Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur created a triumphant atmosphere toward the end of their frenzied Premier League clash with Manchester United down N17. Two late goals had turned the clash on its head and the home side were moments away from three points.

But Red Devils defender Matthijs de Ligt headed home from a corner at the eleventh hour, and Thomas Frank's side had to settle for a draw.

The deflation was felt across the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with this team of talented players still caught in a continuous state of ebb and flow. They may sit third in the Premier League after 11 matches, but improvements are needed both mentally and in attack.

The truth is that Tottenham weren't up to scratch throughout the first half, and while they improved after the break, it didn't prove to be enough as Ruben Amorim's mini-revival continues.

Spurs' worst performers vs Man Utd

Tottenham's draw to Manchester United was as dramatic as they come. However, it was a game that accentuated the flaws in Frank's team, having struggled to create chances in the first half and finally up things around on home soil, with the Londoners having won only seven of 24 home matches since the start of last season.

Several stars weren't at the races. Guglielmo Vicario should have been stronger in repelling De Ligt's last-gasp effort, while Pedro Porro toiled from a defensive standpoint at right-back.

Randal Kolo Muani will feel aggrieved to have been withdrawn at half-time, but the French centre-forward drifted through the opening half and struggled to latch onto any balls and find space to strike on goal. Across 191 minutes of Premier League action this season, Kolo Muani has taken just one shot, and he is yet to score or assist.

Ahead of Spain international Porro was Brennan Johnson, who continues to be something of an enigma, endowed with such speed and an eye for goal, and yet drifting through matches all too often.

Johnson needs to do better, but he was arguably more energetic and active in his display than his counterpart on the other wing. For sure, Frank will be left frowning over his combination on the left, having witnessed a discordant performance.

Frank must never start Spurs duo together again

Credit must be handed to Richarlison for his striker's instinct in flicking Wilson Odobert's shot past Senne Lammens and into the back of the net, but he flattered to deceive for much of the contest and did little to suggest he is the talismanic force Tottenham need to sustain a place at the very top of English and European football.

Regarding Djed Spence: one analyst remarked that the placement of the 25-year-old on the left is "killing Tottenham on the flank", with the side finding "zero balance in possession" when he is flipped onto his left side.

Had Mohammed Kudus been fit and darting about in front of him, it might have been less apparent against United, but Richarlison was not at the races, even though he scored late on.

The truth is that Richarlison's fine flick masqueraded over another poor performance, lots of huff and puff, but not enough by the way of impact.

And, as we already know, the contest reaffirmed the truth of Spence, who is not a left-back and does not promote Tottenham's full efficiency and fluency when placed there, especially behind a wide forward in Richarlison, who was described by writer Halal Wyler as being a "real-life cartoon villain".

Once Destiny Udogie and Odobert, who impressed and then some in his cameo, had entered the field and dynamised the left-hand side, Spurs looked a cleaner, more polished outfit for it.

It is for this reason that the duo cannot be allowed to play down that channel together again. Richarlison is limited in technical scope, and Spence is left trying to connect in an unnatural role with an imperfect attacking partner. In harsher terms and as analyst Raj Chohan put it, it's a pretty "garbage" duo when they play together.

The duo's statistics from the clash underscore this. While the left-back produced some convincing defensive numbers, and Richarlison indeed bagged himself a goal, neither can be truly content with their performances.

Writing about the respective performances after the match, football.london's Alasdair Gold saw it fit to hand Spence a 6/10 match rating and a 7/10 score to Richarlison. However, this is somewhat generous, and there's no question that Tottenham are a more fluent outfit with a different combination running down the left.

The left-sided pair, who earn a combined salary of £130k per week, will have brighter days ahead of them in a Spurs shirt, but as Frank continues to develop his understanding of this team, he will surely accept that this is a duo who cannot be fielded together again.

Richarlison may well be playing his final season with the Lilywhites, but Spence will no doubt have taken note of Porro's "disaster" of a performance at right-back, as was said by Polish journalist Michael Okonski during the match, and set his sights on a return to his natural berth.

