Football FanCast

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.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has lavished praise on a player he's used quite sparingly recently, following a run of impressive performances in training lately.

Thomas Frank dealt a creativity concern at Tottenham

Spurs' recent run of games all carry a recurring theme — that being the Lilywhites' shortage of creative spark.

As a result, concerns surround the team’s ingenuity, or lack there of, in the final third — with a series of underwhelming attacking performances ultimately exposing an absence of real inventiveness for the most part.

From a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend to a scrappy 2-1 win at Leeds prior to the international break, alongside their dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Wolves and a disappointing stalemate away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, it is quite fair to say that Frank's side have struggled to consistently unlock defenses.

It took late comebacks to rescue a point against Bodo/Glimt and bottom Premier League side Wolves, which was a real worry for Frank, while two deflected efforts from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus nicked a scrappy victory at Elland Road.

Against Villa, despite Rodrigo Bentancur getting the home side off to a flying start, Spurs appeared to mostly sit on that lead and didn't create many clear-cut openings thereafter.

This gifted Unai Emery's side a route back into the game, with two wonder goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia condemning Frank to Spurs' first defeat in all competitions since their 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.

Summer signing Xavi Simons, who came from RB Leipzig with high expectations, has struggled to impose his attacking flair in games, and this has led to criticism aimed at the Dutchman as he continues adapting to a new country and the toughest league in world football.

Frank, speaking in his pre-Monaco press conference, moved to defend Simons once again.

"Xavi, I think there were some good bits that we worked with him and I asked him to be more arriving in the box, which when I looked the game back, he did," Frank told reporters.

"Was there the big eye-catching moment? No, but there were good glimpses. So, I think it's constantly going a little bit in the right direction.”

The manager also made an interesting claim about last season's top scorer, Brennan Johnson, who's largely been limited to substitute appearances recently.

The Wales international finished 2024/2025 with 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions, including that Europa League final-winning strike against Man United — arguably the most vital contribution of Tottenham's recent history.

Thomas Frank says Brennan Johnson has scored for fun in training lately

Despite this, Johnson has been reduced to brief substitute cameos in each of Tottenham's last five Premier League outings, but did start in their last European outing against Bodo/Glimt.

Kudus, who's impressed as one of Spurs' star players of the campaign so far, is largely responsible for keeping Johnson glued to the bench.

However, Frank is adamant that the 24-year-old remains a "very important" player, and says that Johnson has been scoring a lot of goals in Tottenham training lately as he bids to battle his way back into the team.

"Brennan is a very important player," said Frank, via football.london.

"He's fantastic, important goal last season. Also the top scorer, I think, in the club last year. He also started the season well. He has scored two good goals. So, again, probably a little bit down to how we put the players out that make it fit.

"Brennan has trained very well the last couple of weeks, doing what he's doing very well, scoring goals in training, which is important to keep, showing that I'm not taking the right decision if he's not in the team. I think Brennan can play both to the left and to the right, as we said before.

"Of course, Mohamed Kudus has done very well on the right, for example. Then on the left, I actually think Wilson has done well. So it's just a little bit of competition. Brennan just needs to keep going. He will get his games."

Johnson’s pace and clinical finishing offer Spurs a valuable attacking option, especially when the team needs fresh energy.

If he continues to impress in training and seizes opportunities on the pitch, Johnson has the potential to become a key figure in Tottenham’s squad once again.

His past numbers reflect how the ex-Nottingham Forest sensation could still have a key role to play for Frank, with only Dominic Solanke and Tel averaging more shots per 90 for Tottenham in the league last season.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are still yet to return from their long-term injuries as well, and once they do, Spurs will surely be a real force going forward, with Randal Kolo Muani also getting up to speed and Solanke poised to return soon.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is in danger of repeating a fatal Ange Postecoglou mistake as new co-sporting director Fabio Paratici looks to spare his blushes.

