Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur won for the first time in three matches in all competitions when they travelled to the Hill Dickinson to beat Everton 3-0 on Sunday.

The Lilywhites found themselves 2-0 up at the break, thanks to two goals from two set-pieces from Micky van de Ven, in what was a battling performance from the away side.

After weathering a bit of a storm from the hosts in the second 45, substitute Pape Matar Sarr wrapped up the victory with a late goal of his own to make it 3-0.

Despite scoring two of Tottenham's three goals in the impressive victory on Merseyside on Sunday, it was not a perfect performance from van de Ven.

Why Micky van de Ven was not perfect against Everton

The central defender deserves plenty of plaudits for his attacking play against the Toffees, as he was in the right place at the right time to score two goals in the first 45 minutes.

However, there were several nervy moments defensively where his play in his own box left a little bit to be desired, and he was either bailed out by his teammates or an Everton player failing to get on the end of a pass or cross.

Per Sofascore, van de Ven lost four of his six physical duels throughout the game, which shows that Beto and Thierno Barry got the better of him too often, and he was dribbled past once without making a single tackle in 90 minutes.

The Netherlands international has only won 50% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, and that is an area of his game that he may look to improve on in the months to come.

Whilst the Dutchman was still a net positive for Spurs, with his two goals, it was Guglielmo Vicario who was the most important player on the pitch for Spurs, yet again, and is quickly becoming Thomas Frank's most important player.

Why Guglielmo Vicario is Tottenham's most important player

The Italy international, who earned an 8/10 player rating from SpursWeb, produced another fantastic performance to keep a clean sheet in goal for Spurs, days after his 10/10 Sofascore rating against Monaco in the Champions League.

Vicario prevented 2.68 xG through eight saves against the French outfit in the week, and followed that up with 0.96 xG prevented through two brilliant saves against Everton on Sunday.

Possibly the pick of his two saves, although both were brilliant, was his instinctive close-range stop to deny Beto from finding the back of the net with his overhead kick.

The Italian shot-stopper showed incredible reactions and strength to stop the Portuguese centre-forward from getting Everton back into the match, and it is not the first time that his goalkeeping has saved Spurs.

As you can see in the table above, Vicario is one of three goalkeepers who have prevented around three goals more than expected based on xG in the Premier League this season, alongside Robin Roefs and Dean Henderson.

These statistics show that Tottenham currently have one of the most impactful goalkeepers in the division, with the Italian star, which illustrates just how important he is to the team.

Without his incredible shot-stopping, Spurs may have conceded way more goals than they have, given that he has prevented 2.77 goals in the Premier League and 1.89 goals in the Champions League, across 12 appearances in both competitions combined.

He is currently saving some of his defenders when they slip up and give up chances to the opposition, with his phenomenal stops, and that is why he is Frank's most important player at this moment in time.

Vicario is the backbone of the team, as the last line of defence, and his imperious performances are providing Spurs with a platform to excel throughout the rest of the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race to sign an "intelligent" midfielder from a Champions League club, having overtaken a number of their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

Spurs urged to reshuffle midfield amid lack of forward passes

Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright has recently called for Tottenham to reshuffle their midfield, off the back of the poor team performance in the 0-0 draw against AS Monaco in the Champions League, as well as the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Against the French side, Spurs' midfield duo of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha directed just seven of their 58 combined passes forward, picking out Richarlison on three occasions and failing to provide substitute Randal Kolo Muani with the ball once.

The creativity problems were also on display against Villa, with the duo directing 15 of 79 passes forward, which indicates Thomas Frank needs to either reshuffle his midfield options or bring in a new player in January or the summer.

According to a report from Record (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are now leading the race for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who has attracted widespread interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Man United and Manchester City also keen.

Sporting are expecting offers for Hjulmand in the January transfer window, but it may take a huge offer to get a deal over the line, given that the Portugal club plan to stick to the €80m (£70m) release clause included in his current contract.