In any case, tactical changes are needed when Tottenham return to action after the imminent international break. Frank has the potential to succeed in north London, but he has to start getting the big calls right.

Tottenham Hotspur were held by Manchester United in the Premier League after Matthijs de Ligt beat Guglielmo Vicario deep into stoppage time to cancel out Richarlison's deft flick moments earlier.

A real spectacle of a match. But this is more of the same for a Spurs side struggling for form at home and unable to produce the kind of creative performances to sustain a spot at the top of the league ladder.

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

The season, of course, is still young, but Thomas Frank has much to chew on, having watched his side toil for much of their clash against

the resurgent Red Devils.

Spurs' performance vs Man Utd

Tottenham's creative issues were on display once again as Man United took control in the opening half. Things improved as Frank made tweaks at the interval, and the late flurry to turn the clash on its head nearly sealed a springboard of a win for the hosts, but a defensive lapse left the club with just one home win from five in the Premier League.

Without the injured Mohammed Kudus, Tottenham were always going to be up against it, and Richarlison and Brennan Johnson largely flattered to deceive down the wings.

Frank's attacking experiment didn't pay off, with Richarlison pushed out wide to accommodate Randal Kolo Muani as the central striker. The French loanee was hooked at half-time, and while Richarlison scored late on, it was not his finest overall performance.

Post-match, the Danish coach opted to draw the positives from the performances, but when he sits down in the tactical room and assesses Tottenham's performance over the international break, he will be sure to settle on some changes.

One of which could be the tough call to drop one of the side's mainstays. This is a player who is among the most talented down N17, and one whose fragilities were exposed against the Red Devils.

Frank must finally drop Spurs "disaster"

Few would argue against Pedro Porro being one of the most talented and creative full-backs in Europe, but his defending is questionable at times, and when he struggles to make things work on the ball, this is accentuated.

And this was the case against Manchester United.

Bryan Mbeumo scored his customary goal against the Lilywhites, heading home inside the area following Amad Diallo's whipped cross. The Cameroonian swerved in behind Porro to score the goal.

Moreover, the 26-year-old was culpable of some questionable decision-making and positioning throughout the contest, altogether isolated from the role Frank had hoped he would perform against a team desperate for success and finding their feet.

Hooked after 67 minutes, Porro had struggled to impose himself against the United forwards and lacked his trademark playmaking quality, having lost the ball a shocking 29 times despite not creating a single chance. He attempted 12 crosses and found the mark with only one (data courtesy of Sofascore).

Polish journalist Michael Okonski even called the accuracy of his deliveries a "disaster".

Football.london handed him a 5/10 match rating and brought to attention these issues, and now Frank must seriously consider making a tactical tweak.

Spence struggled to support the forwards from his unnatural berth on the left, and given his growth both in maturity and confidence in the Premier League over the past year or so, it might be worth moving him into Porro's space and relegating the Spaniard to the bench.

Manchester United can count themselves lucky that their unbeaten run is still intact. The Red Devils secured a late point away to Tottenham Hotspur, drawing 2-2 in North London, after a largely uninspiring performance once again from Ruben Amorim’s team.

Last season, the Lilywhites were something of a bogey team for United, who lost to Spurs four times. However, when Bryan Mbeumo scored just past the half-hour mark, it looked like that run could be coming to an end.

It was a good goal too, with Amad swinging a cross in for the Cameroonian attacker to guide home with his head.

The Red Devils were passive for most of the game, happy for Spurs to dominate the ball. Eventually, they did buckle under the pressure. In the 83rd minute, Mathys Tel saw his strike take a deflection and fly past Senne Lammens after excellent back-to-goal play.

Eight minutes later, in the first of six added minutes, Richarlison got his head on Wilson Odobert’s shot to direct it home. United seemed dead and buried, but Matthijs de Ligt was the saviour, heading home Bruno Fernandes’ corner to secure a draw.

