Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have made an excellent start to life under Thomas Frank over the last couple of weeks, with the Dane only losing one of his first nine games at the helm.

Part of his success in North London has been down to the immediate impact of summer addition Mohammed Kudus, with the Ghanaian nailing his place in the starting eleven.

The 25-year-old cost £55m from Premier League rivals West Ham United, already hitting the ground running and contributing to the Lilywhites’ success on the pitch.

He’s already registered four assists across all competitions, two of which came on the opening day in the 3-0 triumph over Burnley - a game which was his competitive debut for the club.

Such an achievement matched a record set by one other first-team member, but the new addition has yet to feature alongside him in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

James Maddison’s highs and lows at Spurs

James Maddison became the first player in Spurs’ Premier League history to register two assists on his league debut, subsequently being joined in such a club by Kudus.

The Englishman joined the Lilywhites back in the summer of 2023 for a fee in the region of £40m from Leicester City after the Foxes’ relegation the season prior.

Since his transfer, he’s racked up 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 16 times and registering 19 assists across all competitions - but such numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Injuries have massively plagued the 28-year-old over recent years, already suffering four injuries in his two-year spell, subsequently missing 25 matches through various setbacks.

Maddison has since suffered an ACL injury, further adding to his frustrations and is now expected to miss out on the vast majority of the Dane’s first campaign in charge.

There’s no denying that the attacking midfielder is a player who possesses huge talent, but ultimately his lack of fitness has constantly prevented him from making an impact on a consistent basis.

As a result, he could easily lose his number ten shirt in the near future, with one player already on the books deserving of the opportunity to wear such a historic shirt.

The Spurs star who could steal Maddison’s #10

Over the last couple of years, Spurs have been fortunate to see multiple top talents wear the number ten shirt - none more so than former striker Harry Kane.

The centre-forward emerged through the ranks in North London, before making his mark in the first-team and cementing himself in the Lilywhites’ history forever.

He found the net on 280 occasions during his decade-long spell with the club, subsequently surpassing the late Jimmy Greaves and becoming their all-time top-scorer.

However, Maddison was the player to inherit such a shirt after the former’s departure to join Bayern Munich, but the club may look to hand another first-team star the responsibility of wearing such a historic number.

Pape Matar Sarr joined the Lilywhites as an unknown quantity to many of the supporters, but it’s safe to say he’s now become one of the club’s best players at present.

The Senegalese international joined for just £14.6m in 2021, but would have to wait until the following summer to make his first competitive appearance for the English outfit.

However, since such a day, the 23-year-old hasn’t looked back, subsequently racking up over 100 appearances in all competitions - five of which have come in the Premier League under Frank.

Sarr, who’s been dubbed “unbelievable” by Jamie O’Hara, has already registered a goal and two assists in England’s top flight this season, highlighting his attacking quality despite his deep-lying role.

He’s now posted a total of 10 goals and eight assists since making the move to England, which has allowed him to be a vital component within the club’s midfield department.

Out of possession, Sarr has been just as impressive, winning 5.1 duels per 90, along with 4.8 recoveries made - arguably being one of the best box-to-box options in the league.

At 23, he had plenty of time to build on his early success in North London, potentially playing a crucial role in any future success achieved during Frank’s tenure in the role.

As a result, he could easily be handed the number ten shirt by the club to reflect his importance, but such a decision could prove to be harsh in Maddison, given his recent struggles.

However, football is a cruel industry and it remains to be seen what level the Englishman is at after such an injury lay-off, with the hierarchy having a huge call to make on his future.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank and CEO Vinai Venkatesham are in agreement over Spurs' latest new deal, with another player penning a new contract with the club.

Tottenham sealing contract extensions for key players and prospects

This week, highly-rated young attacking midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett became the latest player to commit his future to Spurs, signing his first professional contract with the club soon after making his senior debut against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The teenager has been a standout in Spurs' youth set up over the last 12 months, specifically for their Under-18s, and even won the Under-18 Premier League Goal of the Season award for an outstanding strike against Leicester City.

Williams-Barnett joins Tynan Thompson, Dante Cassanova, George Abbott, Yusuf Akhamrich and Callum Olusesi on the list of exciting Lilywhites prospects to pen extensions this year, while senior players are also being rewarded.