Thomas Frank given clear Tottenham issues to solve as unbeaten streak ends

Last Sunday, Unai Emery's Aston Villa stole all three points from a Spurs side who seriously lacked cutting edge in the final third.

The Lilywhites looked to be in dreamland when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring with just five minutes on the clock, but they failed to press their advantage and allowed Villa a route back into the game.

Wonder strikes from Morgan Rogers, who is reportedly on Tottenham's radar as a transfer target, and Emiliano Buendia ended Spurs' brief unbeaten streak that was largely down to the grit and resilience of their defence.

It took two deflected efforts from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus to hand the north Londoners a scrappy 2-1 win at Leeds just prior to the international break, while Frank's men only just managed to escape from Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League with a draw after late drama.

The same can be said for their previous Premier League home game against bottom side Wolves, with summer signing Joao Palhinha's side-footed screamer in added time ultimately sparing their blushes against inferior opposition.

While there is a case to be made that Spurs have displayed a solidarity which was largely absent from Postecoglou's final season in charge, concerns surround their lack of creative spark.

Summer signing Xavi Simons has also been criticised for his lack of goal involvement since joining from RB Leipzig, in a deal which could cost Tottenham a whopping £125 million if he stays for the length of his potential seven-year contract (Paul O'Keefe).

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain out for Spurs too, as Frank looks to solve their central creativity problem, but that is something new director Paratici could assist with.

Paratici, after months of reports linking him with a return to N17, was confirmed as the club's co-sporting director last week, and he'll be working alongside Johan Lange as the pair take on the same title with two different roles.

Lange is responsible for the data-driven recruitment side of things, including scouting, while Paratici is Tottenham's 'dealmaker', who'll be tasked with getting big-money signings over the line (Michael Bridge).

Paratici's new 'major priority' as Frank looks to avoid fatal Ange mistake at Tottenham

As relayed by TEAMtalk, signing a "difference-maker" in the engine room, one who can link defence to attack, is rapidly becoming a "major priority" for Paratici at Tottenham.

Man United's Kobbie Mainoo, Rangers star Nicolas Raskin and Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton are apparently three options on their radar ahead of 2026, with Frank looking not to repeat one of his predecessors' fatal errors.

So far, Bentancur and Joao Palhinha have impressed individually since the start of this season, especially the latter, who's been their star man since joining from Bayern Munich on loan with a £26 million option to buy.

However, the pair arguably struggle to influence the creative side of things as deep-lying, tough-tackling anchors — even if they did link up for Tottenham's opener against Villa.

Much like how Postecoglou often deployed one of Yves Bissouma or Pape Sarr with Bentancur last term, Frank appears to be replicating that ineffective mistake with Palhinha and the latter this time around.

It is a tough conundrum for Frank to solve, as Palhinha is essentially undroppable right now, and Bentancur has equally proved his worth at times. However, as a pairing, they may not offer enough going forward.

Raskin is in the final two years of his contract and reports suggest that Rangers could sell him for around £20-25 million in January, so the Belgian could be an option to partner Palhinha in Frank's midfield.

Mainoo, whose deal also expires in 2027, could well entertain a January move considering his lack of game time under Ruben Amorim and the World Cup looming next year.

Tottenham Hotspur face Monaco in the Champions League tonight, looking to return to winning ways after the defeat to Aston Villa on home soil over the weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side will have huge expectations placed upon them in Europe this season, understandably so given their successes in the Europa League last campaign.

The Dane has already made an impressive start to life in Europe’s biggest club competition, winning one and drawing the other of their first two outings in 2025/26.

However, the meeting against the Ligue 1 outfit will present a tricky challenge, with Sebastien Pocognoli’s side holding Manchester City to a 2-2 draw at the start of the month.

If Frank is to claim another European victory as the Lilywhites boss, he will likely need one of his current first-team members to be on top form in the South of France.

