Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have now entered the lead in the race for a Premier League forward, whose future is starting to look uncertain...

Spurs want new forward despite encouraging signs vs Sunderland

Although Tottenham were unable to take all three points against Sunderland last time out, drawing 1-1 after Ben Davies' opener was cancelled out by Brian Brobbey's late effort, Thomas Frank believes there were some encouraging signs on display.

Frank said: "There were a lot of positives in the performance. The first half was much more like we want to do.

"I liked our intensity with and without the ball, we created a lot of good situations, but we lacked the decisiveness to finish the game off."

However, with the manager also bemoaning the fact his side weren't clinical enough, it could be a savvy move to strengthen his attacking options this month, particularly considering Brennan Johnson has already left to join Crystal Palace.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jorgen Strand Larsen, RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande and AS Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche are among the potential targets, but there have now been reports Spurs could also look to raid one of their London rivals.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have now taken the lead in the race to sign West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen, with the Englishman's future at the London Stadium starting to look uncertain, given that the Hammers are seven points from safety.

Should West Ham be relegated to the Championship, Bowen's departure is almost inevitable, and the north Londoners are interested in securing his signature, as they value the forward's versatility and goal-scoring ability.

If the Irons fail to stay up, the 29-year-old would be willing to listen to offers from elsewhere, and there are indications he could be a fantastic addition to Frank's squad...

"Superstar" Bowen could be ideal signing for Tottenham

As previously mentioned, Tottenham have struggled in front of goal this season, finding the back of the net just three times in their last five Premier League matches.

Consequently, it could be a smart move to bring in a player who has already proven he is capable of delivering in the top flight, and the 20-time England international fits the bill, having been a reliable source of goals and assists over the past six seasons.

Having also been lauded as a "superstar" by writer Paddy Keogh, Bowen clearly has the ability to succeed at a top club, but a deal could be on the expensive side, with a potential fee of £100m being touted.

One win across their latest five Premier League games has ensured Tottenham Hotspur have failed to capitalise on the chaos surrounding many of their top-flight rivals, with Thomas Frank likely to come under fire himself if results do not start to improve.

A key crux of the issue remains the Dane's often pragmatic approach, with the Lilywhites netting just three goals across those five outings, a far cry from the flawed, yet frenzied attacking play under Ange Postecoglou.

Last season's top scorer, Brennan Johnson, has been sent packing to boot, even with the Wales star having still been the club's third most prolific presence this term across all fronts, alongside Joao Palhinha (4), and behind Micky van de Ven (6) and Richarlison (8).

As that list indicated, Richarlison aside, Frank simply hasn't got enough out of his forward line, while the continued absence of Dominic Solanke has hardly helped matters either.

In need then of further firepower, Spurs look to be making their move...

Spurs make enquiry over signing the new Solanke

It was only 18 months ago that Spurs dished out a club-record £65m fee to prise Solanke from Bournemouth, with the Englishman selected to be the belated replacement for Bayern-bound Harry Kane.

Seen just three times in action so far this term, however, the 28-year-old has sparked a real need for a genuine rival or replacement, with Porto's Samu Aghehowa believed to be on Frank's radar.

Away from the in-form Spaniard, TEAMtalk has also reported that Spurs are among the clubs in the mix of Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the Premier League's bottom club ready to cash in on the Norwegian this month.

As per the report, enquiries have been made by Nottingham Forest, although the north Londoners, alongside Everton, Crystal Palace and Fulham, appear to have done the same, with the quartet all said to be being 'kept informed' regarding his situation.

The 25-year-old was close to heading to Newcastle United over the summer, for a figure approaching £60m, although he could now be worth closer to £40m, as Wolves look to rake in almost double what they paid for him.

Why Strand Larsen could be another Solanke

It's been a solid, albeit largely frustrating tale for Spurs' leading man of late, with Solanke having scored 16 times in 48 games across all fronts, a record of a goal every three games.

Just nine of those came in the Premier League, however, with the one-time Chelsea and Liverpool forward failing to hit the heights of his 19-goal league haul the year prior for the Cherries - the standout season of his career to date.

There may be concerns that Spurs have snapped up something of a one-season wonder, considering the England international has scored just 38 goals in 163 top-flight games, with there a fear of a similar scenario occurring with regard to Strand Larsen.