Indeed, Mikey Moore, Djed Spence and Cristian Romero agreed fresh terms to remain at Spurs in the last few months, with the latter's deal proving to be a major boost for Frank after he was repeatedly linked to Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Reports suggest that Tottenham are prepared to double Micky van de Ven's wages in a bid to agree an extension for Romero's centre-back partner too, amid rumoured interest from Real Madrid and even Chelsea.

The Dutchman's deal expires in 2029 as things stand, so there is no great rush there with Spurs still in a very strong position, but the same couldn't be said for mainstay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

The former Juventus star has impressed alongside summer signing Joao Palhinha in the middle of the park, and those within the club believe they've formed a stellar partnership since Frank's arrival at N17 (Ben Jacobs).

Bentancur has started four out of Tottenham's first six Premier League games this season, not to mention every cup game.

As such, Tottenham have been in talks with Bentancur over extending his stay.

Tottenham agree new Rodrigo Bentancur deal

Barcelona were believed to be keen on Bentancur earlier this year, going as far as to hold talks with the South American's camp (The Boy Hotspur), but Hansi Flick's side, alongside other suitors, have been dealt a blow.

Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, reported that Bentancur was close to signing a Tottenham contract extension after Frank and CEO Venkatesham reached an agreement with eachother that he should remain in North London.

"Thomas Frank made it clear he wanted him to stay beyond this season, and new footballing chief Vinai Venkatesham was in agreement, and now the deal is close to being signed," Bailey said about Bentancur.

“Frank is very happy with Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in midfield and the way he can bring in others around them.”

Now, Spurs have announced the deal is complete, with the Uruguayan signing a "long term" contract and Frank "extremely happy" after his previous deal was due to expire in 2026.

Last season, he played a key role as Tottenham reached the Europa League final and ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy, and Bentancur has been equally useful to Frank this term.

The Dane, speaking to media in September, made his feelings about the former Serie A star crystal clear.

“I think first and foremost, I am very happy with Rodri," Frank said.

"He has been a very good player for us, a top professional in every aspect. I am happy with him, he is happy with being here. I know that for a fact. Let us see what is going to happen in the future.”

After Tottenham Hotspur finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season, new boss Thomas Frank was always going to have a huge task on his hands - especially without the help of Bryan Mbeumo.

During his time at Brentford, the Dane was able to rely upon the attacker to produce the goods in the final third, which undoubtedly contributed to his impressive tenure across the capital.

The Cameroonian international netted 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25 - the best return of his career to date - highlighting how impressive the 26-year-old was under Frank’s guidance.

Such form led to the 51-year-old trying to sign him after taking over as Lilywhites boss, but the forward decided in favour of a £71m transfer to join Manchester United instead.

There’s no denying that missing out on his signature would have been a bitter blow to Frank, but instead he was able to delve into the market to land another one of his summer targets.

Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs

In a move that somewhat caused controversy, Spurs landed the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham United during Frank’s first transfer window.

The deal was worth in the region of £55m excluding potential add-ons, with real hope that the Ghanaian would improve the options currently available within the final third.

It may be only early days into his career in North London, but the 25-year-old has wasted no time in impressing the fanbase and looking to be worth every penny of his big-money transfer fee.

Kudus has failed to score to date, but he has been a constant creative threat, often causing the opposition backline no end of problems - whether that be in Europe or domestically.

He’s laid on four assists for his teammates in his nine appearances across all competitions, with his cameo against Bodo Glimt on Tuesday further showcasing his talents with the ball at his feet.

Despite featuring for just half an hour off the bench, Kudus posted a total of five successful dribbles - a tally that was higher than any other player on the pitch.

There’s no disputing that the winger has taken no time in impressing for the Lilywhites, but there’s another player on the books that could be Frank’s next Mbeumo in North London.

The Spurs player who’s Frank’s next Mbeumo

As previously mentioned, Frank was able to get the best out of Mbeumo, subsequently transforming him into an elite-level talent after joining the Bees from French side Troyes back in the summer of 2019.

The duo’s partnership really was something to fear, leading to the Cameroonian ending last year as one of only five players in the division to bag 20 goals or more.