It was a lacklustre performance from Amorim’s side, with De Ligt a key man at the back.

De Ligt’s stats vs. Spurs

Dutch international De Ligt capped off a good week for him personally by getting on the scoresheet. He was also recalled to the Netherlands squad after a fantastic start to the season at Old Trafford.

His last-gasp header to earn a point for United was an impressive effort.

He managed to shake off his marker and ghosted towards the back post, rising unmarked to head past Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal.

Defensively, the former Ajax star impressed. He was the player whose deflection sent Tel’s strike into the back of the net, but it is hard to blame him after good centre-forward play.

Aside from that, De Ligt made six clearances and three recoveries, mainly operating at right centre-back, having largely bullied the likes of Richarlison ahead of him.

The heroic late goal from the Dutchman, meanwhile, would have brought relief to United fans and players alike. That includes another starter, who struggled against Spurs.

The United star who struggled against Spurs

Despite the performance of De Ligt, United were disappointing against Thomas Frank’s side. It was a largely toothless performance going forward, with Amorim’s side managing just five shots in the entire game.

One of those attacking players who struggled was Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian has shone this season as something of an Amorim favourite, but, operating as a number nine on Saturday, was largely anonymous.

He certainly had a tough day going up against Cristian Romero and Mickey van de Ven.

In fact, Cunha didn’t really manage to get himself into the game at all. The former Atletico Madrid star only managed 35 touches in the 72 minutes he played, less than Lammens’ 37.

He also had four touches in the Spurs box and won one out of seven ground duels.

Well, it was a performance which MEN writer Steven Railston also seemed to think left a little to be desired. He gave Cunha a 5/10 for his afternoon’s work, and said the 17-cap Brazil star was 'not at his best' at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It will certainly give Amorim something to think about. United’s next game sees them take on Everton, and with two more physically imposing centre-backs in Michael Keane and James Tarkowski, he might decide against starting Cunha against the Toffees.

There are other options if he decides to rotate the Red Devils' number 10 out of the lineup. Benjamin Sesko is, of course, one player who could start, although he picked up an injury against Spurs. Joshua Zirkzee is another player Amorim could turn to, and his hold-up play could be important against the Toffees.

Whatever decision the United boss chooses, he will need his side to create more going forward. On another day, they could have easily been put to the sword in North London.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank privately doesn't rate two of his Spurs players and a January exit could be on the cards for at least one of them, according to a new report.

Spurs played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at lunchtime on Saturday, and the match brought with it a reoccurring theme of their season.

The Lilywhites seriously lacked creativity for large portions of the 90 minutes and were even booed off at half-time after United star Bryan Mbeumo handed the visitors a pretty deserved lead. Djed Spence's "lackadaisical" defending in the build up to their opener, and Pape Sarr's questionable decision not to clear, were key in handing Ruben Amorim's side the early advantage.

Frank's side had chances, testing Senne Lammens after the restart, particularly Cristian Romero from close range, but it looked more than likely the Red Devils would see out a fairly comfortable 1-0 win in the capital at one stage.

However, Frank's substitutions were on hand to very nearly clinch a last-gasp three points and turn the game on its head.

Mathys Tel fed off Destiny Udogie's sharp pass into the box to swivel and blast a deflected effort past Lammens, levelling the score and sparking real hope they could actually win the game.

Just minutes later, fellow sub Wilson Odobert set up Richarlison, who guided a deft header into the bottom corner to make it 2-1, with the Brazilian taking his shirt off and celebrating in raptures as the stadium went wild.

Spurs were suddenly on the verge of what looked like a very unlikely win and their first at home since the opening Premier League weekend, but their hearts were broken deep into added time when United defender Matthijs de Ligt equalised from a set piece.

For Frank, their home woes continue, having won just four of their last 20 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It doesn't get any easier for them either, with a North London derby scheduled immediately after the international break and European champions PSG awaiting them in the Champions League just days later.

Off the field, Frank is now getting a good idea of which players he wants to stick with going forward as he continues his slow Tottenham rebuild.

