Football FanCast

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.

And so Tottenham Hotspur are not there yet. This much we can tell.

Residual problems from the dysfunction of the Ange Postecoglou era were always going to creep into the new campaign, but there's an undeniable air of frustration as Aston Villa grew into the game on Sunday afternoon and left Spurs' ground with all the spoils, having fallen behind early in the first half thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur's strike.

Tottenham have enjoyed a steady start to Thomas Frank's tenure, but one win from four in the Premier League of late has emphasised the scale of the task.

Creatively, Tottenham weren't at their sharpest on Sunday, and this played into Villa's hands as the hosts retreated, pulled deeper as they sought to group and defend their advantage.

They succumbed to the pressure, and questions were asked post-game of Xavi Simons, whose duty as playmaker-in-chief was left unfulfilled against Unai Emery's side.

Xavi Simons still leaving something to be desired

At the base of midfield, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur did a fine job of protecting the Tottenham backline, winning between them 19 duels on the afternoon, as per Sofascore.

But Villa finished the match having won 53% of the duels, speaking of issues from other areas of the field.

And there's no denying Simons struggled. Signed from RB Leipzig for £51m this summer, the diminutive creator has yet to get going in the Premier League, with Villa's assured build-up and robustness in the challenge reducing Simons to an inconsequential display.

The 22-year-old has arrived in a new environment and is hardly getting the best service at this early stage of his Tottenham career, but neither is he covering himself in glory with impactful performances. Both things can be true.

Frank discussed after the defeat his side's issues in creating chances, and despite retaining the majority of possession - as is typically the case when Tottenham play at home - there was little of impetus and authority from the talented number ten, and though he dropped deep to contribute more, there has hardly been enough on show throughout these opening months.

In fact, football.london branded the Dutchman with a 5/10 match rating, writing about his work rate and willingness to get stuck in but also acknowledging his lack of attacking flair and impact.

There is anticipation and expectation, however, that Simons will grow into his skin and thrive in the Premier League. However, he's not the only summer signing who's struggling to bring it all together so far, with Randal Kolo Muani still to announce himself.

Randal Kolo Muani may be wasted money

From an attacking standpoint, centre-forward remains a problem for Tottenham Hotspur. It's an age-old problem, for the scale of Harry Kane's brilliance means that his departure only two years ago very much feels a lifetime ago.

Quite simply, Spurs are not creating anywhere near enough chances, and though they sit sixth in the standings, two points behind second-placed Manchester City, more offensive influence and cohesion is required if Spurs are to finish strongly in the Premier League and challenge for silverware once again.

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

Kolo Muani certainly has the talent and goalscoring ability to contribute toward that goal, but injuries have limited him to a bit-part role so far.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward arrived in north London on a one-year loan deal on transfer deadline day, arriving with a weight of expectation after reviving his career on loan with Juventus last year, scoring ten goals and providing three assists across 22 matches for the Italians, demonstrating sharp and athletic movements and ranking among the top 7% of Serie A forwards for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Once hailed as a "superstar" by German legend Lothar Matthaus, the 26-year-old has what it takes to be a star at Tottenham, but injuries have limited him to just two outings so far this season, and though he only featured briefly against Aston Villa, he did indeed leave much to be desired.

Football.london saw it fit to brand Kolo Muani with a 5/10 match rating in spite of his brief cameo, and that's because he missed a sitter late on, fluffing his lines during a goalmouth scramble with only moments left on the clock.

It was an "incredible" miss, as former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green put it, and one which might have served as a springboard for the France international's career in London, but it wasn't to be. Moreover, he lost both of his contested ground duels, and will need to be more convincing in the challenge going forward.

Though there's plenty of time to right the wrongs and nail down a starting spot at number nine this season, Kolo Muani is pitted against thick competition at the front of the ship, and if Dominic Solanke clicks into gear, he might have a tough task ousting the Englishman.

For now, we must reserve judgement on a player who has suffered an injury-hit start to his Tottenham career, and who has a proven pedigree that suggests he could be the man Frank and Spurs are searching for.

But if he doesn't take the chances that fall his way, especially with Tottenham lacking creativity and the fitness of two linchpins in James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, then it could be a long and difficult campaign for the Les Bleus star.

Former midfielder Jamie O'Hara has slammed two Tottenham Hotspur stars in the wake of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, branding their performances "painful".

Spurs fall to sixth after Aston Villa defeat

Tottenham suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season at the weekend, suffering a 2-1 loss at home against Villa, which means they have now fallen to sixth in the table.