Xavi Simons’ disappointing start to life at Spurs

During the summer transfer window, the Spurs hierarchy made it clear they wanted to improve the options available to them within the attacking midfield positions.

After numerous failed attempts during the window, they decided to fork out a fee in the region of £52m for the signature of Dutch international Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

His tally of 19 combined goals and assists across all competitions generated huge excitement, but it’s safe to say his period in North London has failed to take off to date.

The 22-year-old has only registered one assist in his first eight outings for the Lilywhites, with his transfer now starting to be called into question by numerous pundits.

Simons has only created 1.3 chances per 90 and completed just 40% of his attempted dribbles - with the latter of his two stats ranking him within the 44th percentile of all players in the Premier League.

He’s also demonstrated a lack of physicality in England’s top-flight, only being on the winning side of 38% of his duels - with only 27% of players in the division winning fewer.

He desperately needs to find his form to justify his staggering transfer fee, but Frank can aid him against Monaco by starting one other first-team member tonight.

The Spurs player who can finally get Simons firing

Throughout the first few weeks of his time in North London, Simons has operated in a variety of different roles - with most of his playing time coming in an unnatural left-wing position.

Such a situation would likely have contributed to his recent lack of impact in attacking areas, with the manager needing to utilise him in his natural number ten position.

He created nearly double the amount of chances per 90 at Leipzig last campaign, further showcasing the levels he can produce when featuring behind the striker.

The centre-forward department has also been brought into question as of late, with Richarlison failing to back the faith shown in him by the new manager.

Dominic Solanke will certainly have been the number one option for Frank, but the Englishman’s constant setbacks with ankle injuries have prevented him from consistent first-team action.

Such scenarios should see the manager hand loanee Randal Kolo Muani his first start for the Lilywhites in the clash with Monaco later on this evening.

The Frenchman has only made 24 minutes of action for the club after joining from PSG on deadline day, but a European night under the lights could present an excellent chance to stake his claim for a starting role.

Kolo Muani, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former boss Christian Gourcuff, scored 10 goals in just 22 appearances at Juventus last season - highlighting his clinical ability in the final third.

Such talent within attacking areas could hugely benefit Simons, with the Dutchman having the opportunity to boost his assist tally alongside the Frenchman.

After all, this is a player who, in the words of the Bundesliga website, has the "hallmarks of Thierry Henry’s game". We're yet to see that since his move but there is no time like the present.

The big-money addition has completed 1.1 crosses per 90, too, with such numbers playing perfectly into the hands of the loanee who scored three headers last campaign.

Both players have ultimately struggled to match the expectations they arrived with in North London, but that could all change tonight if Frank hands them the chance to start together.

The pair could help the side maintain their unbeaten record in Europe this campaign and bolster their chances of claiming another European title.

Spending big money in the transfer market is something which is part and parcel of the modern game and needed to help bring about various levels of success.

Tottenham Hotspur have shown glimpses of splashing the cash in recent times, with the hierarchy spending over £400m in the last three years alone.

However, big spending doesn’t necessarily equate to success, with their latest investment in Xavi Simons appearing to be one that has struggled to hit the heights many expected.

The board forked out a fee in the region of £52m for the Dutchman’s signature, but he’s only registered one assist within his first eight outings across all competitions.

It may only be the early days of his stint in North London, but the 22-year-old desperately needs to find his best form to avoid being labelled a flop by the fanbase.

If Simons is unable to do so, he could be placed in the same category as one player who massively failed to deliver during his own stint in the Premier League.

The finances behind Tanguy Ndombele’s failed spell at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2019, excitement was at an all-time high at Spurs, after the hierarchy forked out a then club-record £63m on the signature of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.

The Frenchman joined from Lyon with real expectations of taking the first-team squad to the next level - understandably so given the nature of the transfer fee.

He was handed a five-year deal on a staggering £200k-per-week, but such a deal would turn out to be one of the worst in the club’s history due to the astronomical numbers involved, coupled with his lack of impact.