While Richarlison put Spurs 2-1 ahead, you can make a serious case that he was largely ineffective against United, while Dominic Solanke is continuing his slow return to fitness.

Thomas Frank sees Solanke and Richarlison as "expendable" Tottenham players

In the build up to January, Tottenham have reportedly been exploring the possibility of signing a more impactful striker, and Al-Ahli star Ivan Toney is Frank's "preferred" option.

That is according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, who also reports that Frank views both Solanke and Richarlison as "expendable" Tottenham players.

Veysey adds that one of the duo could be sold to raise funds and make room for Toney, and it'll likely be the latter.

Richarlison, whose contract expires in 2027, has been repeatedly linked with a Spurs exit in recent months and his form has been criticised — meaning that the 28-year-old may well be sacrificed as Frank eyes a reunion with Toney at N17.

Toney has been free scoring in Saudi Arabia since joining Al-Ahli last year, bagging 41 strikes in 59 total appearances, but his place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad is far from certain.

The former Brentford star, bar one call-up last summer, has been excluded from the Three Lions set up and a loan move back to the Premier League could be the answer ahead of next summer's World Cup.

Frank, meanwhile, has made no secret of his admiration for the number nine, once joking that he's worth '£100 million-plus'.

Tottenham were denied a first Premier League win at home since the opening weekend this afternoon, as Man United defender Matthijs de Ligt broke Spurs hearts with a dramatic added-time equaliser, despite Thomas Frank's side briefly snatching a late 2-1 lead.

Tottenham 2-2 Man United as poor Spurs home form continues

Bryan Mbeumo had put United ahead in the 32nd minute, with the October Premier League Player of the Month continuing his excellent form by nodding past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario at the far post.

The visitors dominated for large periods as Spurs looked disjointed and lacked overall creativity at home once again. Tottenham did have one chance before the interval, but striker Richarlison failed to capitalise — missing a golden opportunity when presented with a free header from 12 yards out.

He somehow completely missed the ball, leaving every Spurs fan in the stadium stunned, and those same supporters booed the home side off at half-time after a very disappointing first 45.

United looked on their way to three points, managing the game well after the restart, even if the brilliant Senne Lammens was forced into a couple of excellent saves to maintain their advantage.

However, the equaliser eventually did come, with substitute Mathys Tel's shot in the 83rd minute deflecting off de Ligt and finding the back of the United net.

Frank's player introductions changed the game, with fellow sub Destiny Udogie setting up the Frenchman for his brilliantly taken equaliser inside the box. Yet another sub, Wilson Odobert, then chipped into the late drama.

Richarlison directed Odobert's ball outside the box past Lammens and into the bottom corner on 91 minutes, sparking wild celebrations as the Brazilian removed his shirt in jubilation. Tottenham appeared to have completed a sensational comeback, yet there was one final twist.

A United corner to the back post was headed home by de Ligt, who was completely unmarked, in the 96th minute — silencing Spurs' celebrations and rescuing a dramatic point for Ruben Amorim's side.

The draw maintains United's four-match unbeaten streak while Tottenham's home woes continue. Spurs have now won just four of their last 20 home league games, with their excellent away record masking real struggles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Peter Crouch takes aim at "lackadaisical" Djed Spence in Man United draw

For United's first goal, so much went wrong.

Pape Sarr made the bizarre decision to play a very difficult pass to Micky van de Ven just outside Spurs' penalty area, rather than just clearing the ball, and the Dutchman was then rushed into a botched clearance before United capitalised and opened the scoring.

Right-back Djed Spence also failed to close down the cross for Mbeumo's header quick enough, with ex-Tottenham striker Peter Crouch telling TNT Sports at half-time that his defending simply wasn't good enough.

Crouch said that Spence looked "too calm" when going to press Diallo, insisting that the defender was "lackadaisical" at that moment which cost Spurs the first goal of the game.

Overall, the north Londoners were arguably the weaker side and a victory for them would've been quite harsh on United, even if their brief comeback sparked real hope of a perfect last Premier League result before the November international break.