On the balance of play, it was a relatively even game, with very few big chances being created by either side, but the visitors were ultimately more clinical, and Morgan Rogers' first-half goal was particularly eye-catching.

Thomas Frank admitted the loss was a fair result in his post-match interview, saying: "I don't think we did enough. If we'd done enough we wouldn't have lost this game. I don't think we gave too much away, they scored two goals from outside the box. But I think we can also create more for ourselves."

As you'd probably expect, O'Hara was a little more scathing in his assessment of Spurs' performance, taking to X to single out two players in particular for heavy criticism.

The former midfielder said: "We’re so frustrating to watch it’s painful, why is Tel playing? Why is Odebert starting? They are not good enough, we need more than just long throws, our home form needs to be million times better."

Tottenham must improve ahead of tricky run of fixtures

Frank's side's fixtures have been relatively kind on paper so far this season, but things are about to get more difficult, with upcoming Premier League opponents Everton still undefeated at home since their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

As such, Spurs must start showing signs of improvement soon, and O'Hara is right to be concerned about Odobert's performances, with the winger still yet to register a single goal or assist in eight Premier League games this season.

Tel has also disappointed since his arrival, scoring just four goals in 28 outings, and the 20-year-old struggled once again on Sunday afternoon, receiving a 6.1 SofaScore match rating before being withdrawn on the hour mark.

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to build on the positive momentum that they seemed to have before the international break as they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Spurs had beaten Leeds United 2-1, thanks to goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, before the break, and started the loss to Villa with an early goal through Rodrigo Bentancur.

It was all downhill for the Lilywhites after that impressive start to the match, though, as Unai Emery's men came away with all three points, thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia.

Why Spurs must not drop Guglielmo Vicario

Some criticism may go the way of number one Guglielmo Vicario for his part in the match, as he conceded both of the shots against him and should have done better with the first goal.

As you can see in the clip above, the view from behind Morgan Rogers suggests that the Italy international was not in a good position and was then unable to stretch enough to get a glove on the shot, which was nowhere near the corner of the goal.

Vicario, though, should not be dropped by Thomas Frank for his performance against Villa, as he has been a net positive this season.

Per Sofascore, he has prevented 1.72 more goals than expected in the Premier League, which shows that he has been outstanding as shot-stopper on the whole.

A Tottenham player whose place in the starting line-up should not be as secured as Vicario's, though, is attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, who was underwhelming on Sunday.

Why Xavi Simons is on borrowed time

The Netherlands international has started four of his five appearances for the club in the Premier League since his £52m move from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window.

He should now be on borrowed time in the starting XI because he has not done enough in his performances as a player who is in the team to score and create goals as an attacking midfielder.

There have been flashes of quality from Simons on the ball, particularly in the win over Leeds, but he has not done enough in the final third so far.

As you can see in the table above, Simons has only provided one direct goal contribution in his first five appearances, and that was an assist from a corner.

Against Aston Villa, the Dutchman created one chance, which was a short pass for Joao Palhinha to shoot from distance, failed to produce an accurate cross, did not have a single shot on goal and to make matters worse, only won five of his 14 duels, per Sofascore.

The former PSG youngster also failed 100% of his attempted dribbles, per Sofascore. This shows that he was completely ineffective in possession for Spurs, which is why he was as bad as Vicario, who was ineffective with no saves in goal.

His lack of impact in the final thid was not down to a lack of opportunity, though, as he had several opportunities to get a shot away in space on the edge of the box, yet opted to pass the ball sideways instead of trying to test Emi Martinez on multiple occasions.

Simons' return of 21 goals and 21 assists in two seasons with Leipzig, per Sofascore, show that he does have the ability to score and create goals on a regular basis in a number ten or wide position.

However, he has had a timid start to his career in the Premier League and needs to step up and show more intensity in the final third, to make himself a difference-maker for Frank.

At this moment in time, Simons is not doing enough on the ball and that is why he is on borrowed time in the starting XI, as the manager may have to consider dropping him out of the team if these underwhelming performances persist.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to return from the international break in style as they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in North London in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Lilywhites did, though, make the perfect start to the match when central midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur fired in the opener in the fifth minute.

Unfortunately, stunning strikes from both Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia, who both fired the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box, meant that the away side travelled away from London with all three points.

Thomas Frank will be disappointed with the time and space that both players had to get their shots away on the edge of the box, as Spurs players failed to close them down on both occasions from range.