When combining the total spent on his signature and the wages the hierarchy paid him, such a deal ended up costing £104.2m, with the breakdown of such a cost highlighting how much money they wasted.

Ndombele only made 91 appearances for the Lilywhites during his five years in England’s top-flight - which works out at a staggering £1.1m per appearance he made in North London.

He also only netted 10 goals and registered nine assists, with his total of 19 goal contributions seeing the club fork out a total of £5.4m per contribution he made.

To top off his dismal spell in North London, the 28-year-old would depart on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 - further showcasing how much money they wasted on his signature.

The Spurs player who could become as big a waste as Ndombele

In the present day, Thomas Frank has the opportunity to break new ground for Spurs and build on the Europa League triumph at the back end of last season.

As previously mentioned, Simons was brought into the club to provide a needed boost in the final third, with Mohammed Kudus another player to make the move to North London.

The hierarchy forked out £55m for the Ghanaian’s signature, a hefty figure, but one that has appeared worthwhile given his immediate form in 2025/26.

He’s currently sitting on one goal and four assists across all competitions - currently boasting the highest combined tally of any player within the first-team squad.

The same can’t be said for fellow winger Wilson Odobert, with the Frenchman ultimately struggling to match the excitement his arrival last summer generated.

His transfer to join the Lilywhites came out of the blue, as the board paid a reported £25m for his signature after Burnley were relegated back to the Championship at the end of 2023/24.

Injuries massively plagued him in 2024/25, with the 20-year-old restricted to 21 appearances across all competitions - scoring just one goal in the Premier League as a result.

However, Frank’s arrival could have handed Odobert a fresh lease of life this campaign, but he’s so far been unable to take the initiative with both hands.

He’s already racked up 10 appearances in 2025/26, but has so far been unable to register a single goal or assist in any competition, with his underlying stats further highlighting his lack of positive impact.

The former Burnley star has only completed 0.5 crosses per 90, whilst only completing 52% of the dribbles he’s attempted - often being unable to beat the opposition defenders with the ball at his feet.

Odobert has also been wasteful in front of goal, only managing to place 28% of his shots on target to date - undoubtedly contributing to his disappointing return in the final third.

At 20, he still has bags of time to improve further, but it’s unclear if he will be able to do that in North London, given the pressure placed on his shoulders.

He’s been tasked with replacing Heung-min Son this campaign, so far to no avail, with such a deal being a waste of money if he’s unable to find the form that saw the club spend big money on his signature.

Last season, Tottenham Hotspur were made to bemoan defensive injuries. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven missed extensive periods through injury. As did full-back Destiny Udogie.

Is it any great surprise, therefore, that Ange Postecoglou's backline looked such a mess? Perhaps not, but the Aussie was still stubborn enough to refuse change.

Thomas Frank certainly seems more flexible with his style of football but one of the first things he has corrected is that leaky backline.

Only three teams, Arsenal (3), Manchester City (6) and Sunderland (6), have shipped fewer goals than Spurs (7) in the top-flight this term.

Yet, are things beginning to unravel in similar circumstances to Ange? Like the club's former boss, Frank has now suffered his first big injury blow at the back.

Romero limped off during the warm-up of their game with Aston Villa and after initially being selected, was not fit enough to start. Without their captain, the Lilywhites suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Frank won't fret quite yet, but he must find a way to get more of a tune out of his attack. Big-money summer signing Xavi Simons will play a big part in that.

Why Spurs need to see improvement from Xavi Simons

Even before James Maddison suffered a terrible ACL injury during pre-season, Frank and Co had made efforts to bring Nottingham Forest talisman Morgan Gibbs-White to north London.

We all know how that saga ended but Spurs' pursuit of a new dynamic number 10 seemed cursed at one point.

It looked for all the world as though they were set to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. A deal was agreed and he was allegedly on his way to Spurs. Instead, a last-minute U-turn saw him head to boyhood club Arsenal. The solution was Simons.