Their next two matches after the break are actually away from home, but they're against very tough opposition in Premier League leaders Arsenal and European champions PSG.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been forced to deal with a plethora of injuries since taking over from Ange Postecoglou, with the club's bad luck in that regard continuing into this season.

Ex-chairman Daniel Levy got so frustrated with Spurs' key player absences in 24/25 that he overhauled their medical department for the second year running last summer. Key sports science chiefs Adam Brett and Nick Davies were both shown the door before the start of this season, with Nick Stubbings following Frank from Brentford to join as medical lead.

The Lilywhites were minus Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario for large portions of last campaign, alongside many other key men, which undoubtedly played a role in Spurs' finishing a lowly 17th in the Premier League table.

"Everyone likes an impeding car crash, I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario on. I know how hard these players have worked," said Postecoglou during Spurs' injury crisis last season.

"Our training was better and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better, but we're not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

"We have had a few players who have not got injured at all."

This season, they haven't fared much better.

Soon after Frank was appointed to succeed Postecoglou, Spurs lost playmaker James Maddison to an ACL injury which will keep him out for most of 2025/2026, with the England international on an extensive list of absentees.

The likes of Romero, Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and Destiny Udogie were also sidelined for periods recently until making their respective comebacks, so Frank will be desperate for this torrid luck to cease as he attempts to guide Tottenham to major silverware and a top four finish.

Luckily for Spurs, electrifying winger and star summer signing Mohammed Kudus is likely to return against Man United this weekend after the Ghanaian confirmed his knock is getting better.

Tottenham hit by injury blow as "promising" youngster Elijah Upson withdraws from England duty

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit and academy expert John Wenham, who oversees the Lilywhites Rose account on X, says that Tottenham's injury woes even stretch down to youth level.

Young defender Elijah Upson, who captains Spurs' Under-18s, was forced to withdraw from the England Under-17s World Cup squad after suffering his own injury, which comes as a crying shame considering the club could have had five youth players representing them for the Three Lions.

"Spurs have been hit by the blow to Elijah Upson, who has withdrawn through injury,” Wenham said.

“Without injury, Spurs could have had all of Upson, Jun’ai Byfield, Malachi Hardy, Williams-Barnett and Tynan Thompson in the squad. It is a very promising group of players.”

The 17-year-old was recently handed a call-up to Tottenham's Under-21 squad as well, playing the full 90 minutes and shutting out West Brom in a 1-0 win just over a month ago.

Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United this weekend, looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League after losing to Chelsea on home soil last weekend.

The clash against Ruben Amorim’s outfit will likely have an added sprinkle of excitement, given the latest meeting between the two top-flight clubs back in May.

The Lilywhites claimed a sensational 1-0 win over the Red Devils in the Europa League final in Bilbao, subsequently ending their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.

Other meetings in 2024/25 saw Spurs claim a 4-3 triumph in North London in the Carabao Cup, with the previous encounters highlighting the excellent battles that have unfolded between the sides.

The club are also on a seven-game unbeaten run against the Red Devils across all competitions, with their last defeat in such a contest coming way back in October 2022.

If Thomas Frank is to inflict further pain on the Red Devils, he will likely need to keep one player quiet - with the manager knowing him extremely well, given his previous experience managing him.

How close Spurs came to signing Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who has been able to reach phenomenal levels under the guidance of Frank, with the pair thriving together during their time at Brentford.

The Cameroonian international spent six years under the Dane at the Bees, amassing just shy of 250 appearances in the process - with his best year undoubtedly coming in 2024/25.

The 26-year-old featured 38 times in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals in the process - ending the season as one of just five players to achieve such a feat.

After Frank’s appointment with the Lilywhites, rumours were swirling over a potential move to North London for Mbeumo - understandably so given his previous under the manager.

It was even reported at one stage that an offer was made for the winger’s services, but no deal ever came to fruition, with the forward subsequently joining United instead.

