Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have made a strong start to life with Thomas Frank as their new head coach since they brought him in from Brentford in the summer.

The Danish tactician was snapped up after Ange Postecoglou led the Lilywhites to a dismal 17th-placed finish in the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign.

Postecoglou, of course, won the Europa League with Spurs, beating Manchester United in the final, but his team's performances in the top-flight were not good enough.

Frank was then brought in from Brentford to improve the team, particularly defensively, and the early signs are that he has done exactly that in North London.

As you can see in the table above, Spurs have been significantly better defensively in the first seven matches of this season than they were last term under Postecoglou, conceding less than a goal per game on average.

Frank has done a terrific job so far since his move to North London at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and several players have starred under him this term.

Ranking Tottenham's best performers this season

It would be hard to look past Joao Palhinha when looking at the best performers on the pitch, as he has excelled since his move to the club on loan from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.

The Portugal international has won 64% of his duels, made 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, and scored two goals in the Premier League, per Sofascore, in his seven appearances in the division.

These statistics show that the defensive midfielder has been incredibly reliable defensively, hence why Spurs are conceding less than a goal a game on average, whilst also carrying a threat in front of goal.

As you can see in the table above, Richarlison also stands out in the Premier League for Spurs this season, outperforming his xG of 1.63 to score three goals.

With Palhinha in first place and Richarlison in second place for top performers at the club this season, Vicario may take last place on the podium.

The Italy international has prevented 2.84 goals in seven appearances, per Sofascore, which makes him the second-best shot-stopper in the Premier League, only behind Dean Henderson (2.89). This shows that his performances have been crucial to Tottenham's defensive record, saving the team with his fantastic shot-stopping skills.

Palhinha, Richarlison, and Vicario, for varying reasons, could be considered the top three performers for Spurs this season, but there have been other stars for Frank.

For example, the Lilywhites appear to have hit the jackpot with the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, as the forward has been an instant success in North London.

Why Spurs have hit the jackpot with Mohammed Kudus

The left-footed star has not quite had the consistency in his performances to make it into our top three performers for Spurs ahead of the aforementioned players, but he has shown several flashes of real quality.

Kudus has lost possession 19 times per game on average in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which suggests that he needs to improve his reliability and efficiency with the ball at his feet.

The 25-year-old star, who was signed from West Ham for £55m, has also only scored one goal and missed three 'big chances' in the top-flight, which further speaks to his need to improve his efficiency.

Moving away from the areas for improvement, Kudus' dribbling skills and his creativity on the right wing show that Spurs have already hit the jackpot with this big-money signing.

The former Ajax wizard, who was dubbed a "dribbling demon" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, currently leads the club in dribbles (30), chances created (13), and assists (four) in the Premier League this season, which shows that he has hit the ground running as a key player for Frank.

As you can see in the table above, Kudus also ranks at the top of the entire division for dribbles completed and assists among wingers in the 2025/26 campaign, further illustrating how effective he has been in those two aspects of his performances.

Such has been the impressive nature of his displays for Spurs, the former West Ham winger was compared to former Tottenham star Mousa Dembele by football.london journalist Alasdair Gold.

The reporter wrote: "There's a more advanced and goal-threatening Mousa Dembele vibe to Kudus with his ability to twist and turn with the ball at his feet. He's going to become a Spurs star because there's even more to come."

Dembele was, of course, known for his ability to turn away from players under pressure in a central midfield position, which made him a joy to watch at times with the way that he evaded opposition challenges.

Kudus, as shown by his exceptional dribbling numbers, has the ability on the ball to get fans off their seats in the same way that the Belgian star did, whilst also delivering five goal contributions in seven matches in the Premier League this season.

Therefore, Tottenham have already hit the jackpot with this 25-year-old Dembele-esque star, who still has more gears to find if he can improve his efficiency on the ball and as a goalscorer.

Tottenham Hotspur swooped to appoint Thomas Frank as their new head coach ahead of the summer transfer window after they opted to remove Ange Postecoglou from his post.

The Australian manager won the Europa League at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, beating Manchester United in the final, but that was not enough for him to save his job.

Daniel Levy, who has since moved on from his role as chairman, parted ways with Postecoglou and snapped Frank up from Brentford, where he had won promotion to the Premier League and established the Bees in the division.