Delving into the market at the first opportunity showcased his desire for new additions to help emulate the talent he had at his disposal at the GTEC.

However, he may already have his next Mbeumo in the form of Brennan Johnson, with the Welshman a player who’s previously been of huge admiration to the boss.

During his time with the Bees, the Dane tried to land the winger on numerous occasions, even placing multiple bids for his services when he was at Nottingham Forest.

Evidently, his attempts to secure his signature were unsuccessful, leading to Johnson moving to Spurs in a £47.5m deal from the Reds back in the summer of 2023.

Whilst he’s come under fire in recent times, there’s no denying the player has been worth the huge money spent on his services, with the attacker often popping up in key moments.

Johnson, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, registered 18 goals in all competitions last season - the highest of any player in the squad - even netting the winner in the Europa League final.

Such a tally showcases the clinical nature he possesses when in front of goal, similar to that of Mbeumo, with the Welshman having the tools to be the manager’s next version of the forward.

The comparison is also evident given their similar roles, with both players able to operate off the right-hand side, or even in central areas - something which is less seen with the Lilywhites star.

Both have also had a knack for often being ineffective before popping up with key goals at crucial moments, as seen by the Spurs star’s performance against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The addition of Kudus has reduced the game time of the 24-year-old in recent months, which could result in fewer minutes and make it harder to replicate his form from the European-winning campaign.

However, given the manager’s previous attempts to sign him, there’s no doubt he has faith in the attacker to be a success during his tenure in charge of the Lilywhites.

Johnson is a player who hugely relies on confidence to thrive, with the manager desperately needing to put his arm around him and back him if he is to match the heights of Mbeumo in the years ahead.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank will "definitely" be without a star player for this weekend's trip to Leeds United, with the Dane looking to get back to winning ways after a hard-fought draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Tottenham display grit again after rescuing 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt

For the third time this season, Spurs were forced to come back from a deficit to salvage any kind of result, with their 2-2 battle in Norway following Tottenham's draw at Brighton by the same scoreline and a dramatic 1-1 at home to Wolves last weekend.

On this occasion, an 89th minute own goal by Jostein Gundersen rescued Spurs from what would have been an embarrassing defeat at the Aspmyra Stadion.

The match marked a return to the venue where Tottenham had triumphed in last season's Europa League semi-finals and booked their place in Bilbao against Man United, which proved crucial to Ange Postecoglou ending their 17-year wait for silverware, but this visit told a very different story.

Bodo/Glimt dominated for extended periods, with Jens Petter Hauge scoring twice shortly after halftime to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.

Micky van de Ven, wearing the captain's armband, pulled one back just minutes after Hauge's second before the dramatic late OG gave Spurs an arguably undeserved point.

Frank's tenure thus far has attracted mixed reviews from the Lilywhites fanbase due to Tottenham's lack of real dominance over lesser sides, and this was certainly on full display in the Arctic Circle.

That being said, you can make a very real case that all the best sides in Europe are capable of getting results despite not playing at their very best.

It is also worth remembering that Tottenham impressed against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final, battered London rivals West Ham and got the best of Premier League title contenders Man City at the Etihad, so there is reason to believe that Spurs are definitely improving from last season.

Their grit to battle back from losing positions so far is testament to this, and it is perhaps a sign of things to come under Frank as the tactician continues to assess his new squad.

Tottenham have been forced to deal with a plethora of absences for key players too, with James Maddison out for the majority of 2025/2026 after a nightmare pre-season injury, Dejan Kulusevski on the comeback trail and Radu Dragusin still recovering from an ACL problem.

Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani has been absent with a dead leg as well, but while the Frenchman is expected to return imminently, the same cannot be said for £140,000-per-week striker Dominic Solanke.

Dominic Solanke "definitely" set to miss Leeds as Tottenham given timeline

The England international was forced to undergo minor surgery on a niggling ankle problem, and while Frank doesn't expect his lay-off to be long, journalist Tom Barclay has stated that Solanke will "definitely" be unavailable for their trip to Elland Road.

However, Tottenham are hopeful he'll return after the international break.

“So first of all, with Solanke, he’s definitely out of the Leeds game. I think the hope is that he may be back after the international break,” Barclay said on The Tottenham Way podcast.

