforts attempted on Alisson's goal, before being given his marching orders for this mistimed challenge on Virgil Van Dijk.

Coming out after the 2-1 defeat with a public apology, Simons will pray, when he does return, that he can finally find some consistent red-hot form for Spurs, or he will surely fear that he's already been dismissed as an expensive flop.

He isn't the only flop in the attacking areas that will be frustrating the Spurs masses at the moment, though, as this other high-profile summer acquisition constantly spurned chances up against the reigning Premier League champions.

Frank must drop this other Spurs flop

Frank will know if he doesn't steer the sinking Spurs ship back on course soon that he could face the sack already, as the board will not want consistently poor results.

He does have plenty of time now on the training pitch, as his side's next Premier League test isn't until the 28th, but he will be hesitant to start Randal Kolo Muani up front against Crystal Palace in the immediate aftermath of the 2-1 defeat, after his wasteful showing against Liverpool.

In total, the France international would see four shots pass him by, with one header very close to beating Alisson, before Simons' red card dominated the narrative.

Away from looking lively in spurts when through on goal, Muani would - unfortunately - become isolated during large spells of the game, with only six accurate passes tallied up by the 27-year-old in total.

Moreover, come the end of his 80 minutes on the pitch, the hot-and-cold number 39 would amass fewer touches of the ball than Guglielmo Vicario in between the sticks, with the Italian's tally standing at 38 touches, next to Kolo Muani's paltry 17.

To make matters even worse for the Spurs loanee, who is breaking the bank with his £150k-per-week salary, Richarlison would only be on the pitch for a matter of moments as his replacement when he buried home this opportunity, leading to Spurs content creator Jonny Blain hailing his cameo as "superb".

Could Frank now be tempted to start the ex-Everton attacker over the 27-year-old for the short trip over to Selhurst Park?

With Richarlison boasting another six Premier League goals for the season, it does feel like an easy swap to make, with Muani still yet to break his league duck for Frank's men, ten games into his journey in the English top-flight.

His inaccurate display in front of goal against the Reds does make for a convincing argument to suggest he was as bad as Simons was, even with the Dutchman barely lasting only half an hour on the pitch, as Muani had far more time to leave his mark on the game, and he didn't.

Frank will just hope, whatever lineup he decides to field against the Eagles, that another Premier League win comes his team's way soon, with Muani likely to be cast aside from his starting XI plans if he continues to fire blanks.

Rarely do Liverpool emerge from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without some scratches and bruises, and while Arne Slot's side defeated the Londoners in the Premier League, it was a victory tainted by numerous grievances.

But this is not shaping out to be a pretty season for the Premier League champions, whose successive victory in the Premier League have extended their unbeaten run to five matches, with a win in the Champions League against Inter Milan at San Siro besides.

After a fiery and frantic encounter, Liverpool showed that they still lack the requisite control and fluency to challenge for the league title.

Alexander Isak's goal should have been a relief, a turning point for the struggling talisman. But Isak got injured in the process of scoring off the bench.

Alexander Isak's misery continues

When it rains, it pours. It is typical that Isak entered the fray after half-time and quickly bagged to set Liverpool on their way against Thomas Frank's Spurs, only to injure himself in the process of striking on goal.

It looked a painful one, with the 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a record-breaking £125m fee on deadline day, swept aside by Micky van de Ven. It has since been insinuated that Isak has damaged his lower leg, which is preferable to a knee injury, if still deeply concerning.

The saving grace comes in the shape of Hugo Ekitike, whose second-half strike marked his fifth goal in three Premier League games. The 23-year-old joined Liverpool for £69m in July, and he looks every bit the world-class superstar Slot needs to spearhead his system.

It wasn't a fine performance, but Liverpool got the job done, and the win underlined the calibre of attacking talent the Reds have at their disposal.

Now, an anxious wait for fears of a long-term layoff to be allayed - or not - for Isak, who scored only his second Premier League goal of the campaign.

Isak and Ekitike both got their goals, but it was a superstar on the other end of the field who proved himself to be Liverpool's main man on a crucial evening in the Premier League

A fierce attack wins you games, but a mean defence wins you titles. Liverpool have got some of the best in both areas, and so must surely kick on now, having won three in a row in all competitions.