Four wins, two draws, and one defeat in the first seven matches of the top-flight campaign suggest that Spurs made a good decision when they changed managers this summer.

In his unveiling, the club's official website noted that one of the reasons why Frank landed the job was that he has a proven track record in developing players.

Tottenham will now be hoping that he can work wonders with the plethora of talented young players at his disposal in North London, as he did with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, and Yoane Wissa at Brentford.

Ranking Tottenham's most valuable U21 players

Whilst Frank could develop players of any age, the powers that be at Spurs may hope that he can develop the U21 players at the club to help them grow in value.

Tottenham have a rich history of developing and selling players. Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, both sold to Real Madrid, are notable examples, whilst Harry Kane came through the youth ranks before moving on to Bayern Munich in 2023 as the club's all-time record goalscorer.

The Lilywhites may not have their next Kane in the making at the club at the moment, but they do have several impressive young stars who could have bright futures under an outstanding coach like Frank.

Spurs have four players aged 21 or under in their squad who are currently valued at £17m or more by Transfermarkt, which shows that several impressive young talents are waiting to explode in North London.

As you can see in the table above, Lucas Bergvall is the joint-most valuable U21 player in the squad, and he has emerged as an early favourite under Frank.

The Sweden international has started four of his six appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist, which shows that the manager has taken a liking to him.

Spurs will be hoping that Bergvall benefits from this exposure to regular starts in the top-flight to emerge as a star for Frank in the middle of the park.

Archie Gray is currently valued at £33m, the same as the Swedish starlet, but he has only made two appearances and started once in the Premier League so far this season.

Whilst Bergvall is seemingly Frank's favourite U21 player at the club at the moment, the England U21 international has the potential to develop into a Bukayo Saka-esque talent for Tottenham if he gets more game time in his favoured position.

How Archie Gray can become Tottenham's Bukayo Saka

At the start of Saka's Arsenal career, Mikel Arteta played the English star at left-back 21 times, in central midfield five times, and at left midfield 29 times, per Transfermarkt.

This shows that the left-footed youngster had to play in several roles before nailing down a regular spot in his favoured position on the right flank, where he has scored 47 goals and provided 40 assists in 137 starts.

Gray has suffered through his versatility throughout his senior career to date. 30 of his 49 starts for Leeds came at right-back. 34 of his appearances for Spurs have come at right-back, centre-back, or left-back. Meanwhile, he has started just 13 matches as a central midfielder, his favoured role, in that time, per Transfermarkt.

Gray finally had the chance to play in central midfield for England's U21s against Moldova last week and caught the eye with an impressive and well-rounded display in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the table above, the 19-year-old star put in a sublime performance in and out of possession, as he was effective as a passer and a dribbler, whilst also being almost perfect defensively.

This shows that he has the potential to deliver quality displays as a midfielder, despite playing so many other positions ahead of his best one at senior level to date.

Gray, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed was "born to play football", could realise his potential at Tottenham if Frank plays him in his best role for an extended run of matches.

Analyst Ben Mattinson once claimed that the England U21 international is a "future £100m CM", and it is not a crazy prediction when you consider that he is currently valued at £33m, having barely played in his natural position.

Gray has 30 matches of Premier League experience under his belt and has won the Europa League with Spurs, but the next step is for him to nail down a regular spot in the XI in the middle of the park.

Frank could, then, unearth his own Saka-type player as the former Leeds starlet could follow in the Arsenal superstar's footsteps by transitioning from playing out of position at full-back to being a star in his natural position.

Tottenham Hotspur are now battling north London rivals Arsenal for the signature of a young French defender who has a "rare quality".

Spurs looking defensively solid since Frank's arrival

Despite leading Tottenham to Europa League glory, Ange Postecoglou received widespread criticism for his inability to make his side defensively sound, conceding a whopping 65 goals in the Premier League alone last season, which resulted in a 17th-place finish.

Since Thomas Frank's arrival, however, Spurs have looked much more solid at the back, according to former midfielder Danny Murphy, who said: "He’s fixing the main problem that Tottenham had last year, which is why they finished 17th. They conceded so many goals and they were wide open.

"He’s gone in there and gone, ‘We’re going to be better defensively, first and foremost, and we’ll sacrifice the looking great and creativity for a little while."

