Football FanCast

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.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has praised one Spurs player who he's barely used so far this season, highlighting his excellent displays in training ahead of their Premier League return against Aston Villa this weekend.

Spurs braced for Premier League return against Villa

Both Spurs and Villa enter Sunday's contest on a good run of form.

The Lilywhites, despite some near-misses, haven't lost a single game in all competitions since their 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, since displaying a real grit and resilience to battle through testing scenarios and come through unscathed.

Over their last three games, Tottenham nicked a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Wolves by the skin of their teeth, courtesy of an expertly taken last-gasp equaliser from Joao Palhinha, with Spurs then stealing another draw away to Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

History threatened to repeat itself nearly a fortnight ago when Noah Okafor equalised for Leeds at Elland Road.

However, man of the match Mohammed Kudus was on hand to both end the Yorkshire side's year-long unbeaten run at home in the league and break Tottenham's pre-international break curse, as Frank's side travelled back south with a 2-1 victory.

Spurs have proved they can grind out results under their new manager, and their newly-found defensive prowess was largely missing from Ange Postecoglou's Europa League-winning squad of last season.

Villa, by contrast, endured a torrid start to 25/26, and it took them six Premier League games for Unai Emery's men to score their first top flight goal of the campaign.

That being said, Matty Cash's wonder strike against Sunderland opened the floodgates for Villa, who've since won their last four games in all competitions and come into this clash against Tottenham with renewed confidence.

Frank has some very key decisions to make before the weekend, like whether to stick with Mathys Tel as the starting striker in place of Richarlison, amid doubts criticism surrounding the latter and Dominic Solanke's gradual return to fitness.

The latter has been on the pitch this week, according to Frank, but it remains to be seen whether he's ready to start a full match or even be included against Villa.

"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."

In a big boost for Frank, though, summer signing Randal Kolo Muani is poised to return very soon after recovering from a dead leg which has kept him out of action.

Thomas Frank praises Randal Kolo Muani in Tottenham training

The Dane, speaking to reporters on Friday, claimed that the France international has been getting "better and better" in training with Kolo Muani now in contention to play against Villa.

"Kolo Muani has trained for two weeks with the team, that's good," Frank said.

"He looks better and better and is in contention for the squad on Sunday, so that's a positive."

The 26-year-old has played just 13 minutes since joining Spurs on loan from PSG, mainly due to his injury, but Kolo Muani's imminent return comes as a real boost for Frank.

The versatile attacker, who bagged 23 goals and 17 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt during a phenomenal 2022/2023 campaign, showcased flashes of his best form on loan at Juventus last season and Frank could now be set to benefit.

Kolo Muani was ex-chair Daniel Levy's last parting gift to Tottenham, and some believe that he may even become the club's best striker ahead of Solanke.

Whilst it may have been a quiet international break for many, the same can’t be said for Tottenham Hotspur, given the changes taking place behind the scenes.

Daniel Levy’s departure in recent weeks has seen changes being made to the higher-ups in North London, with Fabio Paratici returning after departing multiple years ago.

The Italian previously filled the Sporting Director role between 2021 and 2023, but has returned to the Lilywhites to work with John Lange and the rest of the recruitment team.

He will also work closely with Thomas Frank to help lead the club back up the Premier League table, with a real impetus being placed on the hierarchy to make the right decisions.

Big-money additions are one thing, but departures will also need to be made to free up space in the squad and make funds to attract players to take the club to the next level.

Why Richarlison is on borrowed time at Spurs

Brazilian striker Richarlison has been the manager’s first choice talisman during the first few weeks of the campaign due to injuries to other players, such as Dominic Solanke.

The 28-year-old has featured in all seven of the Lilywhites’ league outings to date, scoring on three occasions - with two goals coming on the opening day victory against Burnley.

However, since the 16th of August, he’s ultimately fallen way below the expectations of the fanbase, with his figures from his most recent outing highlighting his lack of impact.

He featured for the entirety of the Champions League clash against Bodo Glimt, but only registered ten touches of the ball - an average of one touch every nine minutes.

Along with his lack of impressive form, Richarlison has also been linked with a move to the MLS to join Orlando City - potentially handing Paratici the perfect chance to cash in on his services.

It’s unclear how much the hierarchy would recoup for his services, but it would be a great opportunity for the pair to part ways - with numerous other talents also needing to be offloaded in the near future.

The Spurs trio who are on borrowed time after Paratici’s return

The dismal finish in the Premier League last campaign highlights the need for changes across the board, with Frank only having one window to make the sales and signings he desires.

With £100m being spent on additions, it has made competition for places somewhat harder, with numerous players struggling to get into the side as of late.

Brennan Johnson is one player who cost a pretty penny back in 2023, with the club forking out £47.5m for his signature from fellow top-flight side Nottingham Forest.