It is unclear whether the north Londoners are willing to make an approach this winter, and Sporting remain in a strong negotiating position, considering the midfielder is contracted until 2028, but there are plenty of signs he could be worth pursuing...

"Intelligent" Hjulmand could be exactly what Frank needs

As previously mentioned, Tottenham are having a hard time progressing the ball up the pitch, but the Sporting star is an extremely impressive passer of the ball, who has a tendency to advance the ball into more advanced areas.

The pass-master has also started to prove himself at the top level this season, receiving a 7.6 SofaScore match rating in his side's 2-1 defeat against Marseille in the Champions League earlier this month, the highest of any Sporting player.

Not only does the Denmark international excel in possession of the ball, but he is also solid from a defensive point of view, according to scout Ben Mattinson, who said: "Hjulmand is a defensively intelligent midfielder who reads the game to a high level. He has great anticipation which allows him to read the oppositions next attacking moves."

As such, Hjulmand could be the ideal addition to Frank's squad, with the Tottenham manager clearly in need of different options in the engine room.

Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday when they travelled to Merseyside to beat Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson.

A first-half double from central defender Micky van de Ven and a late header from Pape Matar Sarr were enough to claim all three points for the away side.

Whilst Thomas Frank will be pleased with the end result from the game, there were several players who failed to perform to the best of their ability. Xavi Simons was one of them.

Why Xavi Simons needs to step up for Spurs

Spurs signed the attacking midfielder from RB Leipzig for £52m in the summer transfer window in the hope that he would add creativity and goals to the team, in the absence of James Maddison.

Simons provided 21 goals and 21 assists in all competitions during his two full seasons with Leipzig in Germany, in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, per Sofascore, which shows that he is capable of delivering plenty of quality in the final third.

However, the Dutchman, per Sofascore, walked off the pitch against Everton with no shots, no key passes, no dribbles completed, and no 'big chances' created against the Toffees.

Simons, who was given a 4/10 player rating by Football Insider, has now scored no goals and provided one assist in six Premier League appearances for the club this season, which is why Frank needs far more from the attacking midfielder.

The Netherlands international, though, was not the worst performer on the pitch for the Lilywhites. Randal Kolo Muani was even worse than Simons and should be dropped by the manager.

Why Randal Kolo Muani should be dropped

The summer loan signing from PSG was handed his first Premier League start for Spurs against the Toffees, as he was selected ahead of Richarlison and Mathys Tel.

Unfortunately, though, the France international, who was given a 2/10 player rating by Football Insider, failed to prove that he deserves to be the main number nine for the Lilywhites this season, with a disappointing performance against Everton.

As the sole number nine, Kolo Muani needed to hold the ball up to take pressure off the team and act as a focal point for the other attackers to play off. That is why Frank may not be pleased with his display, as the striker lost 88% (7/8) of his duels, per Sofascore, as the opposition defenders found it too easy to get the better of him.

As you can see in the table above, Simons offered more to the team both in and out of possession across their 62 minutes on the pitch, winning 50% of his duels and only taking one unsuccessful touch out of 38.

Kolo Muani taking four unsuccessful touches from 15 total touches shows that his close control and technical ability was not good enough, to go along with his struggles out of possession from a physical perspective.

Richarlison came off the bench to replace Kolo Muani and, per Sofascore, only took one unsuccessful touch from 15 touches and won two duels, whilst he created Sarr's goal with his header back across the goal.

With three goals and one assist to his name in the Premier League, the Brazil international may be favoured by the Spurs head coach when their next Premier League match against Chelsea rolls around, after their EFL Cup action during the week.

Tottenham Hotspur are now showing real interest in signing a "relentless" new midfielder who has "striker-like finishing", with a number of Europe's top clubs keen.

Spurs looking to strengthen in midfield

Tottenham have made a patchy start to life under Thomas Frank, most recently drawing 0-0 away at AS Monaco in the Champions League, and they could have lost if not for the performance of Guglielmo Vicario, who received a SofaScore match rating of 10 for his efforts.