It has been an impressive start to the season for Frank's side, having collected 14 points from their opening seven games, and their improved defensive record suggests the Dane may not need to bolster his options at the back anytime soon.

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have now joined the race for a new centre-back, namely FC Nantes defender Tylel Tati, who is also being targeted by Arsenal, and a number of Europe's top clubs.

Tati is a versatile player, also capable of slotting in at left-back and defensive midfield, and he has caught the eye of Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool, with scouts being sent to watch the 17-year-old in action.

Born in Paris' eastern suburbs around 11km from the birthplace of current French sensation William Saliba, if the teenager is able to continue his current rate of development, there is a feeling he could be ready to move to a Champions League side in 2026.

Tati has one "rare quality" that sets him apart

The French youngster has emerged as a key first-team player for Nantes this season, which is no mean feat at just 17, and Stéphane Ziani, director of the training centre, believes the starlet has one key strength that sets him apart.

Ziani said: "Tylel has this rare quality of reading the game before the others. And he has a good head on his shoulders."

Perhaps the youngster's most impressive performance to date came in a 1-0 defeat against Strasbourg back in August, winning every duel he contested and making a number of other important defensive contributions.

Tati is clearly a very talented young player, but signing a new centre-back should not be Tottenham's priority heading into the January transfer window, given their improved defensive performances since Frank's arrival.

Just five days after the transfer window slammed shut the shock news emerged from Tottenham Hotspur that Daniel Levy would be leaving the club.

It's the end of an era and whatever you say about the former chairman's stint at Spurs, he did deliver success. Under his watch, a remarkably impressive new stadium was built, they reached a Champions League final and won the Europa League. Not bad, really, eh?

Sadly, the Lilywhites have largely always been the bridesmaid rather than the bride. They've failed to soar to the next level but under Thomas Frank they will hope things change.

Perhaps a big £100m investment could help? Last week, it was announced that ENIC, which, before this transaction, owned nearly 86.91% of Spurs, have provided £100m in new funding to Spurs. The sum has been provided to ENIC via the Lewis family trust which did own 70% of ENIC and 61% of Spurs.

Essentially, ENIC have provided the cash in exchange for shares, increasing its ownership stake in the club, increasing its percentage in Tottenham Hotspur to 87.62%.

The Athletic understand that the £100m may not be added to a transfer war chest, but extra investment can't he a hindrance. Perhaps there will be some extra room for manoeuvre in the transfer window anyway.

Will a Harry Kane return come about as a result?

Could Harry Kane return to Spurs?

When Kane left north London behind in August 2023, he did so with the blessing of the fanbase.

The club could not provide him with the silverware he craved and so he departed for Bayern Munich having scored 280 times in 435 outings, making him the club's all-time record goalscorer.

Since heading to Germany, he has taken his game to a whole new level and is now in the conversation to win the Ballon d'Or next year, currently ranking as the fourth favourite to take home the award.

Why? Well, the England skipper has been in remarkable form during 2025/26. He has scored a mind-boggling 18 goals in just ten fixtures, cementing himself as the most prolific forward on the planet.

Despite that, there is a hope that one day he will return to Spurs. Reports in recent months have suggested that they were ready to launch a bid to re-sign their former striker if given encouragement by the player.

Kane's currrent deal in Germany ends in 2027 and there is a release clause of £56.7m that could reportedly be activated next summer.

Sadly for Spurs supporters, the player could look to extend his terms. Speaking to the press last week, the centre forward commented: "In terms of staying longer I could definitely see that. I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation."

It's safe to say Frank could certainly do with Kane. While the former Brentford boss has made Spurs look like a more organised and defensively sound outfit, they are struggling to score goals.

Four players hold the honour of being the club's top scorer this term, with Joao Palhinha, Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and Micky van de Ven all level on three. That rather says it all, really.

That being said, by the time Kane's deal at Bayern ends, he will be 34. Younger legs will be required.

The Harry Kane alternative Spurs must sign

Bringing back their record scorer to the club would be an incredible way for ENIC to begin the post-Levy era but it's perhaps not the smartest use of their funds.

A striker will likely be signed within the next year but they must not neglect the flanks either. That's where Bournemouth talisman, Antoine Semenyo, comes in.