If the Reds are to rekindle their most fluent form, Virgil van Dijk will need to maintain the level of performance that he struck against Tottenham, commanding against the home side's pesky frontline.

In the thick of the action after international teammate Xavi Simons committed a studs-up challenge and got sent off before half-time, the 34-year-old avoided injury as so many of his teammates dropped like flies.

He was awarded an 8/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo, with praise drawn to his aerial dominance and quality on the ball, notably winning 11 of 13 contested duels and completing 94% of his passes.

Isak and Ekitike both took their chances, but Van Dijk came up trumps as the focal point of a backline that has left so much to be desired this season, simply incapable of mustering the kind of cool control needed to match or even come close to the feats of last year.

There was much to dislike about Liverpool's performance against the nine-man Lilywhites, but the important thing right now is to get points on the board, and Van Dijk's steely form is proving instrumental in getting the side back on track.

If Liverpool are to make something of this season, they will need Van Dijk on his A-game, performing as he did down N17, a throwback to his imperious best.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have often served up some classic, goal-filled contests in Premier League seasons gone by.

Last season saw the Reds trounce Spurs 5-1 on the way to lifting the top-flight title, while those of a North London persuasion will hold an encounter way back in 2017 close to their hearts, as a Harry Kane and Heung Min Son-led effort clinched a 4-1 win over their Saturday evening opponents.

On this occasion, it was a memorable one for Spurs for all the wrong reasons, as two red cards were picked up, and two goals beat Guglielmo Vicario, which resulted in Arne Slot's mini-resurgence continuing on in a 2-1 defeat.

Thomas Frank will have been livid at the full-time whistle with the actions of Xavi Simons, as the underwhelming summer signing picked up an early first-half red card, which helped Liverpool on their way to a confidence-boosting three points. Still, there were other underperformers who let the side down severely.

Main Spurs underperformers vs Liverpool

Indeed, although Simons' rash moment of madness with Virgil Van Dijk did undoubtedly help the visiting Reds, it's not always straightforward playing against ten men.

Unfortunately, though, Spurs did roll over and allow Liverpool to collect the win, as Frank's men in attack consistently lacked any cutting edge, away from Richarlison powering home a consolation strike late on.

In particular, Mohamed Kudus failed to spark into life during his unmemorable 58-minute spell, with just one effort registered at Alisson's goal by the former West Ham United attacker. Moreover, despite only amassing 31 touches of the ball, the hit-and-miss number 20 would still give away possession a high 11 times.

Randal Kolo Muani would have also frustrated Frank when failing to find the back of the net from his four efforts. On top of that, the ex-Brentford boss will have also been left seething by Cristian Romero's dismissal late on, after the South American defender was also caught out for Alexander Isak's opener, after a poor attempted pass forward.

TalkSPORT pundit Alex Crook would even label Romero as an "absolute liability" at the end, with the 27-year-old no doubt fearful he would have been axed by his manager, anyway, if the red card never happened.

But, there is one underperformer that hasn't been mentioned yet, who really dropped their performance levels against Slot's visitors, with it going down as his worst game of the season, so far, under Frank.

The Spurs star who had his worst game under Frank

Nobody donning Spurs white come the end of the 2-1 loss could trudge off with their heads held high, away from Richarlison, potentially, who injected some energy into proceedings late on.

Lucas Bergvall certainly wouldn't have been proud of his efforts, as the midfielder - who was hailed as a "class above the rest" earlier in the month against Newcastle United by one Spurs podcast host - faded into the background the more the game went on, with his situation on the pitch not helped whatsoever by Simons' rash dismissal.

Having amassed two shots at the Newcastle goal, alongside completing all 100% of his dribbles, Bergvall managed to be a driving force through the middle that helped Spurs on their way to a share of the points on Tyneside.

In stark contrast, up against Slot's rejuvenated men, the young Swede largely receded into his shell when the going got tough, with zero tackles won, zero successful dribbles completed, and only 15 accurate passes registered. To make matters worse, he also failed to hit a single effort at Alisson's goal, leading to his manager substituting him off on the 71st minute mark.

It's an alarming drop off for a star once hailed as being "like Modric" by The Athletic's JJ Bull for his classy calmness on the ball, with it looking unlikely throughout that Bergvall was going to add to his promising three-goal contributions in the Premier League this season so far.