Indeed, the Norwegian striker did dazzle for the Old Gold in 2024/25, after netting 14 league goals to steer the club to safety, although he has since scored just once in the league this time around, hence Wolves' willingness to sell.

Looking further back, like Solanke, the towering marksman hasn't exactly been prolific at his previous clubs, scoring just 18 in 74 games for Celta Vigo, while chalking up 27 in 71 for Groningen.

Spurs may well have been spoiled by the remarkably reliable heroics of Harry Kane, but after such high standards, they can't expect any form of mediocrity or inconsistency.

Solanke, unfortunately, is drifting into that type of territory, and on the evidence of his form at Molineux this season, so could Strand Larsen, with the pair having even been deemed statistically and stylistically similar players in the Premier League in 2024/25, as per FBref.

Of course, as he did show last term, the Scandinavian star can be a real "nuisance" for top-flight opposition, as noted by the great Alan Shearer, but can Spurs really afford another expensive gamble?

Frank and co only have to look to the summer to see how spending big on a striker doesn't translate to instant rewards, be it Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, with it perhaps just as important to enhance the creative supply line behind the attacking unit.

Indeed, for all Spurs' centre-forward woes, maybe now is not the time to panic in the window - they can't afford Solanke 2.0.

Tottenham are readying a double-your-money offer to sign a player who's apparently keen to join Thomas Frank's side, according to a fresh update.

Thomas Frank eyeing January deals amid Spurs pressure

Spurs are currently on a torrid run of form, having won just three of their last 11 matches in all competitions, and are also having to deal with a real injury crisis in certain areas.

To add to their woes in that regard, star winger Mohammed Kudus, who has been their arguable best attacking player this term, is set to miss several matches after picking up an injury against Sunderland.

A new forward was already reportedly high on Frank's list of January priorities after selling last season's top scorer Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for around £35 million, but this fresh Kudus blow will now bring it even more to the forefront.

The Lilywhites have already seen an offer rejected by Antoine Semenyo, who has instead chosen to join Premier League heavyweights Man City, so it is back to the drawing board for Spurs as they pursue fresh attacking options.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are yet to return from their serious injuries too, and in the meantime, Frank has been left desperately short of numbers further forward.

Left-back Destiny Udogie has also missed their last seven matches due to a hamstring injury, meaning Tottenham have been forced to turn to veteran Ben Davies and Djed Spence to cover the Italian.

As such, it is believed that they are eyeing a January move for Souza as potential cover in that area of the pitch.

According to reports this week, the north Londoners are poised to submit a new and improved bid for the Santos left-back after seeing their initial £8.5 million offer rejected.

Now, as per a fresh update from journalist Eduardo Burgos this evening, Spurs have been given encouragement in their pursuit of the Brazilian.

Souza keen to join Tottenham as Spurs ready double-your-money offer

Taking to X, Burgos reports that Souza is keen on the idea of joining Tottenham for various reasons, like the sporting project on offer and the opportunity to live in London.

He also reveals that Spurs' second bid for the teenager will be worth nearly 'double' their initial offer, with 'busy days' expected as Frank's side try to get him over the line.

Souza, who made 29 appearances for Santos last season, bagging a goal and two assists from full-back, is very highly-rated amid reports that AC Milan and BlueCo are also pondering a move for him.

However, as things stand, it is Spurs who are in pole position to sign the Brazilian Serie A talent this month, and he could be their first arrival of the winter.

To Dare Is To Do. Tottenham Hotspur supporters are strict adherents to this way of football, and so they are at odds with Thomas Frank, given his pragmatic tactical identity.

Though it's been another frustrating campaign for Spurs, it's worth remembering that the 2024/25 campaign, for all the struggle, ended with a flourish after Manchester United were beaten in the Europa League final.

There has been something of a clamour for a new centre-forward, with all of Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke all struggling in different ways, but it is a dearth of creativity that is the true crux of Frank's struggle, and ENIC Group are consequently prepared to invest in a playmaker this month.

Spurs lining up playmaker in January

Brennan Johnson's sale to Crystal Palace had been in the works for a while, but Mohammed Kudus picked up a hamstring injury during Tottenham's recent draw against Sunderland, thus putting a spanner in the works.