“We’ll see. And obviously all Spurs fans will listen to that and go, yeah, okay, we’ll believe it when we see it after what we’ve seen so far with Solanke and obviously other injuries last season under Ange.”

His fitness issues have been a real cause for concern, with Solanke missing a total of 22 games through injury since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024 as Harry Kane's heir.

Richarlison has started almost all of Frank's game in charge as a replacement for Solanke, scoring three goals, but concerns have surrounded the Brazilian as Tottenham's focal point.

Last season, Solanke scored 16 goals and provided eight assists across 45 appearances in all competitions when fit and available — proving integral at times — and Frank needs the England forward back in his fold ahead of crucial matches against Aston Villa, Monaco, Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea right after the October internationals.

Tottenham have reportedly held initial talks over signing a Real Madrid star who's becoming disenfranchised with life under Xabi Alonso, but it's actually not the often linked Rodrygo or Arda Güler.

Spurs were linked with surprise summer move for Rodrygo

Thomas Frank's side, ideally, wanted to bring in two new star wingers during the summer.

While Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani arrived at N17, with all three capable of playing out wide, Spurs were widely reported to be pursuing another forward towards the final days of the window.

Tottenham saw two bids rejected for Man City winger Savinho, and they were tipped to potentially go back in for the Brazilian in January (Dean Jones), until he decided to sign a new contract at Eastlands recently.

The former Girona star was a top personal transfer target for Frank, who believed he could be "huge" for Spurs, according to Fabrizio Romano, but all hope of signing Savinho in the near future has been quashed by the 21-year-old agreeing an extension until 2031.

With City's rising star now off the table, it could be worth revisiting a potential bid for Rodrygo.

Tottenham were also linked with a move for the Real forward towards the back end of August, with reports in Spain claiming that Spurs made an approach for Rodrygo amid their pursuit of world-class attacking players (Mundo Deportivo).

The 24-year-old has started just one La Liga match under Xabi Alonso this season and was on the bench yet again for Real's 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday.

With the 2026 World Cup looming and competition rife for a place in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad, Rodrygo may not be satisfied with his bit-part role for much longer — which could open the door for Tottenham to swoop.

There were suggestions in the summer that Real could be open to loaning Rodrygo out, and that would suit Tottenham down to the ground, as CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and the new-look Lilywhites boardroom maintain their plans to sign another wide player in January.

Tottenham are also reportedly targeting Guler, but given his newly-found prominence at the Bernabeu, a move for the Turkey international could prove very difficult.

However, as per a new report, Guler and Rodrygo aren't the only Real players on Tottenham's radar.

Tottenham hold "preliminary talks" over signing Federico Valverde

As per reports from Spain, £280,000-per-week Real midfielder Federico Valverde has emerged as a "priority" target for Lange and co.

Unlike Rodrygo, their vice-captain has been selected regularly by Alonso, with Valverde notching three assists from midfield already and playing a key role at times.

That being said, a Spanish media source reports that Valverde is being slowly left in the dark by Real's new manager, who wants more disciplined midfielders to maintain control of the park.

Valverde struggled in their 5-2 derby loss to Atlético Madrid last weekend, and the Uruguayan is apparently losing some faith in the dressing room.

Lange could take full advantage of this, with the report claiming that Tottenham are "leading the way in preliminary talks" for Valverde despite interest from other top Premier League sides.

Real's board are also split over selling Valverde, as some believe he could still have a role to play under Alonso, while others think it could be the right time to sell in January and reinvest the funds into more squad upgrades.

The 27-year-old, who boasts over 70 caps for the Uruguay national team, has racked up 32 goals and 34 assists from 331 appearances for the Whites, with Ancelotti previously calling Valverde the "most complete player" in world football.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur haven’t been afraid to splash the cash, with the ownership handing various managers the tools to achieve success.

The Lilywhites have spent around £400m on new signings in the last four years, numerous of which have made a huge impact on their ability to create new history for the club.

Brennan Johnson is one of the players who arrived during such a period, with his £47.5m transfer fee now appearing to be an excellent piece of business, given his record in North London.

The Welshman netted 18 goals across all competitions last campaign, but undoubtedly his most important came in the Europa League final as he helped end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.