The Lilywhites recorded an xG of just 0.88, as a result of only creating one big chance throughout the match, with Lucas Bergvall failing to make an impact, being substituted on the hour mark after failing to complete a single dribble or get a shot away.

Given that Rodrigo Bentancur also has just one goal and no assists to his name in all competitions this term, it wouldn't be surprising if Frank were to try and bring in a new creative spark, and a new midfielder has now emerged as a target.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Tottenham are now showing real interest in signing AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, having sent scouts to watch him in action for the Eredivisie side last weekend.

At the end of August, it was revealed the Dutch club are looking to hold out for up to €30m (£26m) for Smit, but the price tag could feasibly be driven up amid widespread interest, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea also keen.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey adds: "Talking to scouts in Europe, there are not many more names that create as much excitement as Smit.

"Many clubs believe Smit is the real deal and from what I am being told there is a very good chance he moves next year."

"Relentess" Smit could be real attacking threat for Spurs

Scout Ben Mattinson has waxed lyrical about the threat the Dutchman poses going forward, saying: "For a midfielder, Kees Smit has striker-like finishing in the box. The quality and consistency of his finishing is top drawer. He attacks the box throughout games and gets into some dangerous areas to score from midfield."

Mattinson has also praised the 19-year-old for his engine and ability in possession of the ball, describing him as "relentless" earlier this year.

Despite still being a teenager, the Alkmaar maestro has already established himself as a regular starter for the Dutch club, chipping in with one goal and two assists in the Eredivisie so far this season.

As such, Smit could be a fantastic long-term addition to Frank's squad, but it would be a gamble, given that he is yet to prove himself in one of Europe's major leagues.

Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Premier League star alongside interest from London rivals Chelsea.

Thomas Frank clarifies Sarr decision

It's early days in the Thomas Frank era, but Tottenham have already shown marked improvement. The Lilywhites have already shown glimpses of their best form under the Dane, albeit whilst also slipping up more than once, and should look to hand him all the resources he needs to step things up in 2026.

It's still a transitional period for the new manager, himself, who was questioned earlier this week for dropping Pape Matar Sarr in recent games just weeks after it seemed as though the midfielder would play a pivotal part.

“Yeah, there is nothing wrong with him. He started the first six games and I think he was a very good player for us. I think we rested him, maybe as a minor precaution.

"It's just competition, other players have done well, decisions from me but in general I am happy with Pape. I said that before, he was one of the players that impressed me the most in the beginning of the season and he is a very good player.”

The decision to drop the midfielder has been an interesting one given how he initially started, but one that represents how Frank is still attempting to find his best side.

Sunday's clash against Everton is certainly a game that Spurs could do with winning, with or without Sarr. Coming in off the back of defeat against Aston Villa and then a midweek draw in Monaco, the Lilywhites should be desperate to avoid three games without victory.

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, those in North London are also commencing a new era without Daniel Levy and already reportedly have one of their first signings in mind.

Tottenham join race to sign Konsa

Setting their sights on defensive reinforcements, Tottenham have joined the race to sign Ezri Konsa. According to The Boot Room's Graeme Bailey, the Lilywhites have joined Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in pursuit of the centre-back's signature in 2026, with Aston Villa still facing PSR issues.

Considering the previous injury woes of Mick van de Ven and Cristian Romero, who is one of the best defenders in the Premier League when fit, signing an additional centre-back would be no bad idea. Konsa, as an experienced Premier League star, also stands out as a formidable option to target.

The £75,000-a-week England international has already earned praise from the likes of Jamie Redknapp too, with the former Tottenham star going as far as to describe the Villa star as "tremendous" last year.

“He might find with injuries that he might end up being England’s right-back. I think he’d rather play centre-back with his capabilities, but I think he’s shown he’s a versatile player. He’s got a great appetite for the game. He’s also got a lot of desire, tremendous work ethic, what a week for him.”