However, the former Brentford head coach should also be disappointed with how his side played in possession, as they failed to pose a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

One of the players who failed to produce an impressive performance for the Lilywhites in the final third was former Burnley attacker Wilson Odobert on the left wing.

What Wilson Odobert needs to do to kickstart his Spurs career

The £40k-per-week starlet has so many interesting qualities that suggest that he has the potential to be a star. He's dynamic, he has great speed, he can take players on in one-on-one situations, he has a terrific first touch.

However, and this is the crucial bit, the end product is not quite there for him yet. Per Sofasore, Odobert completed three of his four attempted dribbles, which is great, but he only created one chance in 79 minutes on the pitch.

The France U21 international was unable to turn his completed dribbles into dangerous situations for Spurs in the final third, as evidenced by his statistics.

As you can see in the table above, Odobert missed the only 'big chance' that came his way and only created one chance for this team, which shows that the forward did not do enough with the opportunities that he created for himself by dribbling past defenders.

The next step for him, therefore, to kickstart his Spurs career is to improve his consistency in his end product when he gets into good positions around the opposition's box to ensure that when he does get into those areas, he makes the right decision, whether that is to shoot, pass, or cross.

Given the lack of natural quality out wide within the Spurs squad, for the left flank, it may make sense to stick with Odobert and be patient with him to hope that the experience of playing week-in-week-out helps him to build consistency in his play.

However, one of the other attackers in the starting XI was even worse than Odobert and should be brutally dropped from the team by Frank, Mathys Tel.

Why Mathys Tel should be dropped

The France U21 international was selected to lead the line ahead of Richarlison for this match, which seemed like a fair call given his recent form. Tel scored in the 2-1 win over Leeds United before the international break, whilst he also scored two goals and registered one assist in two matches for France's U21s.

There is no doubt that he has quality. He has shown it in flashes, in that win over Leeds and for France, but he is still a young player who is learning and developing, which means that there will also be low moments for him.

Unfortunately, his performance against Aston Villa was one of those low moments, as the former Bayern Munich forward failed to make a positive impact in his hour on the pitch in North London.

He was even worse than Odobert as part of the front three that started the match, as he was unable to even create a chance for his side, whilst his compatriot at least created one 'big chance'.

As you can see in the table above, the Frenchman was completely ineffective in and out of possession throughout the match, with no shots on target or chances created, and seven of his eight duels lost.

Tel did not provide a threat at the top end of the pitch, as either a scorer or a creator, and he was far too easy to play against for the likes of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres, who marked him out of the game with relative ease.

The one chance that the 20-year-old star did have to run at the Villa defence, he turned down several opportunities to set up Mohammed Kudus or Rodrigo Bentancur to his right to take Konsa on and was easily stopped by the England international. He had plenty of time to make up his mind and play a pass across, but took too long and did not provide quality in his one-on-one duel with the defender.

Given that Richarlison is Tottenham's top scorer in the Premier League this season, with three goals to his name, it feels like the right time to drop Tel from the starting line-up after an underwhelming display against the Villans.

Tel, as aforementioned, has quality and can be impactful at his best, but Frank's job is to ensure that he can provide that quality consistently for Spurs, as that is not the case at the moment.

Unfortunately for Tel, though, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani are both waiting in the wings to take the number nine position, which means that he cannot afford to have poor performances like this one, hence why the manager must ruthlessly ditch him from the team.

Whereas, with Odobert, there is not a natural and top-quality left-wing option who can be dropped into the side next time out, which is why he may keep his place for now.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici is now planning to spearhead a move for a "world-class" £100m forward, having recently returned to N17 after a FIFA ban.

Spurs looking to strengthen attacking options

Thomas Frank is off to a solid start as Tottenham manager, despite being left a little light on attacking options at times, with Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Randal Kolo Muani and Dejan Kulusevski all spending time on the sidelines.

In the week, Frank stressed just how important Kulusevski is to his side, and appeared to hint that the Sweden international may be back sooner rather than later, saying: "He's a key, key player for us. Instead of putting an exact month on [his return]. I just want him back as quick as possible. I know the medical team and Dejan are working very hard on that. It's not tomorrow, hopefully not too far away."

The 25-year-old was a shining light in a Spurs side that underperformed in the Premier League last season, while also playing his part in the Europa League triumph, chipping in with four goal contributions during the run to the final.