The Dutchman had been courted by Chelsea but it was the Blues' London rivals who eventually concluded a deal, snapping him up for £52m, a move that made him Spurs' fifth-most expensive signing of all time.

This was an exciting acquisition. After all, he did score 11 goals and register eight assists for RB Leipzig in Germany last season.

Sadly, we're yet to see the best of him in white. He is yet to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League and his only goal involvement, an assist against West Ham, came on his English top-flight debut. The Netherlands maestro has not scored or assisted since then.

For such a big-money signing, Frank needs to see more from him but it's not as though he isn't trying. Perhaps there's a simple solution to all of this; Spurs need better players in their forward line.

How Spurs can get more out of Xavi Simons

How supporters must long for the days of Harry Kane and a prime Heung-min Son.

The duo aren't showing any signs of slowing down away from Spurs with Kane simply in the form of his life this campaign, netting 19 times in 11 games for Bayern Munich.

As far as Son is concerned, he's been lighting up MLS with his displays for LA FC. The South Korean has nine goals and three assists in his first ten outings for the club.

So, to see where the Spurs forward line is now will no doubt make a few fans hide behind the sofa. Combine the loss of Son with injuries to Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski and you have a real patched-together front line.

Dominik Solanke has played just 31 minutes of league football due to injury in 2025/26 while Richarlison has only beaten the goalkeeper once in his last seven Premier League matches.

As for the French youngster, Wilson Odobert, he is yet to score at all across ten games in all competitions.

With such a glut of misfiring players, is it any surprise that Simons has endured a difficult beginning at Spurs?

A look at the numbers tells us that the Dutch midfielder is struggling without a fluid forward line. Worryingly, he's playing fewer passes per 90 minutes than he did last season at Leipzig. That ultimately means he's creating fewer goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

He needs the players in front of him to make better runs and there is no better example of that than the aforementioned Odobert.

The former Burnley man, signed for £25m, is still a particularly raw prospect. He's exciting and fleet-footed but he needs to be doing more to help Simons out.

The big-money summer arrival traditionally operates in the pockets of space on the left-hand side and it's on the left flank where Odobert tends to operate. The clip below demonstrates precisely what we're talking about.

Mathys Tel has the ball on the edge of the box and all he needs is for a few defenders to be dragged away by an overlapping run from Odobert to potentially feed Simons in acres of space.

What does the Frenchman do? He surges right into the area where Tel is aiming for, reducing the space and cutting out a chance to get a shot or pass away.

Had Odobert made an overlapping run, he'd have created more room for Spurs' number 7 and potentially even received the ball himself. As Jamie O'Hara said after the game, he and Tel can be "painful" to watch.

The 20-year-old is a marmite figure. He did a fair bit right against Aston Villa, completing four of his five dribbles but he needs better end product.

He missed an OPTA-defined big chance on Sunday and only completed one key pass. If Odobert can marry his trickery with the ability to make better runs and make himself an option for Simons then things will improve.

Until then, however, it would be better if the Netherlands star operated from the left flank instead or someone like Brennan Johnson operated there.

Throughout multiple generations, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been blessed with the opportunity to witness numerous elite-level attackers in North London.

Gareth Bale is just one example of a first-team member who has captured the hearts of the fanbase as a result of his ability to impress within the final third.

The Welshman became infamous for his right-sided role, which often saw him glide past the opposition before finding the top corner after cutting inside onto his favoured left foot.

However, current boss Thomas Frank doesn’t quite have that luxury at present, that’s despite the hierarchy backing the Dane with over £100m worth of transfers in his first window.

That could be about to change in the coming months, as returning Sporting Director Fabio Paratici looks to recruit numerous new attackers to bolster the club’s Premier League standing.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been strongly linked with a move to land Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo after his impressive start to the campaign.