It's now up to a new-look board to secure what would be an excellent signing for Tottenham ahead of a number of Premier League rivals.

Over the years, the Tottenham Hotspur faithful have been blessed by numerous partnerships that have handed them countless memorable moments on the field.

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son will no doubt be the first duo to pop into the minds of the fanbase, mainly due to their incredible performances together in North London.

The duo made themselves the best partnership in Premier League history, assisting one another for a combined total of 47 goals - over ten more than any other pairing in the division’s history.

As a result, the pair both rank within the top five goalscorers in Lilywhites history, with Kane topping the list on 280 goals, whilst Son sits fourth with his total of 173.

Despite the success of the aforementioned pair, one other duo failed to reach the same heights, leading to huge amounts of criticism from various pundits.

The failures of Skipp & Hojbjerg in Spurs’ midfield

In the 2021/22 season, under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo and Antonio Conte, a midfield duo of Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was often utilised.

However, such a decision would lead to the Lilywhites ending the campaign in fourth position, but it’s safe to say it could have been a whole lot better without the aforementioned pair.

Skipp ended the year with 18 Premier League appearances, but struggled to match the faith shown in him by various managers in North London.

He only ranked in the 19th percentile for chances created and the 8th percentile for dribbles completed - leading to the Englishman coming under fire for his lack of quality in possession.

As for Hojbjerg, he started all but two outings, but also struggled to provide any quality going forward, as seen by his measly tally of 0.7 chances created per 90.

The Dane also only won 1.2 tackles per 90, subsequently struggling to provide the quality in the area in which he was selected in the side to do in the capital.

Their lack of quality together led to former Spurs star Danny Rose to claim the pair were good players but were extremely “limited” in what they could offer the side in transition.

Former professional Perry Groves doubled down on the pair and stated that the duo were “like a double appendix” - even describing them as “useless” when operating alongside one another.

However, in the present day, boss Thomas Frank has been presented with a similar scenario with two players who have struggled to provide the goods in 2025/26.

The Spurs stars who are looking like the new Skipp & Hojbjerg

After taking the reins in the summer transfer window, there’s no disputing that new boss Frank would need time to settle into the role at Spurs to discover his best starting eleven.

To aid his chances of success in North London, the board handed the Dane over £100m worth of funds to make the changes he craved to his first-team squad.

Such a decision made his bedding-in period somewhat trickier, leaving him with the prospect of integrating the players into the current crop of talents on the books.

However, he did decide to secure the services of Joao Palinhina on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, with the Portuguese international making an immediate impact for the Lilywhites.

He’s already scored twice for the club, whilst offering the needed ball-winning presence the side massively lacked under Ange Postecoglou last campaign.

The 30-year-old has often been partnered alongside the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr at the heart of the side - with the duo offering a progressive partner alongside him.

However, Frank opted to utilise Rodrigo Bentancur alongside him against Monaco on Wednesday night, but it was a decision that ultimately proved to be the wrong one.

The duo, who earn a combined £210k-per-week, struggled to impose themselves on proceedings - often being criticised for being too defensive-minded and struggling in transition.

They only registered a total of six combined passes into the final third, whilst only completing a total of one dribble - highlighting that the criticism was rightly warranted.

Other figures, such as zero shots and four times dispossesse,d also highlight the struggles the pair faced against the French side, with Frank needing to take immediate action and operate a different duo.

There’s no denying, Palhinha has done enough to warrant his place in the starting eleven, but he desperately needs a more mobile and transitional player alongside him to bring added success to the club.

Should the manager struggle to identify such a problem, it could see a repeat of the Skipp and Hojbjerg partnership, which saw the side massively struggle under Conte’s guidance.

Despite spending big in the summer, Liverpool are now reportedly considering a "mystery" deal to sign an attacking target ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, led by new co-sporting director Fabio Paratici.

What's going wrong at Liverpool?