Far-fetched? Quite possibly, but reports emerged last week indicating that Spurs were preparing a move to sign the winger in January, with Frank allegedly making it clear that he is "the perfect fit" for his team.

Few would find a reason not to sign Semenyo in 2026. Erling Haaland aside, he has been the best player in the Premier League this season, scoring six goals and registering three assists in his seven outings to date.

The wide forward has taken his game to a whole new level. In 2024/25, he exited the campaign having scored 13, 11 of which came in the league. He's currently on course to obliterate that record, rubberstamping precisely why every top side in the division, Spurs included, should be looking to sign him next year.

In the words of former Spurs and England star, Chris Waddle, Semenyo is now "definitely the best winger in England right now".

Predominantly preferred off the right flank, Mohammed Kudus may not be too pleased about this signing but the summer arrival has the skillset to play off the left and through the middle too.

One has to say; the thought of Kudus, Spurs' "player of the season" in the words of reporter Alasdair Gold, linking up with Semenyo is a scary thought indeed.

It would, of course, be scary to see him linking up with Kane but that feels like a pipe dream right now. Semenyo is certainly more realistic and he could use Kudus' marvellous creativity to take him to even greater heights.

Both representing Ghana at international level, there is a pre-existing relationship there both on and off the field.

Kane is every supporter's dream but Semenyo would be an incredible signing. There is a reason both Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly interested in his services.

Tottenham Hotspur return to action at the end of this week with a clash against Aston Villa at home in the Premier League after the international break.

The Lilywhites are currently third in the table, with one loss in seven matches, and Thomas Frank will be hoping that his team continues to thrive in the top-flight.

He may, however, look for more from certain players in the coming weeks. Xavi Simons, for example, is yet to score a goal since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.

The Netherlands international, as shown in the graphic below, hit double figures for goals in the 2024/25 campaign for the German outfit before his move to England.

These statistics suggest that there is more to come from the attacking midfielder, who played in a central midfield role against Leeds United last time out, as a goalscoring threat.

Frank needs the Dutchman to step up with more goals and assists this season because the Danish tactician will be without James Maddison for some time yet.

Why James Maddison's injury is a big blow for Spurs

The England international suffered an ACL injury in pre-season and is set to be out for the majority of this season. He recently revealed that his target is to return before the end of the campaign.

This means that the former Leicester and Norwich star will not be available for selection to Frank until near the end of the season at the earliest, which is a big blow because of the quality that he can provide at Premier League level.

Maddison, who has 107 goals and assists in his top-flight career (Transfermarkt), ended the 2024/25 league campaign with a return of nine goals and seven assists in 21 starts for Spurs.

The English attacking midfielder proved that he is worthy of wearing the number ten shirt for Tottenham with his performances in the Premier League, with a consistent stream of goals and assists at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Maddison ranked as one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the Premier League last season when it came to scoring and creating goals per 90.

The likes of Rafa van der Vaart, Harry Kane, Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham, and Glenn Hoddle all donned the number ten shirt before the Spurs star inherited it from Kane in the summer of 2023.

Maddison's impact at the top end of the pitch, with goals and assists, shows that he is worthy of being a number ten for the club, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to get back to his best after an ACL injury.

If the England international does not get back to his best in an attacking midfield role for Spurs, that number ten shirt could be up for grabs in the not-too-distant future.

Whilst some may look to Xavi Simons as a potential successor to Maddison's number ten shirt, there is an exciting young star in the academy system who could steal the number ten from the vice-captain.

Luca Williams-Barnett made his first-team debut for Tottenham off the bench against Doncaster in the League Cup earlier this season, and could have a bright future in North London.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett can steal the number ten shirt for Spurs

Per Transfermarkt, the 17-year-old starlet has worn the number ten shirt for Spurs at U18, U19, and U21 level so far, which shows that he is a fan of the number.

This suggests that his dream would be to wear the number ten shirt for Tottenham at first-team level in the future, but he currently has Maddison in his way and will need to emerge as a star for Frank's team to have a shot at claiming it.

Williams-Barnett's form for the club's academy so far this season suggests that he is well on his way to breaking into the senior side, which would then put him into contention to steal that shirt number.

The teenage talent, who was hailed as "special" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored eight goals and provided five assists in ten appearances in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, which includes a three-minute appearance for the first-team.