The Ghanaian winger has been one of the brighter sparks down N17 this season, having joined from West Ham United for £55m during the summer. His haul of five assists places him fifth in the Premier League playmaking charts.

But Kudus is not a natural ball-playing creative, and that's why the Lilywhites have identified an exciting new attacking midfielder.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs representatives have made checks on AS Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, who has a price tag of £50m and is also being chased by Manchester City, Newcastle United and a host of further European suitors.

Tottenham scouts have been in attendance at some of Akliouche's games of late, and club-to-club talks were held last summer, so the groundwork has been completed if the Londoners now want to push and get the deal done.

Why Akliouche would be perfect for Spurs

Akliouche, 23, has become an increasingly important presence for Monaco in recent years, scoring 19 goals and supplying 22 assists across 119 senior appearances since graduating from their famed youth academy.

This season, he has scored three goals and supplied five assists from 23 fixtures in all competitions, with his artistry on the ball leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him as a "magician" who has a "left foot made of gold".

He is not blessed with Kudus' electric pace, but the five-cap Les Bleus star has showcased his technicality and athleticism in the Champions League this season, ranking among the top 10% of positional peers for progressive passes and the top 19% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Moreover, he has created seven big chances from only 15 starts in Ligue 1 this season, thus underscoring a level of flair on the ball that could help lift Tottenham away from their playmaking rut.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

While Tottenham chiefs may want to sign a snappier winger after Johnson's departure - and Kudus' injury - this might be an opportunity that is too good to pass, with his particular skillset seemingly fit to dovetail into the system and instantly provide relief in the club's attacking play.

Kudus is a fantastic player, almost one-of-a-kind in his ability to dart past opponents and wreak havoc in and around the danger area.

But he's not a natural playmaker, and that's why Akliouche could prove an upgrade on him down the right, given the glaring deficiencies down N17 right now.

Akliouche is still at the start of a promising career, and having established himself as a future superstar in his homeland, Tottenham should take a punt and add to Frank's squad the kind of creative talent who could make a real, lasting difference.

Tottenham Hotspur are now being kept informed about a "phenomenal" Premier League forward, with his club open to a sale during the current window.

Spurs keen on new striker amid attacking woes

Tottenham were booed off after the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Sunday, which means they now sit 13th in the Premier League table, and it is no surprise, considering another lacklustre attacking display was offered up.

Spurs once again failed to create a significant number of good opportunities, recording an xG of just 1.18 throughout the match, just days after putting in a disappointing display against Brentford, which former midfielder Jamie O'Hara criticised.

Something clearly needs to change, with Thomas Frank either needing to implement a more attractive brand of football, or to strengthen his squad in the current transfer window.

The Lilywhites have already set out to sign a new winger, identifying the likes of AS Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche and RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande as potential targets, and they are also looking at bringing in a new centre-forward.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Tottenham are one of a number of clubs to have enquired about Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jorgen Strand Larsen, and they are now being kept informed about the striker's situation.

Wolves are now willing to sanction Strand Larsen's departure for a fee of £40m this month - £20m less than their previous price tag - given that his value is likely to drop further at the end of the season, with Rob Edwards' side almost certain to be relegated from the top flight.

Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham are also being notified about the Norwegian, alongside Newcastle United, so there could be widespread competition for his signature.

"Phenomenal" Strand Larsen needs fresh start

The Old Gold have amassed just six points all season in the Premier League, and their striker has failed to make an impact, having only found the back of the net on one occasion.

However, the 24-time Norway international has proven he is capable of delivering in the top flight, netting a very respectable 14 goals in 35 games to help fire Wolves to safety in the 2024-25 campaign.

With his side staring down the barrel of relegation, the centre-forward needs a fresh start, and his goal record indicates he would be able to kick on elsewhere, while Vitor Pereira also dubbed his former striker "phenomenal" earlier this year.

That said, it would be a gamble to sign Strand Larsen, considering his current form, and Richarlison has impressed at times this season, netting seven Premier League goals.

The pressure's never far away when you are Tottenham Hotspur manager, and Thomas Frank is undoubtedly feeling the heat as he leads his team into the New Year.