In one summer, Liverpool signed one of the best strikers in the world, one of the best midfielders in the world, arguably the best left-back in the Premier League last season and a Bayer Leverkusen invincible. The champions swept up in ruthless fashion, breaking their transfer record twice in the process, and looked destined to dominate.

The prophecy hasn't quite been fulfilled, however. Just eight games in and Arne Slot finds himself in the most difficult period of his Liverpool career with the pressure increasing to turn around a dire run of form. After spending to improve even further, the Reds look a shadow of the Premier League champions that they became last season.

So what's going wrong at Anfield? The summer was supposed to set them up for a title defence, but it set them up for a system change and an incredibly tough teething period.

Isak, forced to regain sharpness after striking until he got his Newcastle United exit, is yet to get a Premier League goal. Wirtz is struggling for domestic starts, Frimpong has never been Slot's first choice and Milos Kerkez is being asked to play an inverted role that simply matches his weakness rather than his several strengths going forward.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has scored just one goal from open play in the league and has been uncharacteristically poor in possession. Simply put, all the trademarks of Liverpool's success in Slot's debut season have disappeared from the Reds' performances.

No longer stubborn, no longer in control of games and more open than ever under Slot, those at Anfield have already turned their focus towards the January transfer window.

Liverpool now considering January move for Semenyo

As reported by Mark Douglas of the i Paper, Liverpool are now considering a move to sign Antoine Semenyo in January by triggering his "mystery" release clause. Sporting director Richard Hughes is a big admirer of the winger and is seemingly looking to fend off competition from Tottenham Hotspur for his signature, who are hoping to make him their first big arrival under new co-sporting directors Paratici and Johan Lange.

Alas, the deal won't come cheap. Reports are claiming that Bournemouth value Semenyo at as much as £75m ahead of the winter window, although it is anyone's guess what number is actually in his release clause, a clause that may well have been drawn up by none other than former Cherries chief Hughes.

It should come as no surprise that Semenyo is the name on the Reds' radar amid Salah's current struggles. The Egyptian will also leave to take part in AFCON at the end of December, whilst the Bournemouth winger will stay put after Gana failed to qualify. If there was ever an ideal time to welcome him into the side, it is in Salah's absence.

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record in the Champions League this season after securing a 0-0 draw against Monaco in France last night.

Thomas Frank’s side failed to capitalise on any of the chances that fell their way within the final third, subsequently only registering two shots on target within the 90 minutes.

However, they may have been lucky to walk away with just a point, as the hosts racked up a total of 23 shots, with eight of the attempts being placed on Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

The Lilywhites’ display will no doubt have disappointed the manager, with his side showing no real bounce back after Sunday's defeat against Aston Villa.

After such a showing, there’s no disputing that the Dane desperately needs to make changes to his squad ahead of the weekend’s clash against David Moyes’ Everton.

Spurs’ poor performers against Monaco last night

Rodrigo Bentancur was kept within the Spurs midfield last night, but such a decision proved to be the wrong one, given his lack of impact in the South of France.

The Uruguayan international failed to win a single tackle against the Ligue 1 outfit, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he entered - showcasing he was often dominated by the opposition.

Other stats, such as one foul committed and seven times possession lost, further highlight his inability to make a positive impact on the European encounter.

However, he wasn’t alone in being disappointing against Sebastien Pogognoli’s men, with Lucas Bergvall also producing a rare disappointing performance.

The Swede was subsequently replaced after an hour, after completing just six passes - subsequently finding a teammate just once every ten minutes.

He also failed to win a single tackle and was even dribbled past twice, with the Lilywhites’ midfield often being overran and leading to their inability to claim all three points.

Despite the showing of the aforementioned duo, one other player once again struggled to prove why the manager has stuck by him throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Monaco

Even though Spurs have only lost two games across all competitions since Frank’s arrival, they have struggled to impose themselves in numerous outings.

Last night’s showing was another one to forget for the Lilywhites, leaving the side with five points from a possible nine in this season’s edition of the Champions League.