The Ghanaian has scored six times and registered three assists to date, with the Lilywhites reported with a potential attempt to land the 25-year-old in the winter window.

However, the Cherries star isn’t the only star on their radar, with TBR Football claiming that Paratici is extremely keen on a move for Porto talisman Samu Aghehowa in the near future.

The report states that the Sporting Director is a huge admirer of the 21-year-old attacker who has scored 35 times in his 54 appearances for the Portuguese outfit.

It also claims that the Spaniard has an £87m release clause within his current deal, but he could be available at a cut-price given his current employers’ financial situation.

Why Samu could be Spurs' best forward since Kane

Just like Bale, Harry Kane is another player who has forever put himself in Spurs history as a result of his performances over a sustained period in North London.

The England international made himself the best-ever forward in the Lilywhites’ history, scoring a staggering 280 goals during his decade at the club - the most of any player in history.

However, the club’s lack of tangible success on the field saw the 32-year-old depart to join Bayern Munich in an £82m transfer back in the summer of 2023.

Kane’s departure has left a huge hole in the attack, with Frank subsequently having to rely on forwards such as Richarlison and Dominic Solanke after taking the reins.

The Brazilian has only netted three times in 2025/26, whilst the latter of the duo has been restricted to just 31 minutes of league action this season due to a recurring ankle issue.

However, Frank could be blessed by the addition of Samu, with the Spaniard having all the tools to make himself the club’s next big-name talisman - potentially taking the first-team to new heights.

When comparing the Porto star’s stats with those of Kane from the current season, he’s managed to better the former Lilywhites man in numerous key attacking departments.

Samu, who’s been dubbed a “freak of nature” by one analyst, has posted a better shot on target accuracy rate, which has seen him take advantage of more chances that have been handed his way.

He’s also completed more short passes to date, whilst also winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered - numbers which make him the perfect hold-up striker.

However, the 21-year-old is also more than capable of driving past the opposition himself, as seen by his 50% take-on success rate - a tally that is higher than what Kane has been able to muster.

Such numbers highlight the all-round quality the Porto star possesses at present, but he’s only going to get better as he continues his development in the professional game.

Should he make the move to North London, he would have huge expectations placed upon him - mainly due to the levels achieved by Kane during his own stint at the club.

However, Samu has already showcased he’s able to create carnage for the opposition, with Paratici needing to work tirelessly to land the Spaniard’s signature in the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur took the lead in short time against Aston Villa at the weekend, and Thomas Frank's clear impetus on fast starts is an exciting addition indeed.

But Spurs failed to make that early advantage count as Unai Emery's Villa gained momentum and left with the spoils in the Premier League. Tottenham's wretched home form drags on.

Evident is the deep creative issue the Lilywhites are struggling to uproot at the moment. But there's much room for optimism, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski working hard to return from their long-term injuries.

Such midfielders are the playmaking stars in north London, true, but Xavi Simons was signed as a difference-maker, and he's failing to inspire thus far.

Xavi Simons' Spurs career so far

Simons, 22, joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig this summer for around £51m. The Netherlands international has long been regarded among the brightest talents of his age bracket, and he posted 22 goals and 24 assists across two seasons in Germany.

But the English game is a tough one, and across eight fixtures in a Tottenham shirt so far, Simons has yet to open his account, assisting once, on his debut against West Ham United.

He's a tenacious little player but needs to get up to speed with the pace and rigorousness of the Premier League, and find his footing from a creative standpoint too.

Considering the injured midfielders working hard to return could threaten Simons' starting berth in the coming months, there's a case to be made that Frank will utilise the one-time Barcelona academy star from a wider berth.

But with Mikey Moore currently out on loan with Rangers, that spot may well be taken in the years to come.

The Spurs teenager coming for Mikey Moore's shirt number

Moore is still only 18, but already he has featured 21 times for Tottenham's senior set-up, scoring once and assisting two goals. Scouts have lauded him for his "world-class" potential, and he had a big fan in Ange Postecoglou.