Spurs scored a critical win on the road at Crystal Palace to see off 2025, but home form hasn't been good enough all year, and something needs to give.

The January transfer window has opened up new opportunities for Frank, who has been given financial backing by ENIC Group. Multiple positions need tweaking, but the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace underlines the need for a new winger.

Spurs lining up Brennan Johnson replacement

With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison both sidelined with injuries this season, Tottenham's attacking flanks have left plenty to be desired. Mohammed Kudus was brought in this summer, but the loss of Heung-min Son and his talismanic presence has been keenly felt.

Aggravating the quandary, Johnson hasn't kicked on after scoring 18 goals last season, including the winner in the Europa League final.

That could now change, with co-directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici having earmarked an exciting transfer target whose ceiling reaches higher than Johnson's.

As per TEAMtalk, Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis has been added to the shortlist as a new top target, having ticked all the boxes in the scouting and analytical departments.

Tzolis, 23, was appraised at around £28m during the summer transfer window, when Palace registered interest. Now, the Eagles are out of the equation, and Spurs have a real shot at an exciting attacking talent.

Why Tzolis would be a Johnson upgrade

Tzolis has been "an incredible signing" for Club Brugge, having scored 15 goals and supplied 11 assists across all competitions this season. Last year, he notched 37 goal involvements in all competitions.

Naturally prolific and exciting to watch, "absolutely exceptional" since leaving Dusseldorf in the second tier of German football and developing his skillset in Belgium with Brugge, as has been recently stated by journalist Antonio Mango.

He's not only prolific in front of goal but pacy and electric too, willing to dart forward and into the danger area, then striking on goal or influencing play with fleet footwork and clever passes.

Stunning creative flair suggests he would be exactly what Frank needs at Tottenham, with an average of 2.8 key passes per Pro League match this term, as per Sofascore.

When looking at how he scrubs up against Johnson across all competitions over the past 12 months, it's clear that Spurs would land a more expansive talent.

Tzolis has long been regarded as an elite talent, but he's ebbed and flowed through his fledgling years. However, that's the life of a much-touted prospect, recognised and championed for their quality and expected, unfairly, to channel that talent week in and week out.

Now, though, the one-time Norwich City prospect is coming into his own and establishing himself as one of the most exciting wide forwards currently playing outside Europe's top five leagues. The best is yet to come.

Johnson will always be fondly remembered for his title-winning goal in Bilbao, but we can't deny that he's been out of sorts throughout the campaign.

His overall play has left something to be desired throughout his time in north London, and in Tzolis, Frank may land the requisite upgrade to pump more dynamism and range into Spurs' attacking build-up system.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing to sign a "ridiculous" new forward, who could be brought in as an alternative to RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.

Spurs eyeing new forward as Frank sets out to be more attacking

Speaking after the recent 0-0 draw against Brentford, Thomas Frank made it clear that he plans to play a more expansive brand of football in the future, but the present injury situation makes it difficult.

The Spurs boss said: "I think what will 100% happen is that we will score a lot of goals and be much more dominant in a lot of games, but in the current situation with a lot of players out, it makes it more tricky with a lot of games.

"We want us to be free-flowing. I think, a couple of things I want to reinforce positively is the last two away performances. To stand on the foundation we are building was very strong against Crystal Palace and Brentford."

Ultimately, the Lilywhites haven't been good enough during Frank's tenure to date, having suffered disappointing defeats against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Fulham over the past month or so.

As such, the manager must take his fair share of criticism, but the players are also culpable, and it is clear the manager wants to improve his personnel, with an enquiry recently being lodged over a deal for RB Leipzig's Diomande.

However, Tottenham are also looking at alternatives to the Ivory Coast international, according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states they are now pushing to sign AS Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche.

A deal for the forward would be on the expensive side, as the French club are expected to hold out for over £50m, but interest from Spurs persists, having made checks on Akliouche during his side's 3-1 defeat against Lyon on Saturday.

The north Londoners are looking to make a game-changing attacking signing, and there is plenty of evidence the Monaco star could be a solid addition to Frank's forward line.