This off-performance could well see the 19-year-old be dropped for some of the matches to follow in the congested winter fixture list, as it was his worst performance of the campaign in comparison to the rest of his performances that led to him earning the aforementioned praise.

It will be intriguing to see what the next Spurs lineup looks like ahead of tricky contests to follow against Crystal Palace and Brentford, with the already under-pressure Frank needing to get his team selections spot on to save his skin.

It was an evening to forget for Tottenham and Thomas Frank, who ended their defeat to Liverpool with nine men as Spurs continue their poor run of form.

The match remained goalless through a tense opening period before Xavi Simons first saw red after catching Virgil van Dijk on the back of the calf with a reckless challenge.

The Dutchman's dismissal left Spurs to battle with 10 men for over an hour as Liverpool seized control of proceedings.

Alexander Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute after winning the ball inside the Spurs half and setting the move off, feeding off Cristian Romero's failed pass up field.

Hugo Ekitiké then picked out Florian Wirtz's run, and the German midfielder's pass was rolled perfectly into Isak's path for the striker to slot past Guglielmo Vicario and put the Reds ahead.

Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Ekitike won a header inside the box and steered the ball into the back of the net, appearing to put the result beyond all doubt for Arne Slot's side, who were enjoying complete dominance against the depleted hosts.

Romero pleaded for a foul against him, but Ekitike was simply more powerful and rose above the 27-year-old for Liverpool's second of the game.

Spurs showed greater resilience than expected though and substitute Richarlison made an immediate impact in the 83rd minute.

The Brazilian jabbed home after Liverpool made a complete mess of clearing a corner to give the home crowd renewed hope late on.

The drama intensified in stoppage time when Romero won a free kick in a dangerous area after being fouled by Ibrahima Konate but then completely lost his composure.

Romero threw a fit after the decision and earned himself a second yellow card to leave Spurs down to nine men for the closing stages.

Liverpool held on despite the late pressure to claim all three points and make it back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September.

Gary Neville slams Cristian Romero in Tottenham defeat to Liverpool

Speaking on commentary duty, pundit Gary Neville took aim at Romero for his role in the defeat.

Before his calamitious sending off, the Argentine's botched clearance led to Isak's opener for Liverpool after Spurs initially mopped up the danger, which set the wheels in motion for a damning defeat.

Watching the replay back on Sky Sports mid-match, Neville blasted the 'really poor' moment from Spurs' captain, claiming that Romero 'exposed the whole team' with his careless attempt at a punt up field.

What turned out to be a close one in the end and an admirable attempt at a fightback was also another nightmare result for Frank, who faces mounting pressure as Tottenham's terrible run continues.

The Lilywhites have now won just twice in their last nine matches across all competitions, dropping to 13th in the table and seven points off a European place.

Romero and Simons are also now suspended, adding to insult to injury and further depleting Frank's already stretched resources.

Crystal Palace have now discovered how top January target Brennan Johnson really feels about joining them from Tottenham.

Spurs open to Johnson offers with Palace eyeing January move

Johnson's Tottenham career promised so much when he etched his name into club folklore by scoring the Europa League final winner against Man United back in May.

That dramatic goal in Bilbao ended Spurs' agonizing 17-year trophy drought and appeared to cement the Welshman's status as a key player heading into this campaign.

The £47.5million signing from Nottingham Forest struggled initially to nail down a starting berth during his debut season but kicked on spectacularly last term.

He finished as Tottenham's leading Premier League goalscorer with 11 goals while contributing seven assists across 51 appearances in all competitions.

Fast-forward to December, and the picture looks drastically different.

Thomas Frank's arrival as manager has completely altered Johnson's trajectory at Spurs, with the 24-year-old relegated to peripheral status despite his iconic contributions just months earlier.

Johnson has started just six Premier League matches this season with barely 900 minutes of first-team action accumulated across 20 appearances in all competitions.

He's scored only four goals too, with his influence dramatically diminishing under Frank.

Mohammed Kudus arrived from West Ham over the summer and immediately established himself as Frank's preferred right-wing option, leaving Johnson scrambling for minutes either as backup or shunted to the left where he's looked considerably less effective.

Wilson Odobert has also leapfrogged him in the pecking order, while Dejan Kulusevski's eventual return from injury will further squeeze his opportunities. The writing appears on the wall for Johnson, and Palace are looking to take advantage.