Williams-Barnett, typically deployed as an attacking midfielder, has delivered consistent performances at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals in his number ten role.

As you can see in the table above, the 17-year-old starlet's form since the start of last season has been breathtaking, with a goal or an assist every hour or so on average.

Not only is Williams-Barnett an output machine who can score and create goals at an exceptional rate, but the Spurs sensation also "scores bangers", per analyst Ben Mattinson on X.

That comment from Mattinson is backed up by the two goals from the attacking midfielder in the video above, as it shows that he is an effective finisher from range.

However, it is now down to Williams-Barnett to prove that he can score and create goals at an impressive rate for the senior team, as he has done at U18, U19, and U21 level so far.

If Frank provides the England U18 international with a chance to play regular minutes for the first-team, the impressive attacking midfielder may just steal Maddison's number ten shirt in the future.

A "world-class" forward is now a top attacking target for Tottenham Hotspur, alongside AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Spurs vying to sign Son Heung-min replacement

Son Heung-min has proven he still has plenty left to give since making the move to LAFC in the summer, with the South Korean picking up eight goals and three assists in his opening nine MLS games, so Tottenham may be ruing the decision to sanction a sale.

Initially, Xavi Simons featured at left-wing in Son's place, but the Dutchman has since moved into a more central role, with Wilson Odobert being given the nod against Leeds United, but the young Frenchman is still yet to register a Premier League goal contribution this term.

On the opposite flank, Mohammed Kudus has made a more impressive start, scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 victory against Leeds, but Thomas Frank may feel he is a little light on top-quality options on the left.

As such, it is no doubt exciting news that Spurs are preparing a January move for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, with Frank of the belief the 25-year-old would be the "perfect fit" in his squad.

With nine goal contributions to his name in the Premier League already this season, a move to a Champions League club could provide the platform for Semenyo to become one of the best wingers in the world.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Semenyo is one of Tottenham's top targets to replace Son, but so is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, with the north Londoners expected to spend a significant amount of money on a new left-winger.

Spurs came close to signing Lookman in the summer, at which point he was valued at £43m, but the deal fell through, as the Italian club were unwilling to sanction a loan move and wanted a permanent sale.

Since then, however, the forward has worked his way back into first-team contention, starting against FC Como last time out, and the Nigerian's previous exploits suggest he could be a fantastic addition to Frank's squad...

"World-class" Semenyo could flourish at N17

BBC reporter John Bennett hailed the Atalanta forward in light of his remarkable performances across 2024, perhaps most notably scoring a hat-trick in the final of the Europa League to lead his side to victory against Bayer Leverkusen.

Since leaving England for Italy, the London-born attacker has also maintained a very impressive goal and assist record in the Serie A.

There may be some concerns over the fact Lookman hasn't set the world alight in England in the past, scoring just four goals in 48 games for Everton, but he has clearly developed since then, and at 27-years-old, the ex-Fulham man may now be in his prime.

Tottenham Hotspur have long held a reputation for being a Premier League club that gets the maximum out of the up-and-coming talents at their disposal.

Indeed, Gareth Bale was transformed into a Real Madrid superstar thanks to the magic of the North Londoners, with the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Wilson Odobert all keen to follow in the Welshman's footsteps in Thomas Frank's first team picture right now, with the trio in question all 20 years of age and younger.

They have all been afforded for luxury of trying to win first team minutes while Luka Vuskovic attempts to make a name for himself out on loan with Hamburg, with the promising Croat another that could soon bear fruit off the impressive Spurs' production line.

Why Luka Vuskovic is rated so highly

It's been a long time in the making for Vuskovic to be the Premier League side's property, having originally agreed a £12m deal with Hajduk Split for the teenage sensation back in 2023, with the defender then staying put in his native country to develop.

His ex-employers even loaned him out to Belgium for a season-long stint at Westerlo, but despite scoring seven times and picking up three assists on the books of the Pro League side, and already being capped by the senior Croatia national team, Frank and Co opted to send Vuskovic on another European adventure with the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

The Dane will be watching on from the Spurs' dug-out, very pleased with Vuskovic's start to life in the Bundesliga, with the Split-born teenager already the recipient of the league's Rookie of the Month accolade for his assured showings across September.