Amorim’s side forked out a staggering £71m for Mbeumo’s signature, with the Cameroonian already making an immediate impact during the early stages of his spell at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has already netted four Premier League goals this campaign - more than any current Spurs player - showcasing the threat he poses within the final third.

His other tallies, such as 1.4 shots on target and 2.1 chances created per 90, highlight the all-round threat he carries - no doubt providing the biggest threat to the Lilywhites this afternoon.

Frank will no doubt know the talent the attacker possesses, with the manager needing to silence him in North London to allow the club to get back to winning ways in England’s top-flight.

The Spurs star who can silence Mbeumo against United

Since Mbeumo’s move to United in the summer, he’s had to operate in a slightly unconventional number ten position alongside Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford.

It’s evidently not stopped him from starring, as seen by his recent form in the Premier League, with Frank desperately needing to silence him in North London this afternoon.

The central midfield department has been an area brought into question over the last few weeks, with the manager yet to work out his best partnership at the base of the side.

The likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have all occupied such roles, but none have been able to cement a regale starting role with the Lilywhites.

However, if Spurs are to have the best chance of silencing Mbeumo today, Frank should look to recall Joao Palhinha to his starting eleven after being dropped to the bench against Copenhagen on Tuesday.

The Portuguese international joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, but such a deal was frowned upon by the supporters at first.

In their hunt for a new number six, many wanted a younger and more progressive option to help add a new dimension to the first-team squad in the 2025/25 campaign.

However, it’s safe to say the 30-year-old has proved many of his doubters wrong, with the loanee now becoming one of the club’s most important players at present.

Palhinha has made the deep-lying midfield spot his own, especially given the eye-catching numbers he’s produced over the last couple of weeks in the Premier League.

The Portuguese international, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already won 44 tackles in his just 10 league outings this campaign - an average of 5.1 per 90 - highlighting the talent he possesses without the ball.

Such numbers would make him the perfect man to silence Mbeumo, with no player making more tackles in England’s top-flight during the current season.

Other figures, such as 8.5 duels won per 90 and 1.8 aerials won per 90, further showcase his dominance out of possession, with such a skillset able to disrupt the Cameroonian’s chances of making a positive impact.

Whilst he’s been brought to North London for his defensive attributes, Palhinha has already impressed in the final third, notching a total of six combined goal contributions across all competitions - two of which came off the bench on Tuesday night.

Progressing the play may not be his strong point at present, but his ability to break up the opposition’s flow is certainly an area which could come in handy against Mbeumo this afternoon.

His ability to get on the scoresheet is just an added bonus, but his main responsibility today must be to prevent Mbeumo from haunting Spurs and former boss Frank in North London.

Should the experienced midfielder manage to do just that, it could be another memorable afternoon for the Lilywhites faithful against the Red Devils - subsequently putting an end to Amorim’s recent unbeaten run at Old Trafford.

Tottenham are believed to be in the market for new forwards as we slowly approach the January transfer window, as co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange reportedly set their sights on a La Liga star.

Thomas Frank has led the north Londoners to a solid start this season, even if there are some concerns surrounding their general creativity in open play.

Spurs succumbed to a dismal 1-0 loss at home to Chelsea in their last Premier League match and failed to lay a single glove on the away side — attempting just one shot on target all game as a frustrated Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbed Frank's handshake at full-time.

Frank's men went off to a chorus of boos and were largely chastised for their toothless display, but a 4-0 midweek rout of FC Copenhagen in the Champions League came as a much-needed hangover cure as van de Ven sent a clear message with his Puskas Award contender.

Summer signing Xavi Simons, who's faced wave after wave of criticism since joining in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig, put in a Player of the Match performance too. Simons also perhaps should've had even more assists to show for his efforts, with Randal Kolo Muani missing two glaring chances after being set up by the Dutchman on both occasions.

While Spurs made a serious statement with their display against Copenhagen, this one-off attacking masterclass shouldn't paper over the cracks too much.