As such, the winger's return will be a welcome boost for Frank, but Tottenham have set their sights on bringing in a new forward, according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states they are among the clubs chasing AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Having enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, Semenyo is being chased by a number of top Premier League clubs, but a deal could be very expensive, with the Cherries planning to hold out for a fee of around £80m - £100m.

Paratici has given the green light to lead the pursuit of the 25-year-old, with the Lilywhites expressing a strong interest in getting a deal done, which pre-dates the Italian's return to north London.

"World-class" Semenyo would be statement signing for Tottenham

In his fourth season as a Premier League player, the Ghanaian appears to be entering his prime, having chipped in with six goals and three assists in eight matches, winning Bournemouth's Goal of the Month award courtesy of a stunning strike against Liverpool in August.

Journalist Liam Canning was left particularly impressed by the forward's performance in the Cherries' 3-1 victory over Fulham earlier this month, singling him out for high praise on X after the match.

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened talks with the agents of a Brazilian forward, who is being targeted by a number of Europe's top clubs.

Spurs keen on new forward amid injury woes

Injuries were arguably the main reason Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, and they have once again struggled on that front at the beginning of the new campaign, with forwards Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani spending time on the sidelines.

However, Thomas Frank has now provided a new update on the duo, confirming Kolo Muani is in contention for the game against Aston Villa this afternoon, with Solanke also making progress towards a return, after featuring just twice in the Premier League this term.

The Spurs boss said: "Dom is progressing well after surgery," Frank said in his pre-match press conference. He's been back on pitch this week, he's progressing and going forward, that's good."

However, having been left a little light on options at the beginning of the campaign, and with Wilson Odobert failing to provide a goal or assist in seven Premier League outings, the Lilywhites have now stepped up their pursuit of a new forward.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Tottenham have held talks with the agent of highly sought-after Vasco da Gama forward Rayan Vitor, who is regarded as one of the best youngsters to come out of Brazil in recent times.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are also in the race for the 19-year-old, alongside Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, and a deal may be relatively expensive for such a young player.

The teenager, who may have the potential to become one of the world's best wingers, has a £35m release clause in his contract with the Brazilian club, although it may be possible to get a deal done for £26m - £29m with add-ons.

"Deadly" Rayan Vitor catching the eye in Brazil

Despite his age, the starlet has emerged as one of Vasco da Gama's most important players this season, chipping in with 15 goals in all competitions, having also displayed his versatility by playing at both right-wing and centre-forward.

Scout Ben Mattinson has been left impressed by the young Brazilian's performances, describing him as an "instinctive finisher" who's "deadly in the box", given the Vasco da Gama star's ability to anticipate where the ball is going and where other players will be.

As such, with Frank in need of more depth in attacking areas, Tottenham should undoubtedly look to get a deal done, and it is promising news that talks have now been opened.

Aston Villa have endured a challenging start to the 2025/26 Premier League season, but signs of improvement are beginning to emerge under Unai Emery.

Narrow victories over Fulham and Burnley have lifted confidence at Villa Park, though the side currently sits in the bottom half of the table, highlighting the inconsistency that has defined their opening months.

Looking ahead, Villa face a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, a side renowned for their possession control, quick transitions, and high-intensity pressing.

Emery’s challenge is clear: to compete effectively, Aston Villa need midfield steel capable of breaking up opposition play while enabling progression into attack.

This balance between defensive solidity and attacking support will be key to exploiting space and sustaining pressure.

Two players who could provide that blend are the legendary Mousa Dembélé, whose career embodies technical control and forward drive, and Villa's own hero, whose physical presence offers a defensive and transitional anchor.

Why Mousa Dembele is the Premier League's midfield benchmark

Though retired, Mousa Dembele's career offers a perfect reference point for the type of midfield steel Villa require.

The Belgian midfielder, during his seven-year tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, combined exceptional technical skill with immense physicality.

Known for his ability to retain possession under pressure, progress the ball through crowded midfield areas, and link defence with attack seamlessly, Dembélé became a pivotal figure in the Premier League.

Across over 250 Premier League appearances for Spurs, Dembele excelled in key metrics such as progressive carries, progressive passes, and successful take-ons under pressure.

He also contributed defensively, intercepting passes, breaking up opposition attacks, and maintaining possession in critical areas.

His playing style allowed creative teammates the freedom to operate higher up the pitch while giving managers confidence that the midfield remained stable and balanced.

For Villa, Dembele’s blueprint is instructive.