Palace have been closely monitoring the forward with contact already made, according to some reports, with signing a new winger seen as urgent.

Oliver Glasner desperately needs attacking reinforcements amid an unprecedented fixture schedule that also includes Conference League commitments.

Ismaila Sarr's departure for AFCON with Senegal has further exposed Palace's lack of depth in wide areas, making Johnson an increasingly attractive proposition for the Eagles' ambitious manager.

Brennan Johnson's stance on joining Crystal Palace in January

Now, according to TEAMtalk, Palace have been given a boost in pursuit of the former Nottingham Forest star.

Sources confirm Johnson is receptive to the move and eager for consistent minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where Wales could still qualify via the play-offs.

Staying in London is also an appealing factor, with the winger unwilling to uproot his family for a move outside the capital.

Personal terms are unlikely to prove an obstacle, according to TT insiders familiar with negotiations. Palace are preparing to accelerate their interest when the window opens, with the south Londoners aiming to strike a quick-fire deal.

Spurs could recoup significant portions of their £47.5 million, fee with suggestions that anywhere between £30 million and £40 million might suffice depending on payment terms and add-ons.

Frank appeared to throw cold water on departure speculation ahead of facing Liverpool this weekend, insisting he's happy with Johnson while acknowledging any player not featuring regularly will inevitably assess their options.

Former Palace and Spurs striker Chris Armstrong has sensationally claimed the deal is already done, posting on social media that Johnson will prove shrewd business from the high-flying Eagles.

Whether Armstrong's claims hold water remains to be seen, but momentum is clearly building, and he could be one to watch at Selhurst Park.

Tottenham Hotspur need a talisman. Mohammed Kudus is a fleet-footed winger, adding a dimension to the attack, but he's not of a level with Harry Kane, or Heung-min Son.

Likewise, Xavi Simons has the potential to become a leading man down N17, but he's raw and inexperienced.

Kane hasn't really been replaced since leaving Spurs for Bayern Munich in 2023, with Dominic Solanke's injury troubles negating his stature as one of the Premier League's most dangerous forwards. Richarlison is consistent only in his inconsistency.

Tottenham need a talisman, and that looks to be high on ENIC Group and Thomas Frank's agenda going into the January transfer window.

Why Spurs need a Kane-esque signing

Kane's departure was always going to knock Tottenham out of kilter, but perhaps it's being more keenly felt now that Son has left too. There simply isn't enough impetus and bite in the final third, and Frank needs to rectify that swiftly as his side languish in 11th place.

However, Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici have been entrusted with funds this winter, and signings are expected.

None would be more impactful than Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who is being chased by a snapping pack of Premier League giants, Liverpool and Manchester City at the front.

However, TEAMtalk have confirmed that the Lilywhites are ready to offer the Ghana international, 25, a wage bill-shattering salary to convince him to head down N17, having attempted to sign him before being rebuffed during the summer.

Why Semenyo could become Spurs' talisman

Kane scored many goals against many different Premier League opponents. Alan Shearer is the only man to have scored more.

Semenyo is not an out-and-out centre-forward on the same prolific level as the England captain, but he does have a unique and devastating skillset that could hit a new level in Frank's Tottenham team.

This season, the two-sided winger has scored seven goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League, with his consistency leading teammate Justin Kluivert to call him "world-class".

Semenyo's brilliance lies not in his prolific success but in his ceaseless work rate. He just runs and runs and runs. As per Sofascore, the £75k-per-week talent has completed 1.6 dribbles and averaged 6.6 successful duels per game. Analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a "workhorse off the ball", and that's exactly what Spurs need to return to form.

He ranks among the top 6% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals and the top 12% for ball recoveries per 90 (via FBref), further underscoring his dynamism.

A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.

This is not Kudus, zipping this way and that with startling energy, but an economical winger who conserves his energy and unleashes it at an opportune moment.

There is a quiet intelligence to Semenyo that suggests he could step into Kane's boots and lead this group of players.

After all, there's a reason all the finest teams in the division want the dynamic winger, who is only getting better and better with each passing season in the Premier League.

It's not going to be an easy deal to pull off, but Tottenham have the financial structures erected to pull off a marquee mid-season deal, and it really would add to Frank's frontline a Kane-esque star.