According to recent reports, Paratici and Lange could attack the January market in search of final third reinforcements, with Tottenham described by some as the favourites to sign former Brentford star Ivan Toney on a loan-to-buy deal.

Journalist Mark Brus also reported earlier this week that Paratici is working on a behind-the-scenes deal for Brentford's Kevin Schade, with a winger seen as one of the club's top priorities heading into winter.

“I already reported about the wide attacking targets being an area of priority, and that absolutely is the case, and they have been drawing up names over the past two weeks," another reporter, Dean Jones, told TEAMtalk earlier this week.

"But even as part of that, they realise that some of the names are probably going to be off-limits in the next transfer window.

“I really think Spurs will seek to make some of the biggest signings in their history. They have to be careful as part of that because there will be a chance that with new investment comes a new premium that you are asked to pay for talent."

Now, as per Spanish media sources, one of the names they're considering is Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.

Takefusa Kubo wants to join Tottenham with Spurs prepared to pay release clause

Indeed, Kubo has apparently emerged as a priority target for Lange and Paratici.

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham are now prepared to match the £53 million release clause in Kubo’s contract, signaling their serious interest in bringing him to the Premier League. Kubo also views Tottenham as an ideal next step in his career, and one which could offer him the "competitive boost he so desires".

The 24-year-old, who joined Sociedad from Real Madrid in 2022 after failing to break through at the Bernabeu, has been subject to "several" failed transfer attempts from Spurs in recent years, but the club are now "determined to go all out" for his signature.

Interestingly, this potential transfer could give Spurs huge commercial gains in the Asian market once again following the departure of South Korean icon Son Heung-min last summer, with Kubo having a large fan base of his own in Japan.

On the field, Kubo has racked up 24 goals and 18 assists in 146 total appearances for Sociedad, fairly modest numbers, but his versatility could be very attractive from Frank's perspective.

The winger also has fantastic one-v-one ability, completing more successful take-ons per 90 than any other Sociedad player in La Liga last season with an impressive 2.1 per game (WhoScored) — which is also more than any Spurs player managed in 2024/2025.

What's more, former Mallorca CEO Maheta Molango tipped Kubo to become an eventual superstar during his loan spell there in 2019/2020.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been dealt an injury doubt ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Man United.

Saturday's early kick-off promises fireworks as Spurs host the Red Devils in North London.

With the two sides coming in off near-identical records of five wins and three losses from their first 10 league matches, with both also scoring 17 goals, this face-off could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification.

Tottenham's home form has been a significant concern, with the club sitting 17th in the home standings despite topping the away form table this season. Meanwhile, no other Premier League side has lost more home games than the Lilywhites in 2025.

Frank's side suffered another N17 setback last weekend, registering a lowly expected goals figure of just 0.1 in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea – the lowest by any Premier League team this season.

However, their midweek 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen in the Champions League offered a glimpse of their attacking potential, with defender Micky van de Ven bagging a stunning solo goal which drew comparisons to Son Heung-min's famous Burnley strike in 2019.

In terms of the recent head-to-heads between Spurs and United, the former reigns supreme.

Tottenham are unbeaten against tomorrow's visitors in their last seven meetings across all competitions, winning five and drawing two, including that historic Europa League final win in Bilbao earlier this year.

What's more, if they beat them again tomorrow, it'll be the first time they've won three league games in a row against United since 1960.

However, the injury situation adds another layer of complexity for Spurs. They currently have the longest absentee list in the Premier League with 10 players sidelined, including Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

In the aftermath of Tottenham's 4-0 win over Copenhagen, star winger Mohammed Kudus strongly hinted he could be fit to face United after missing their European clash with a knock, and Frank has now provided an update on the Ghanaian.

Tottenham star Mohammed Kudus a doubt to face Man United this weekend

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank explained that Kudus is "touch and go" to face United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — meaning he might not be ready on time depending on developments.

Potentially being without Kudus would undoubtedly be a bitter blow for Frank, considering the £150,000-per-week star has stood out as their star attacker this campaign.