His league numbers make for some wild reading, with the determined 18-year-old winning a crazy nine duels per Bundesliga game so far this season, having won a whopping 18 aerial duels against Union Berlin at the end of last month.

To apply context to just how remarkable that statistic is, no player has won more aerial duels in a single Bundesliga game across the last ten seasons. Furthermore, he is the first player to win 18 aerial duels in a single match in Europe's big five leagues over the last five seasons.

It now appears that analyst Ben Mattinson wasn't being that over-the-top when he claimed Vuskovic was a "freak talent" with a "high ceiling", with his parent club already looking forward to bedding him into the first team picture when the time is right.

However, despite the brand-new Hamburg number 44 becoming the flavour of the month suddenly, other youngsters back at Spurs are equally as promising as Vuskovic.

Spurs gem is rivalling Vuskovic as their top youngster

While Vuskovic has had to wait for his moment in the senior spotlight, other youngsters of a similar ilk to the raw Croat have been bumped up to the Spurs' senior fold without much hesitation in recent years.

Last season, in particular, saw Ange Postecoglou use the Europa League as a stage for some of Spurs' homegrown prodigies to impress, with Dane Scarlett even scoring against Elfsborg in the European competition, despite only being 20.

That same match, Mikey Moore would got in on the goalscoring act, with this first-ever senior goal for the Lilywhites a long time in the making, despite the London-born starlet only being 17 at the time.

Amazingly, long before Vuskovic's name would start to be uttered, Moore was scoring goals by the bucket load for the Spurs' U18s, with 19 goals and 13 assists in total in the youth picture, seeing scout Jacek Kulig hail him as "one of the most talented players of his generation in Europe."

A further 20 appearances in the Spurs' first team fold have come the forward's way which has resulted in a further two assists being collected. It really is unsurprising that analyst Ben Mattinson claimed he has "superstar potential."

Still, much like Vuksovic's fate, Moore was sent out on loan to Rangers this summer, with the new number 47 at Ibrox failing to settle amidst turbulent times at the Glasgow-based club.

Yet, he does at least have one assist next to his name to hang onto from ten appearances, and with a hat-trick just picked up for the England U19s, he will hopefully be able to kick on and get back to his best in the Russell-Martin-less reality awaiting him.

Therefore, while the former Split youngster is certainly raising eyebrows, Moore has shown with that hat-trick that he still has lots about him, too, with the 18-year-old no doubt still prepared to go to the very top, whether that's with Vuskovic next to him or not in a future Spurs' starting XI.

After becoming synonymous with Brentford, Thomas Frank would have been forgiven somewhat if he had teething problems adjusting to the Tottenham Hotspur hot-seat.

Indeed, the much-loved Dane was a mainstay for the Bees for seven years. Yet, he has instantly hit the ground running as Ange Postecoglou's replacement in North London.

So far, only one defeat has come his way from 11 games at the Spurs helm, leading to Frank guiding his new team all the way up to third spot in the early league standings, before the international break came into play.

One of Frank's men so far has, of course, been Mohammed Kudus, who has spearheaded plenty of points so far, including the victory over Leeds prior to the break.

Why Kudus looks like one of Spurs' best players

Amazingly, Frank wasn't the only coup Spurs managed to pull off this summer when directly stealing from some of their London neighbours.

Much to the anger of West Ham supporters, the tricky forward excited the London Stadium at West Ham for Tottenham, moving across the capital in a deal worth £55m, a price tag that made him the club's fourth-highest transfer of all time.

While West Ham loiter towards the bottom of the division, Kudus has become an instant hit donning Spurs white near the top of the competitive league, with one goal and five assists already falling into his lap from ten contests.

Already, that £55m looks to be money well spent, with Wayne Rooney even hailing the purchase as a "real top signing" after the Ghanaian's match-winning effort at Elland Road.

There could be bold comparisons forming, too, between Kudus and one of Frank's favourites at Brentford in Bryan Mbeumo.

Indeed, the Scandinavian boss has now potentially unearthed another blistering output machine he can rely on as his main marksman, with the 25-year-old also capable of playing all across the forward positions, like his Manchester United counterpart.

Yet, there is be a different member of Frank's camp slipping under the radar as his next Mbeumo-style figure.

An Mbeumo-like figure for Frank to rely on

Mbeumo and Frank would be seen as two key elements to Brentford's unbelievable Premier League success story when the pair were still together at the GTech Community Stadium.