In matches like Sunday’s clash at Spurs, they will need players who can control possession in central areas, dictate tempo, and facilitate progression into attack.

Emery’s side requires someone capable of shielding the back line while providing outlets for forwards like Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.

Villa’s ability to press effectively, transition quickly, and retain control under pressure depends on such a midfield figure - combining technical proficiency, tactical intelligence, and physical resilience.

Aston Villa's own Dembele must start

Amadou Onana, standing at 6 foot 5 and described as a "one-man army" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, brings the kind of physical presence Villa need to complement technical midfielders and provide defensive reassurance.

Signed from Everton in July 2024 for a reported £50m, Onana has made 37 appearances for Villa as of October 2025, contributing six goals since his arrival.

While he has not yet been directly involved in assists or goals this season, his impact is felt in his ability to dominate central areas, win duels, and break opposition lines, all critical for progression into attack.

Onana’s style suits Emery’s requirement for midfield steel, with now the time for him to potentially replace young Lamare Bogarde in the centre of the park.

His height and strength give Villa an aerial advantage, particularly against teams like Spurs that rely on intricate passing and late runs into the box.

Onana’s composure on the ball allows Villa to control possession in congested areas and drive attacking transitions effectively, ensuring he is the perfect replacement for Bogarde on Sunday.

He has demonstrated versatility, capable of operating as a deep-lying pivot, a box-to-box presence, or in more advanced positions to link defence with forward play.

This physical presence, combined with his technical ability, ensures Villa can both absorb pressure and initiate attacks.

Onana’s defensive contribution is evident: he averages multiple interceptions and recoveries per game, shielding the back line and providing a platform for players like McGinn to operate higher up the field.

His presence allows Emery to balance creativity and discipline, ensuring Villa do not sacrifice stability for forward momentum.

Against a Spurs midfield comprising experienced players like Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr and Bentancur, Onana’s ability to retain possession, control central areas, and facilitate progression into attack will be vital.

When paired with energetic, technically proficient teammates, he offers the backbone Villa needed to challenge for points and sustain pressing intensity over 90 minutes.

It is the start of a crucial period for Tottenham Hotspur, so can they continue their impressive start to the campaign?

Having accumulated 14 points so far, Spurs begin the weekend third in the Premier League table, following a 2-1 victory over Leeds United before the international break; Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus the scorers.

Next up, Sunday's visit from Aston Villa commences a very tough looking fixture list for Thomas Frank's team, who will take on Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (H) and then Arsenal (A) in their subsequent four league fixtures.

If the Lilywhites are going to collect a respectable number of points from these matches, Frank must make one key star, reminiscent of Dele Alli, a central figure, both literally and figuratively.

Dele Alli's rise and fall at Tottenham

Last month, Dele Alli was released by Como, having made just one appearance for the Lariani, this a nine minute cameo against AC Milan at San Siro in March, cut short as he was sent off.

That was his first, and so far only, appearance for anyone for 748 days, back in the footballing wilderness at the age of just 29.

In his pomp though, Dele was one of the best midfielders in the world, earning 37 England caps, starting against Colombia, Sweden and Croatia as the Three Lions reached a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years back in 2018.

For Tottenham too, as the graphic below demonstrates, he made 269 appearances for Tottenham, directly involved in 126 goals, a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino's incredibly strong side.

During this period, Pochettino labelled him "one of the most talented players in England", while teammate Harry Kane stated "Dele has everything. He scores goals, makes runs, creates chances. He’s an unbelievable player".

That ability to both create chances as a midfielder but also score goals like a centre-forward is what made prime Dele unique, so which member of the current Spurs squad could replicate this?

Tottenham's new Dele Alli

During a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, James Maddison ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for, probably, the entirety of this season.

Thus, Tottenham acted fast, knowing that they needed to add some creativity, so, after failing in the attempt to sign Eberechi Eze, acquired Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for £52m, who isn't a bad alternative.

The Dutch international has been highly-rated for many years now, making his senior debut for Paris Saint-Germain, before really announcing himself on loan at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists during the 2022/23.

More recently, he has been at RB Leipzig, certainly impressing during his two seasons in Saxony, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him a "game changer", while his market value has now soared to as much as £97m, as per CIES.

The Dutch international has featured in each of Tottenham's last four Premier League matches, starting three of them, but is yet to score for Spurs, his sole assist coming on debut against West Ham.

So, let's take a look at his statistics so far.

As the table notes, Simons has pretty impressive attacking statistics at Tottenham so far this season, despite the lack of tangible end product.