No other Premier League player has averaged more takes-ons per 90 than the African this season, and he's currently among the division's top five best-performing players overall, according to WhoScored.

United arrive in north London with genuine momentum and are unbeaten in their last four league matches with three wins and a draw, their joint-best run under Ruben Amorim.

They've been particularly potent in attack too, netting two or more goals in their last four outings. Bruno Fernandes has been instrumental, with the 31-year-old now looking to assist in three consecutive away appearances for the first time since November 2020.

It is perhaps the worst time to face United right now, so Frank will be hoping that Kudus can indeed take part after his electrifying start to life at the club.

Goalscoring, leadership and world-class quality are just three expressions used to describe the talents possessed by Harry Kane during his decade spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Englishman rose through the youth ranks in North London before making himself a staple of the club’s first-team setup between 2013 and 2023, before his move to Bayern Munich.

The centre-forward made 435 appearances and found the back of the net on 280 occasions - a tally which still sees him stand at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

His goalscoring record, coupled with his link-up play and creativity, has made him one of the best players to ever play for the club - with Thomas Frank no doubt wishing he could rely on a player of his calibre.

Whilst Kane has moved on to pastures new in recent years, the new manager has already added one top-level talent to his ranks, with the summer addition making an immediate impact in North London.

The underlying stats behind Palhinha’s start to life at Spurs

Joao Palhinha joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich this summer, with such a deal that the fanbase wasn’t totally convinced by upon the announcement.

However, a couple of months on from his switch back to the Premier League, the Portuguese international has certainly proved a lot of the doubters wrong.

Despite his defensive midfield role, the 30-year-old has impressed in the final third, already registering four goals and two assists - two of which came in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Copenhagen.

However, out of possession is where the midfielder has thrived, as seen by his phenomenal tally of tackles won in the Premier League over the last few months.

He’s already made 44 tackles in his 10 league outings for the Lilywhites, with such a tally the highest of any player in the entire division at present.

Other figures such as 8.5 duels won per 90 - at a success rate of 63% - with his tally of 1.8 aerials won also highlighting his dominant ball-winning ability at the heart of the side.

Palhinha has immediately handed Frank the number six the side has greatly lacked over recent years, with such an addition one that has been their best in recent years.

The Spurs star who is becoming the best player since Kane

There’s little denying that Palhinha is rapidly making himself one of the first names on the Spurs teamsheet, with no other player in the squad able to do the job he does.

Many supporters have voiced concerns over his lack of progression with the ball at his feet, but ultimately, his main responsibility is to allow those ahead of him to create the magic in attacking areas.

Players such as Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr are more than capable of feeding off Palhinha and providing the goods with the ball at their feet - with the latter crucial in the Lilywhites’ three-man midfield.

However, his recent exploits in the final third showcase he is a lot more capable in forward areas than the fans give him credit for - with the 30-year-old now on more goal contributions than Mohammed Kudus.

He’s not alone in overperforming in forward areas, with centre-back Micky van de Ven another player who has taken his game to the next level in the attacking department.

The 24-year-old was brought to North London in a £40m deal back in the summer of 2023, undoubtedly being signed to provide needed quality to the backline.

However, in 2025/26, the Dutch international has massively impressed in the attacking department, already scoring five times this season - including a double in the Premier League win over Everton.

Van de Ven also managed to get on the scoresheet in the hammering of Copenhagen this week, running from the edge of his own box before coolly slotting him - just like Kane would do during his time in North London.

The centre-back, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has also dominated defensively this season - as seen by his tally of 1.1 tackles won and 1.3 aerials won per 90.

He’s been phenomenal at picking out a teammate too, completing 92% of the passes he’s attempted, subsequently contributing to his tally of 0.6 chances created per 90.

His all-round quality at both ends of the pitch has made him one of the best signings in the club’s recent history - arguably being their best player since Kane left.

Whilst the pair operate in hugely different positions, Van de Ven has assumed the role of being a crucial player in the first team and leading them to new heights in the process.