"Ridiculous" Akliouche could tear it up at Spurs

Lauded as "ridiculous" by scout Ben Mattinson, the 23-year-old has been a key player for Monaco over the past three seasons, regularly contributing with goals and assists in Ligue 1.

Having impressed at club level, the winger has now been capped five times by France, and manager Didier Deschamps praised him back in November, saying: "Even if there are lots of attacking players and lots of absentees, he has moved up a notch to be more decisive."

Akliouche is a good age to be a long-term success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and having established himself as a key player for Monaco, while also impressing for France, the right-winger could be capable of immediately pushing for Mohammed Kudus' starting spot.

Tottenham Hotspur are now preparing a winter move for an "impeccable" defender, amid doubts over Radu Dragusin's future in north London.

Spurs looking to strengthen in defence with Frank under pressure

Tottenham have struggled to put together a consistent run in the Premier League, recently drawing 0-0 at Brentford, and there has been speculation over Thomas Frank's future in north London, with Oliver Glasner, Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola being shortlisted last month.

The Dane has even admitted he hasn't been enjoying his time in the Spurs dugout, saying: "When you need to ​put in a big, big shift and it’s not smooth, and it’s tough, it’s probably ‍difficult to enjoy it.

"If I run hard, I don't enjoy that moment but I know I need ‍to keep my ‌head down and run hard to get through it. We are in a situation where you need to run hard, to stay in it."

Frank's defence hasn't been the main issue, with the Lilywhites keeping clean sheets in their last two matches, but a lack of attacking quality has been a real problem, recording an xG of just 0.86 in the goalless draw against Brentford last time out.

However, there are now doubts over Dragusin's future at Tottenham, with Crystal Palace making an approach to sign the Romanian, which means Frank may need to bring in another centre-back this month, and a move for Udinese's Oumar Solet is now being prepared.

The speculation surrounding Dragusin's future means Spurs are eager to strengthen at the back, and Solet, who is represented by the same agent as Brennan Johnson, has now emerged as a January transfer target.

However, there may be plenty of competition for the Frenchman's signature, with Chelsea, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Manchester United also being named as potential suitors.

"Impeccable" Solet could be solid Dragusin replacement

Dragusin, who rakes in £85k-a-week has only just returned from a long injury lay-off, appearing for the first time since January 2025 in the 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace, but if Tottenham sanction the 23-year-old's departure this month, the Udinese defender could be a solid replacement.

Lauded as "impeccable" by Italian journalist Leonardo Bertozzi, the 25-year-old is strong at winning back possession, while he has also displayed an impressive ability to drive the ball up the pitch over the past year.

The colossus, who stands at a towering 6 foot 4, also displayed his attacking quality when he scored his first Serie A goal back in March.

Solet is clearly a very well-rounded defender, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, so Tottenham should look to get a deal done if Dragusin leaves this month.

Tottenham Hotspur need to improve across the second half of the 2025/26 campaign, 13th in the Premier League after the midpoint and yet to kindle a sense of culture and identity under Thomas Frank.

It's important to remember that the Danish tactician, who worked wonders in west London with Brentford, has had a mountain to climb down N17, with Spurs slumping to a 17th-place league finish with Ange Postecoglou last year, albeit winning the Europa League too.

But Frank hasn't helped himself, unable to get an attacking tune out of his players. That needs to change this month, and the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace has been a first step toward that.

Spurs lining up Brennan Johnson replacement

It was Johnson who bundled in the winning goal against Manchester United in Bilbao to end so many years of silverware-searching. That was the Welshman's 18th of the season, but he's fallen flat since the summer.

Johnson has a natural goal sense, but his overall play simply hasn't been good enough, and that's why Frank has allowed him to go.

But a replacement is now needed.

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are growing increasingly confident that they might be able to act on their long-standing interest in Manchester City winger Savinho, whose future at the Etihad is in jeopardy amid Pep Guardiola's bid to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

Tottenham enquired last summer, but to no avail. Now, a deal could be struck, but for a rather hefty £63m fee.

Why Savinho could be a star at Spurs

In 2024, Manchester City signed Savinho from sister club Troyes for about £31m, and he made quite a positive impression throughout his debut campaign in England, providing energy and pace and creative impetus.