Staggeringly, 242 of Mbeumo's 297 career appearances to date fell under the Dane's long reign at the Bees, with 70 goals and 51 assists picked up along the way, winning him the label of being Frank's "main man" as the now Spurs manager stated in April of this year.

While Kudus has gained a lot of plaudits at Spurs to date to now be seen as Frank's main spark, there is another glue holding the North Londoners together that could be viewed as the 52-year-old's most reliable asset: Joao Palhinha.

Kudus does offer up a similar exciting, hard-to-contain attacking presence as Mbeumo, but in Palhinha, Frank might well have uncovered another talent that allows his side to tick, with the loan-to-buy deal of £27m that's on the table continuing to stand out as a masterstroke in this regard.

Football London's Alasdair Gold has even hailed the deal to bring him in as "one of the bargains of the summer", and it's not the wildest shout when you assess the ex-Fulham man's standout numbers to date back in the Premier League.

Away from hammering home two goals for his new employers already, Palhinha has also more than lived up to this previous billing as a "defensive monster" which was once handed to him by analyst Marcus Bring, winning a mighty 6.7 duels per game across his seven top-flight outings.

Already, it appears that Frank has stumbled across another vital commander he can rely on in a similar vein to Mbeumo, with Palhinha hopeful of many more happy seasons under his new boss, if his excellent start to life at Spurs is anything to go by.

After all, his former manager in Marco Silva, would go as far as to herald him as a "leader" at Craven Cottage and despite not donning the armband at Brentford under Frank, that's exactly what Mbeumo was too.

Not every star man needs to bundle in the goals like the new Man Utd signing to make themselves a hero under Frank and Palhinha has certainly found that out already. Forget Kudus, the Portuguese has been their most important player to date this term.

As those at Tottenham Hotspur are aware more than most, not every prospect bursts onto the scene like a Lamine Yamal or a Jude Bellingham - sometimes a little patience or perseverance is required.

The golden example for those of a Lilywhites persuasion is that man Harry Kane, the now England skipper and record scorer having been forced to travail the EFL, before eventually securing his place in the club’s first-team plans.

Something of a late bloomer in modern terms - having made his first Premier League start in April 2014, three months shy of his 21st birthday - the free-scoring sensation has gone on to have a career that few could have envisaged amid his early struggles at the likes of Leicester City and Norwich City.

From his days at Leyton Orient, Kane is now a record-breaker for both club and country, recently reaching 100 Bayern Munich goals from just 104 games - the fastest player this century to achieve that feat in Europe’s top five leagues.

Schooled by Spurs, but arguably made and nurtured during his string of temporary moves away from the club, Kane is a glowing success story of the loan system.

Excitingly for Thomas Frank and co, the north Londoners could look to profit from their loan set-up again in the near future.

How Spurs’ loan stars are getting on this season

Among the hottest prospects to have departed N17 this summer was Croatian teenager, Luka Vuskovic, with the towering centre-back earning rave reviews already at Bundesliga side, Hamburg.

Still just 18, the 6 foot 4 defender is a mountain of a man, remarkably winning 73% of his total duels in the league so far this term, as well as a staggering 85% of his aerial duels.

For context, Micky van de Ven has averaged 53% and 47% for Spurs, respectively, in 2025/26, as per Sofascore.

The former Hajduk Split star - who scored seven league goals on loan at Belgian side Westerlo last term - is the main attraction as far as Spurs’ loanees go, although academy graduate Alfie Devine is currently flourishing for Preston North End, with three goals and assists from eight Championship outings.

Mikey Moore looks to have been swept up in the chaos of Russell Martin and Rangers, having failed to score in ten games at Ibrox, although fellow teenager winger Min-hyeok Yang has already netted twice in just four league games for Portsmouth in the second tier.

The Championship has also proven a fruitful destination for the next Kane, Will Lankshear, with the promising striker scoring three goals in nine league appearances for Oxford United, albeit while failing to convert in any of his last four.

High hopes remain for Jamie Donley, who registered 19 goals and assists for Orient last term, although his time at Stoke City is yet to truly take off, having been restricted to just three substitute appearances for the promotion-chasing side in the league.