Despite the 24-year-old’s positive impact in the first-team, the same can’t be said for one player who fell way below the expectations placed upon him after his own big-money transfer.

Tanguy Ndombele’s failed spell at Spurs

In the summer of 2019, Spurs forked out a then club-record fee of £62m for the signature of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

Such a move generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, but it’s safe to say his time in North London was one of bitter disappointment, given his failure to impress.

He would feature a total of 91 times for the Lilywhites over a three-year period, spending two separate spells on loan at Napoli and Galatasaray before his contract was cut short - allowing him to depart on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

Whilst he produced some moments of magic, including his superb effort against Sheffield United, he was unable to produce such levels on a regular basis - with concerns being voiced around his attitude and fitness.

His tally of 10 goals and nine assists highlight the lack of impact he had, with the hierarchy subsequently losing a small fortune on their investment - especially after he departed for nothing.

However, he’s not the only player to fall below the standards expected of him, with one current first-team player currently finding himself in a similar situation.

The Spurs player who’s becoming the biggest waste since Ndombele

Current boss Thomas Frank has made a solid start to his Spurs career so far, only losing one of his nine games in charge across all competitions in 2025/26.

The Dane has created a settled 4-3-3 side that has allowed them to make some major scalps, including a 2-0 triumph against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, with the 51-year-old unable to secure a win against Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites found themselves two goals down with just 24 minutes remaining, but managed to fight back to secure a 2-2 draw and maintain their unbeaten record in Europe this season.

Many players had an off night during the stalemate, but Richarlison once again continued to disappoint and was unable to shake off his recent poor form.

Despite netting three goals in his first six games this campaign, many supporters have become frustrated with the Brazilian, leading to criticism being directed his way.

In the last two games combined, he’s only managed a total of 30 touches combined, completing just seven passes - often unable to get himself into the game.

When in front of goal, the 28-year-old has also been just as dreadful, missing two big chances in as many games - leading to one analyst stating that he “offers nothing”.

To further highlight his lack of impact in North London, he’s only scored 23 times in his 100 appearances for the club, with departed fan-favourite Harry Kane managing to score over 100 goals for Bayern Munich since his transfer two years ago.

If the Brazilian joined in a bargain deal, the lack of impact wouldn’t be as concerning, but the hierarchy forked out £50m for his signature three years ago - with such a decision now looking like an awful one.

There’s no doubt he’s failed to live up to the hype in North London, but the hierarchy must look to offload him and replace him with a top-level player in the months ahead.

They desperately need to recoup a competitive fee for his services, subsequently avoiding losing him for nothing - just as they did with Ndombele a little over 12 months ago.

Tottenham sensation Lucas Bergvall is making plenty of headlines after his exceptional start to the season, and it could even spark a new transfer plan.

Lucas Bergvall attracting praise after Tottenham displays

The 19-year-old is making his £8.5 million price tag look like chump change.

Ever since his move from Djurgardens in February 2024, Bergvall has arguably established himself as one of Spurs' best bargains of the last decade.

Spurs beat La Liga giants Barcelona to his signing last year, and according to some reports, Hansi Flick's Catalans are still reeling from missing out on the teenager amid his excellent start to life at N17.

Thomas Frank has given Bergvall the starting nod in four out of his first six top flight games in charge, with the midfielder scoring his first ever Premier League goal for the Lilywhites during their 3-0 London derby win over West Ham recently.

Bergvall was handed the Player of the Match award for his performance at the London Stadium, and grabbed another one just days later in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League.

The ball-carrying gem has also completed more successful dribbles than any other Tottenham player in the league on average so far, bar summer signing Mohammed Kudus (WhoScored), with Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson lavishing his compatriot after watching nearly all of Bergvall's games.

“He has been brilliant. He’s played really well,” he said, via Fotboll Skanalen.

“He was not in the training camps in March and June because he had been sick and injured. I have to say that he has played very well now.

“I didn’t watch the game yesterday, but I have seen the rest of his games. He has had an impact on the games; he is dynamic and plays with power. To do that at such a young age is amazing. He is doing a good job.”

Bergvall is even keeping Archie Gray, another exciting teenage talent, out of Frank's starting eleven despite the Englishman's excellent performances when called upon.