He's tapered away from that exciting level this season, but Savinho has been used sporadically, only starting six times in the Premier League.

Even so, the 21-year-old still ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his potential as one of the most athletic wide forwards in the business.

A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

Hailed for his "electric turn of pace" by City-focused content creator Steve McInerney, Savinho has all he needs to become a standout winger for Tottenham, with his specific skillset perhaps even comparable to Gareth Bale back in the retired Welshman's heyday.

Bale needs no introduction. One of the finest players of his generation, the Wales legend left Spurs for Real Madrid in a world record deal back in 2013, returning for a nostalgic stint in 2020/21.

Savinho has a long way to go before he can be considered in the same breath, but he's immensely talented and unquestionably one of the fleetest wingers in the game, sharing qualities with the Tottenham icon in that regard.

See, for example, how he ranks up against Johnson over the past year - it's clear to see that he offers far more.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has even singled the Brazilian winger out for being able to zip past opponents and complete the "type of Gareth Bale" finishes that drew such acclaim throughout his career.

Savinho isn't there yet, but he notched eight assists from just 21 Premier League starts in his first year, and it's worth remembering that Bale took some time to get going after his move from Southampton way back when.

If Tottenham succeed in landing and then harnessing such a player, they might just restore the kind of attacking intent craved and not seen for so many years.

It's a new year, and fans will be hoping for a new Tottenham Hotspur, one whose attacking play is sharper and whose home form in the Premier League is sterner for opponents.

Spurs shouldn't be too gloom and doom about their fortunes, only four points behind fifth-place Chelsea at the season's midpoint, but Thomas Frank's football has left much to be desired so far, and the Danish coach has been candid in his assertion that he is not enjoying his time at the helm given the sombre mood about N17.

Frank will be given time, but those in the ENIC head offices will have considered the possibility that Frank will be axed down the line, should results and performances not improve this term.

Who could replace Frank at Spurs

The managerial market is slim right now, and the Lewis family will be hesitant to pull the plug on a project they started at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, boldly dismissing Ange Postecoglou after he led Tottenham to the Europa League, albeit finishing 17th in the Premier League too.

But this hasn't stopped murmurings of new names circulating, with Premier League trio Oliver Glasner, Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola all shortlisted in December, as per Football Insider.

However, prising any of these names away will come with risks, and Spurs could instead look to land a manager with an understanding of what it takes to lead this club and champion the culture, so important to the fans.

Perhaps that's why rumours of a return to the club have been touted for Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine coach is currently preparing USMNT for a 2026 World Cup that will be principally held in the United States, but this hasn't stopped Caught Offside from revealing last month that his name has popped up during internal managerial conversations, and that he is actually the frontrunner should push come to shove.

Frank may not be sacked any time soon, with the January transfer window sure to bring new additions in line with Frank's vision, but continued poor results and performances might force the club's hand/

Why Pochettino would be the right fit for Spurs

Some Tottenham supporters might voice concerns about going back to an ex - and one who has since been with Chelsea - but Pochettino knows the club and understands that To Dare Is To Do.

The 53-year-old has managed 294 matches in the Premier League, and he led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, creating a balanced and exciting team who were lauded for their initiative and easy-on-the-eye play.

Journalist Alex Keble rather brazenly remarked in 2019 that Poch was a "genius" who was "too good" for Tottenham, though this related to former chairman Daniel Levy's miserly reputation, consistently pegged as a man who would not spend and match the ambitions of Premier League rivals.

Now, this new version of Tottenham are ready to challenge the big boys and establish themselves at the very top of domestic and European football, and Pochettino could be the perfect man to achieve this, bringing a brand of attacking football that could far surpass Frank's more pragmatic tactics.

Rooted in stability and adaptability, the Spurs boss did great things with Brentford, but he's failed to translate that shrewd coaching ability to north London, with Tottenham among the least effective creators in England this year.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

It's not good enough, and while Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison continue to await their seasonal debuts as they recover from long-term injuries, Frank knows that things need to improve promptly if he is to build a long-term tenure.

Should that not be the case, Pochettino might be the perfect pick. He has a hunger to win silverware in the English game, and that might be the perfect combination with a deep connection and love for the Lilywhite club.