Donley isn’t quite hitting the heights of last term, although one man who certainly is 20-year-old sensation, George Abbott.

The Spurs starlet who’s been “compared to Grealish”

Many may view those operating outside of the Championship as having little chance of making the leap to Premier League level, although that’s not necessarily the case.

Take Dele Alli example, with the then-youngster rising from EFL star at MK Dons to top-flight sensation at White Hart Lane in double-quick time, having ended his first campaign in the capital - 2015/16 - with 18 goals and assists to his name in the league, as per Transfermarkt.

Kane, too, stepped down into League One with Orient, before later exploding back at Spurs, with that the level where homegrown starlet, Abbott, is currently flourishing for Wycombe Wanderers.

The versatile midfielder - who has operated all across the park in the Tottenham youth ranks - joined the Chairboys this summer after starring at Notts County in the fourth tier last term, registering 13 goals and assists in all competitions for the League Two side.

That included what proved to be the division’s Goal of the Season away at Accrington Stanley, with the Englishman thumping home in emphatic style after meeting an inswinging corner flush on the volley.

At a club with a rich history for welcoming in potential stars of the future, including now Celtic skipper Callum McGregor, the Magpies allowed Abbott to sparkle, with ITV’s Dan Salisbury-Jones noting that the youngster had even been “compared to Jack Grealish”.

The new Everton talisman - another former loan hero at the Nottinghamshire club - previously came agonisingly close to joining Spurs back in 2018, although could the Lilywhites now have his heir apparent in the shape of Abbott?

His Grealish-like ability to glide forward with the ball at his feet has also led to comparisons to ex-Wycombe loanee, Eberechi Eze, with Abbott having scored his first goal for the Buckinghamshire side in true Eze fashion against Northampton.

That was followed by an assist as Michael Duff’s side saw off Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup third round, before he also starred off the bench away at AFC Wimbledon, as the visitors narrowly slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Introduced at half-time, Abbott was a central figure as Wycombe, albeit unsuccessfully, fought their way back into the game, notably winning 100% of his ground duels, while providing one key pass from his 36 touches, as per Sofascore.

Fleet of foot but with the steel to match, the dynamic midfielder - who also played the full 90 in Saturday's narrow win over Wigan - looks to have all the tools at his disposal, with the hope being that he can force his way into Frank’s first-team plans later down the line.

At 20, the modern game might suggest his time has already come and gone to break into an elite team like Spurs, yet if he can look to the case of Kane for inspiration, Abbott could prove to be the north Londoners’ next shining loan success story.

With a new long-term contract signed back in north London ahead of the new campaign, he is certainly one for the future.

Tottenham have made contact with a "complete" young player over a move to the club, with plenty of other clubs providing stiff competition including Scottish giants Rangers.

Tottenham given £100m cash injection

It has been a positive start to life in north London for Thomas Frank, with Spurs performing well overall in the Premier League and sitting third in the table.

Tottenham have now been given a fresh boost, with their owners, Enic, who are run by the Lewis Family Trust, injecting £100m into the club to "further strengthen the club's financial position and equip the club's leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success".

A source close to Spurs also added: "This is initial additional funding. As the club's management decides what's needed to deliver success, more money will be available. The Lewis family is committed to backing the club to be successful."

This will be music to the ears of the fanbase, who will feel that life after Daniel Levy is going well, and it's now a case of using the money wisely, potentially on new signings moving forward. One player has now been mentioned as a potential option for the north Londoners.

Writing on X, journalist Rudy Galetti claimed that Tottenham have made contact with AS Trencin winger Sani Suleiman, looking to beat the likes of Rangers and Bayer Leverkusen to his signature.

Not a lot is known about Suleiman, given his age and where he is currently playing, but he could be an exciting long-term acquisition for Spurs, being capable of shining on both wings. The report does say that he has impressed with his speed, creativity, and ability to impact games.

At just 19, he has already scored 15 goals at senior level, as well as winning three caps for Nigeria's Under-20s, and Galetti himself has described him as "complete" recently.

It is always important for Spurs to plan for the future, rather than simply focusing on the present, and signing players of Suleiman's calibre and potential is vital.

Granted, it is hard to predict the trajectory of a young player, with so many hurdles to clear in their career, from injuries to consistency, but if Frank and the recruitment team at the club see him as a good option, they need to be trusted.