Last season, en route to Tottenham's Europa League triumph, the teenager bagged his first senior goal against IF Elfsborg, drawing all the plaudits.

Hailed as a "superstar" of a prospect by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore's dynamic approach to his game will serve him well as his physical development continues, and though he's struggled on loan with Rangers this term, that is more of a reflection of the sinking ship that is Ibrox, embroiled in so many problems this season.

The England U19 captain, with seven goals from 13 games, operates across the frontline, but the left channel is ostensibly the position he is most naturally suited to, with his electric pace and ability to leave defenders munching dust lending itself to the role.

And, while he has yet to establish himself as a prolific force on the senior stage, Moore's staggering returns on the development scene have created quite the noise around his name. In the U18 Premier League, for example, the diminutive forward posted 17 goals and 12 assists across just 22 appearances. ​​​​​​

Already, the fleet-footed talent ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues this season for assists per 90, data courtesy of FBref, and this natural-born creativity is something Tottenham could clearly add to their ranks right now, especially with Simons flattering to deceive.

Simons is an immensely talented attacking midfielder, and he will surely come good, but Moore is a one-of-a-kind talent, striking that balance between entertaining, showpiece football and the intelligent and calculated approach needed to steer through the many grittier moments of a campaign.

Youth scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Moore as "one of the most talented players of his generation in Europe", and there's no question that Spurs expect him to play a pivotal role under Frank's wing in the years to come.

Last season, former Spurs boss Postecoglou had said he's "very mature for a 17-year-old", able to grasp the different facets of multi-positional play while retaining prolificness at youth level.

Maddison has even made the rather bold claim of Moore being Neymar-esque when carrying the ball down the wing, artful and elegant but also in full control.

This current campaign will teach him a thing or two about adversity, with Rangers having won just one of their opening eight Premiership matches, languishing some 13 points behind surprise league leaders Hearts.

Of course, there's nothing to say that Simons and Moore couldn't operate in harmony in the Tottenham attack, but, as acknowledged already, Kulusevski and Maddison are currently recovering on the sidelines.

The success of Spurs' Swedish star when shuffled into a central creative berth underscores the size of the task in front of Simons, who was criticised by football.london for his 'poor' performance against Aston Villa at the weekend, hit with a 5/10 match rating.

All told, Frank has still made a steady start to life at the Tottenham helm, but he has several creases to iron out, and if Simons continues to struggle in his creative role, Moore might just return and find a pathway toward the starting line-up.

He has already been billed as a teenage talent with the potential to feature on the Premier League billboards, and that will soon be put to the test under Frank's leadership.

Ange Postecoglou said something curious before Mr Marinakis dismissed him from his short-lived Nottingham Forest post. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss ruefully spoke of Harry Kane, and how he wished to have enjoyed the England captain's services for at least one year.

Kane left for Bayern Munich in 2023, ending his Spurs career just months after writing his name into the history books as the club's all-time record scorer.

Over two years later, it would take a bold argument to claim that the Londoners have effectively replaced their former talisman, with Dominic Solanke plagued by injuries since arriving in 2024 and Richarlison, injury-prone himself, too inconsistent in front of goal.

Richarlison's season in numbers

Thomas Frank is implementing a new playing style at Tottenham, and it's been a solid start for the former Brentford boss, with his Spurs side trailing second-place Manchester City by just two points in the Premier League.

However, his declaration at the start of the campaign that Richarlison would be his starting number nine didn't stay true for that long, with the Brazilian having started from the bench on each of Tottenham's past two league matches.

He might have scored a brace on the opening day of the term, against Burnley, but the 28-year-old has since netted just once across 11 matches in all competitions, with the ever-outspoken Gabby Agbonlahor claiming Spurs have a problem in the dynamic forward, who will enjoy a purple patch and then "give absolutely zero" across the next several weeks.