Whilst he ended last season with 18 goals - the most of any player in the squad - he’s struggled to replicate such form after falling behind Mohammed Kudus in the pecking order.

In the league, he's made four substitute appearances in a row, which could tempt Paraciti to cash in on his services whilst his stock is still at its highest.

Johnson isn’t alone in struggling for minutes, with Ben Davies another player who has been unable to force himself into Frank’s plans after his summer appointment.

The centre-back has been an unused substitute in every Premier League game of 2025/26, failing to make a single appearance in any competition to date.

Given his lack of action, it’s evident that the manager doesn’t see the 32-year-old as part of his squad going forward - which, like Johnson, could see him sold before the end of his current contract.

The third and final player who could struggle for minutes in the future is right-back Pedro Porro, that’s despite starting all but one league outing in 2025/26.

He’s been in North London since January 2023, even being brought to the club by Paratici, but the emergence of Djed Spence could see him lose his starting position.

The 25-year-old has cemented his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in recent months after picking himself off the canvas after seemingly having no future with the Lilywhites.

As for Porro, he could be forced to make way, with the former Middlesbrough man needing the opportunity to feature regularly after Destiny Udogie’s return on the opposite flank.

If all three of the players were to be moved on in the near future, it would save the club a total of £265k-per-week - huge funds which could go towards multiple top-level talents.

Such a decision may seem harsh, but ultimately, football is a cutthroat industry with huge calls needing to be made to allow the club to push for Premier League glory.

Going into the transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur had one clear objective under new boss Thomas Frank - improve the quality and depth across all areas of the pitch.

That was certainly achieved during the £100m+ spending spree, with the hierarchy completing a deal in the region of £55m for winger Mohammed Kudus.

Much was made around his transfer after joining from rivals West Ham United, but it’s safe to say the Ghanaian has already adhered himself to the supporters in North London.

The 25-year-old has already opened his account for the Lilywhites, scoring the winner in the last outing against Leeds United - subsequently adding to his tally of four assists in the Premier League.

However, Frank’s side could have looked a lot different had they completed a move for one of their other targets instead of landing Kudus during the off-season.

How close Spurs were to signing Mbeumo this summer

After appointing Frank from Brentford over the summer, there were always going to be rumours over which players he would bring with him - but one stuck out more than the rest in the form of Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroonian international scored 20 times in the Premier League last campaign, with such form making him one of the hottest properties during the recent transfer window.

At one stage, it appeared as though the Lilywhites had a genuine chance of landing the 26-year-old, even reportedly making an offer for his services after the Dane’s appointment.

The player himself spoke about the 51-year-old’s appointment, wishing him the best in North London, which only fuelled speculation over a potential switch to follow his former manager across the capital.

However, it wasn’t meant to be, as Manchester United completed a £71m transfer for Mbeumo, a figure that was way over the original offer that was supposedly made by the Lilywhites.

After joining the Red Devils, the Cameroonian claimed that he only had his heart set on a move to United during the summer - subsequently dismissing any interest in following Frank.

Missing out on his signature will no doubt have been a disappointment to the fanbase, but they shouldn’t have to worry, with one player already in their ranks already similar to Mbeumo.

The Spurs star who is Frank’s next Mbeumo

The return of Fabio Paratici this week will give the fanbase an added reason to be positive after their impressive start to the 2025/26 campaign under Frank’s guidance.

He spent a couple of years in the role between 2021 and 2023 before stepping down, but he’s now been brought back into the club to fill the Sporting Director role once again.

It will no doubt hand him the responsibility of recruiting new players to add to the Dane’s early success, whilst overseeing those who could be offloaded.

However, he’s already showcased his tremendous work within the transfer market, conducting phenomenal business to land Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus for just £25m.

The Swede would have been an unknown quantity to many in North London, but he’s made himself a fan-favourite with his incredible performances prior to his recent injury setback.

He registered 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last campaign - the best return of his career - and certainly playing a huge role in the club’s Europa League success.

Such is the level of his quality, he was labelled as a similar player to Mbeumo by FBref - a huge statement given the performances of the former Brentford star in 2024/25.

When comparing their respective stats during the same time period, the Lilywhites gem managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, with Kulusevski highlighting the quality he possesses when fit.

The former Juve star, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Jay Harris, completed more progressive passes per 90 (4.7), subsequently registering more key passes per 90 (2.5).

Such figures highlight the creative nature the Swede possesses, with such a feature massively adding to Frank’s side when he returns from his latest injury.

He also completed more take-ons per 90 (1.4), whilst notching more carries into the final third per 90 (2.5) - highlighting his desire to transfer the ball into dangerous areas whenever possible.

There’s no denying that a deal for Mbeumo would have further strengthened the Spurs first-team squad, but ultimately it would have been a huge risk paying such a fee after one impressive season.

With Kulusevski, the club have one of the most underrated players in the division, with the forward able to take his career to the next level under Frank in the years ahead.