Whilst the side have kept two clean sheets in their three matches, the frontline has massively disappointed - scoring just three goals, two of which were own goals.

Micky van de Ven is currently the only Lilywhites player to find the back of the net in Europe - further showcasing the issue Frank currently has in that department.

One of the players in that area of the pitch that has massively struggled is centre-forward Richarlison, with the Brazilian unable to match his early-season form.

The 28-year-old has now gone six games without a goal across all competitions, with his last effort coming in the draw with Brighton & Hove Albion over a month ago.

His showing against Monaco last night was yet another to forget for the £60m addition, subsequently putting his starting role into serious question.

Richarlison featured for 70 minutes last night, but like Bergvall, he only completed a total of six passes and registered a solitary effort on the opposition goal.

He only managed a total of 20 touches during his performance - a tally fewer than goalkeeper Vicario, who notched 49 - whilst also failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles.

The Brazilian subsequently gifted possession back to the hosts on eight separate occasions, leading to one analyst labelling his showing against the Ligue 1 side as “shocking”.

As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Standard's Matt Verri - further showcasing his lack of positive impact against the French outfit.

Frank has been lenient with his centre-forward over the last couple of weeks, but it’s desperately clear the 28-year-old needs to be dropped from the starting eleven.

Richarlison has constantly struggled to match the expectations placed upon him over the last couple of months, with Mathys Tel deserving of a recall against Everton this weekend.

Tottenham are reportedly ready to pay over £50 million for a striker who manager Thomas Frank has already called "remarkable", with the Lilywhites currently struggling for creativity in the final third.

Tottenham linked with new centre-forward amid attacking struggles

On paper, Spurs have made a very solid start to the new season under Frank.

Only Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea boast more Premier League goals so far this season, with Frank's side losing just two of their opening eight top flight matches and by very narrow margins.

However, there's been a recurring criticism surrounding Spurs' most recent encounters, and that is their failure to convince going forward.

Xavi Simons is at the centre of debate following his lack of goal contributions since a £52 million move from RB Leipzig in the summer. His arrival was largely tipped to fill the void left by James Maddison's long-term injury and the continued absence of fellow creator Dejan Kulusevski, but Simons has just one assist to show for his efforts so far.

Worries also surround the north Londoners' striker options.

Mathys Tel, despite scoring against Leeds United at Elland Road before the international break, proved largely ineffective in Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend. This came after Tel was given the starting nod again ahead of Richarlison, who's come under fire from certain sections of the media for a lack of consistency.

Dominic Solanke should return soon after undergoing minor surgery on an ankle problem, but the England international's struggles with fitness have been pretty consistent since his club-record move from Bournemouth last summer.

As a result, Spurs are being linked with new strikers ahead of January, and one of them is former Brentford star Ivan Toney.

The England international, who bagged 20 Premier League goals during his best season at the G-tech under Frank's tutelage, has been scoring for fun in the Middle East since his £40 million switch to Al-Ahli last year.

The 29-year-old has bagged 39 goals in 56 appearances for Al-Ahli, but Toney's decision to move to Saudi Arabia threatens his place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup plans.

Toney, apart from one nod earlier this year, has largely been excluded from the Three Lions squad, and the prospect of a Premier League return to better his chances of an England re-call may appeal to him.

Tottenham ready to bid £52m for ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney

Some reports suggest that Frank has personally contacted Toney about joining Spurs on loan in January, and now there's been another update on the club's interest.

As per Spanish media sources, if a mid-season loan turns out to be impossible, Tottenham are prepared to bid £52 million for Toney and bring him back to the Premier League in 2026, with the north Londoners described as more advanced than Chelsea in a potential move for him.

It is worth noting that West Ham have also been linked with a swoop for Toney as well, so it appears a host of London clubs are weighing up the prospect of his signing.

However, there could be major hurdles to navigate, the main one being his seismic £427,000-per-week pay packet.