However, the majority of his minutes have come as a left-winger, which is very much not his best position, significantly more likely to thrive in a number ten role.

Well, against Leeds a fortnight ago, he was finally deployed through the middle, flanked by Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert, with Mathys Tel leading the line.

This has to be the set-up Frank uses going forward, especially in matches where Tottenham are going to be dominating territory and possession.

The recent 1-1 home draw with bottom of the table Wolves the prime example of this, with Simons shunted out to the left flank, with João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur both starting at the base of midfield, which felt unnecessarily cautious.

Simons scored ten Bundesliga goals last season, the second-most of any midfielder, behind only Jamal Musiala, showing that he can be a goal-scoring threat when utilised correctly.

In his prime at Spurs, Dele was unplayable as a goal-scoring number ten, and Simons has shown similar attacking instincts at previous clubs, so he needs to be given attacking freedom in a similar way.

It is all change at Tottenham Hotspur at boardroom level.

Last month, it was announced that Daniel Levy was stepping down as the club's executive chairman after a quarter of a century in the role.

Levy certainly divided opinion among Spurs supporters, but will, undeniably, forever be one of the most influential figures in the club's history, overseeing the construction of the new training ground and stadium, catapulting the club into the 'big six', something that would have been fanciful a decade or so ago.

Now, Peter Charrington has succeeded him as non-executive chairman while Vinai Venkatesham, formerly of Arsenal, was appointed chief executive officer in April.

It will be interesting to see what these changes mean for Spurs going forward, while another noteworthy appointment, or should we say re-appointment, was made this week.

Fabio Paratici's Tottenham return

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to Tottenham Hotspur as sporting director.

He previously held the role between June 2021 and April 2023, before serving a 30-month ban from all footballing activities handed to him by FIFA, one of 11 Juventus executives punished in this way following the plusvalenze scandal, also given a suspended 18-month sentence.

Despite this, Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes his re-appointment is a major coup, considering his excellent reputation, boasting 'one of the most extensive contacts books in the game'.

Paratici will be joint sporting director alongside Johan Lange, stating “I’m convinced that working in partner­ship with Johan we can build a special future for the club and our supporters.”

The table below documents all the players signed when Paratici was in situ the first time.

As the table documents, many of Paratici's Spurs signings made little impact in North London; looking at you Bryan Gil!

Others though remain key figures in Thomas Frank's team to this day, including Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and more.

However, one in particular was infamously not wanted by then-manager Antonio Conte, but Paratici can feel truly vindicated by his decision to sign him.

Paratici's greatest transfer market triumph

Back in July 2022, Djed Spence joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £19m.

The full-back had been an integral part of Nottingham Forest's promotion-winning team during a very memorable loan spell from Middlesbrough, leading to Daniel Taylor of the Athletic describing him as the best loan player he'd ever seen at the City Ground.

Despite this, upon his arrival, manager Conte instantaneously labelled him an "investment of the club" and "not my signing", which Spence later revealed "shattered my confidence".

Conte said: “Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. I said ‘OK, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us’. The club decided to buy him.”

Thus, following loan stints at Stade Rennais, Leeds United and Genoa, he made his first start for Spurs away at Southampton last December, 881 days after signing for the club.

Well, since then, the 25-year-old has not looked back, starting 24 of Spurs' last 30 Premier League fixtures, as well as both in the Champions League so far this season.

A hugely versatile asset, given that Spence has been deployed in both full-back positions, Ian Wright also describes him, at his best, as a "swashbuckling" presence. In the words of Harry Redknapp, he's been a "revelation" in north London.

Meantime, current manager Frank asserted that Spence is "exceptionally good" is one-on-one defensive situations adding, "he’s a great type, can play both sides... big credit to Djed. He truly deserves it. It has been a tough".

The Tottenham manager was referencing Spence's international breakthrough, making his senior England debut against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitić last month, replacing Reece James for the final 20 minutes or so in Belgrade.

This month, Spence started both of England's matches against Wales and Latvia, with Three Lions captain Harry Kane giving this emotional speech when presenting his team-mate with his maiden cap.

Given Thomas Tuchel's dearth of left-back options, Myles Lewis-Skelly the other leading contender for that spot, it is far from inconceivable that Spence will be starting at the World Cup next year.

Back at Tottenham, his exponential improvement over the last 12 months is vindication for Paratici, who always believed in him, and proves that all it takes is the right environment for a player to thrive, one that clearly did not involve Conte.