We know there has been recent curiosity from the Saudi Pro League regarding Richarlison's signature, and Everton were linked with their old forward this summer too.

He's never quite lived up to the price tag at Tottenham, and it would hardly come as a shock if he were sold in 2026. For a big price tag and proven success beforehand, it's not unreasonable that the club might have hoped for more at this stage, and it may even be that the new version has been signed this summer.

Spurs' new version of Richarlison

Tottenham showed their ambition this summer, and the £51m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig was the showpiece signing.

The 22-year-old had been chased by Chelsea all summer, but Spurs prevailed in August and landed the "superstar" of a talent, which was exactly what journalist Graeme Bailey confirmed the north London bosses felt they had secured.

So far, we haven't seen that world-class talent, with Simons having assisted one goal and gone without a strike for himself across eight appearances in all competitions.

Bundles of talent, a hefty price tag and concerns about consistency - might Simons be the next version of Richarlison?

When plying his trade for PSV Eindhoven, for example, the Dutchman enjoyed an exceptional performance against Arsenal in the Europa League, and so clearly has the skillset to thrive against the Premier League's finest.

And, moreover, he shares with Richarlison a willingness to get stuck in and contribute defensively. His physicality could do with some work, sure, but the 5 foot 6 talent has the right profile.

However, he's yet to showcase his prolific quality under Frank's wing, and if a certain patchiness on the output front becomes a marker of Simons' time at Spurs, he could very much end up leaving with a reputation similar to that of Richarlison: talented and tenacious, but lacking consistency.

Having arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a big fee and with a weight of expectation, there are parallels between Tottenham's signing of Simons and that former deal for Richarlison.

There is, of course, plenty of time for Simons to get himself up to speed, but with injured pair James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski waiting in the wings, there's little question that he needs to start proving his worth and helping steer Tottenham toward success at the start of this new chapter.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici is now personally driving a move for an "absolute powerhouse" with the same agent as Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs looking to sign new striker amid Tel struggles

After being left out of Tottenham's Champions League squad, Mathys Tel has now admitted he was left fuming with the decision, saying: "To be honest, I was very, very mad for a lot of weeks. But I was like, 'use this and show him you need to be on the squad list'.

"Bad things help me more than good things to be better. So I will face a lot of bad things, but I'm going to be OK with that. I'm not in the squad list right now, but I will do everything to be in the squad list in January."

However, Thomas Frank's decision to omit Tel is starting to look more justified, with the striker putting in a very poor performance in the 2-1 home defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, before being replaced by Richarlison due to a calf issue.

The Frenchman failed to have any real impact on the match, touching the ball just 15 times, while also squandering one big chance before his withdrawal on the hour mark.

As such, it may come as no surprise to learn that Tottenham are looking to sign a new striker, according to a report from The Boot Room, with Paratici personally driving a deal for FC Porto striker Samu Omorodion, but it could be very expensive.

Omorodion has a £87m release clause included in his Porto contract, although there is a feeling he may be available for a lower fee, given the Portuguese club's current financial situation.

With Dominic Solanke struggling on the injury front, and Tel yet to make a real impact, it could make sense to bring in a new striker, but the Porto star is not the only option on the shortlist, with Juventus' Dušan Vlahović still of interest.

"Powerhouse" Omorodion could take Spurs' attack to next level

Unlike Tel, the Porto star has made a fantastic start to the campaign, having already chipped in with eight goals in nine matches in all competitions, most recently bagging a hat-trick against CD Celoricense in the Taca de Portugal.

Ben Mattinson has also suggested the 21-yeasr-old is destined to play at the very highest level, with the scout being left particularly impressed by his physical attributes.

Tottenham could certainly do with bringing in a new striker, given that Tel has struggled, while Richarlison and Solanke have suffered various injury setbacks, and Omorodion, who has the same agent as Kudus, has proven he could take their attack to the next level.