Toney would almost certainly need to take a massive wage cut to seal a return to England, but if Spurs' co-sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici find a realistic way to do it, there is little denying that Frank would be thrilled to have the number nine.

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a shift in their recruitment strategy over the last few years - something which Fabio Paratici no doubt was at the centre of.

The Italian spent two years at the club between 2021 and 2023, subsequently turning the hierarchy’s attention to investing in younger talents for the immediate and long-term future.

In the summer of 2022 alone, the 53-year-old completed deals for full-backs Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence - that’s despite the latter being unwanted by then-boss Antonio Conte.

However, in the present day, both players have become key members of Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, showcasing the impressive work done in the transfer market.

The aforementioned duo will be hoping they achieve more sustained success than one player who demonstrated glimpses of quality during the early days of his career in North London.

The real reason behind Dele’s decline at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, Spurs forked out a reported £5m for the signature of attacking midfielder Dele - with many supporters unaware of the youngster.

At just 19, many anticipated the Englishman to join the youth setup in North London, but he would make himself an immediate fan-favourite as a result of his tremendous displays.

For the first three years of his stint at the Lilywhites, he was a regular starter - racking up 146 appearances, scoring on 46 occasions and laying on 35 assists for his teammates.

Such form saw Dele claim the PFA Young Player of the Year two years in a row, becoming just one of five players to achieve such a feat in the history of the Premier League.

However, in a remarkable interview with Gary Neville back in the summer of 2023, the former Lilywhites star opened up on his trauma from his younger years, which no doubt had an effect on his footballing career.

He was often called into question by José Mourinho for his attitude and laziness, also suffering numerous injuries, which plagued his progress in North London.

Dele suffered 11 separate injury setbacks in his seven-year period in North London, with such issues preventing his progress and seeing him miss 44 first-team matches.

His time with the Lilywhites came to a disappointing end back in January 2022, subsequently joining Everton on a free transfer - an unthinkable ending given his previous form.

The Spurs star who’s their best teenage star since Dele

Many supporters questioned Dele’s attitude during his time with Spurs, but after his courage to speak out about his mental health struggles, it’s safe to say many fans empathise with the midfielder.

Such issues have taken a huge toll on his professional career, with the former Lilywhites star now without a club at the age of 29 after leaving Como this summer.

However, there’s no denying he will forever be remembered by the fans for his countless moments of magic that gave everyone involved with the football club memories to last a lifetime.

From Goal of the Season strikes against Crystal Palace, to his memorable double against Chelsea that ended the Blues’ unbeaten 2016/17 record at White Hart Lane.

Such levels are rarely seen from such a young talent, but there’s current generation of supporters has their next remarkable youngster in the form of Lucas Bergvall.

Like Dele, he joined the Lilywhites for less than £10m, arriving as an unknown quantity to the majority of supporters after previously plying his trade for Djurgarden.

However, the Swedish youngster has rapidly developed into one of the club’s best players, a simply remarkable feat given he’s still just 19 years of age.

Despite his tender age, the midfielder has already racked up 56 appearances for the first-team and has subsequently featured in all but one game since Frank took the reins.

Bergvall even netted his first Premier League goal in the win over West Ham United last month, leading to head of scouting Rob Mackenzie labelling him as “a genuine generational talent”.

His underlying stats from 2025/26 highlight that the praise is certainly warranted, with the teenager completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted to date, whilst also ranking in the top 12% of all players in the league for assists registered.

However, out of possession, the Swede has been just as impressive, winning 2.6 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in a total of 5.5 duels per 90 - stats which make him the perfect box-to-box option.

Frank and Co will desperately be hoping Bergvall can continue on his current trajectory in North London, with the youngster having all the tools to be a key member of the squad in their hunt for added silverware.

There’s little doubt that he’s the best teenage star they’ve had on their hands since Dele’s emergence, but everyone will be hoping that the end to his story with the Lilywhites is a happier one.