Pape Sarr and Bergvall are arguably beginning to establish themselves as future undroppables of Frank's new-look team, with pundits also hailing the former as an "important" player who "goes under the radar" (Martin Allen).

Therefore, it is little surprise that CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team will want to replicate their signings of Sarr and Bergvall in future moves.

Tottenham tipped to move Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham says he's "heard" that Spurs are looking at midfielders in a similar mould to the duo, and suggests that they could move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

The 22-year-old has seriously impressed since joining Ange Postecoglou's side from Newcastle, often standing out as a key component of their midfield with his close control, dribbling and composure on the ball.

This was on full display against Real Betis in the Europa League, and Anderson has earned a place in Thomas Tuchel's England plans as a result of his excellent City Ground form.

"I see why he was heavily linked when we had Postecoglou in charge, he would have been a really good fit for us,” Wenham said, when asked about links to Atlético Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher.

“But times have moved on, and I’ve heard there are a lot of other midfielders that Tottenham would potentially look at, maybe someone like Elliot Anderson, who has a more ball-carrying style, you know, similar to Lucas Bergvall or Pape Matar Sarr, rather than Gallagher, for example.”

With Bentancur closing in on a new Tottenham deal and Frank already well-stocked for midfielders, at least for the time being, this could be one for Spurs to consider next summer.

Yves Bissouma is widely expected to leave Spurs after falling down Frank's pecking order, either in January or as a free agent later in 2026, with Anderson standing out as a quality, young and homegrown potential replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad has come a long way in such a short space of time, with Thomas Frank the current beneficiary of the hierarchy’s impressive recruitment.

Managers like Antonio Conte have tried and failed to transform the club, subsequently being unable to bring the success the fans have desired to North London.

The Italian ultimately left the club back in March 2023 despite achieving a 53% win percentage, with Ange Postecoglou taking over ahead of the following campaign.

In the last couple of years, the hierarchy have spent big on the transfer window to try and take the club to the next level and achieve a sustained period of success - whether that be in the Premier League or Europe.

One of the players brought in during such a period has demonstrated his talents for the Lilywhites, but has also come under fire for his lack of impact at certain times of his spell at the club.

The ups and downs of Brennan Johnson’s Spurs career

Brennan Johnson joined Spurs for a reported £47.5m back in the summer of 2023, arriving with high expectations after netting 10 goals and registering three assists for Nottingham Forest the year prior.

The Welshman has endured a topsy-turvy time in North London to date, only scoring five times in his first season at the club - leading to unjustifiable abuse from the supporters.

Such a situation would lead to the winger deleting his social media accounts, but it would lead to a huge upturn in form and securing his place as a regular starter once again.

Johnson would score 18 times across all competitions last campaign - the most of any player in the squad - even netting the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

The goal against the Red Devils ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for any form of silverware, subsequently handing a generation of supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst scoring twice in as many outings at the start of 2025/26, Johnson has since fallen down the pecking order of late, failing to make a single start in the Premier League since the end of August.

As a result, he’s subsequently being outperformed by one former Spurs star who may have been harshly sold given his lack of first-team action in North London.

The former Spurs star who is playing better than Johnson

Whilst Spurs have spent big in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons, numerous players have had to be sacrificed to help balance the books to avoid any financial implications.

Harry Kane has been the biggest player to depart North London over recent windows, leaving in a mammoth £82m transfer to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

The Englishman has left a huge gap in the first-team squad, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 280 goals for the Lilywhites - the most by any player in the club’s history.

He wasn’t the only attacker that was sacrificed by the club to raise funds, with former boss Conte deciding to offload winger Jack Clarke to Sunderland back in the summer of 2022.

The winger joined the club from Championship side Leeds United for a fee in the region of £10m, with his addition seeing the club land themselves a star for the future.

However, it’s safe to say his time in North London failed to live up to expectations, as Clarke was restricted to only four senior appearances for the club - none of which came in the Premier League.

After countless loan spells away from the Lilywhites, he would move on a permanent basis to join the Black Cats three years after his transfer - subsequently unable to have the impact he desired.

Fast forward to the present day, the 24-year-old now plies his trade for Ipswich Town after joining them for £15m last summer, now becoming a key member of their current first-team squad.

Clarke has now scored three times and registered one assist for the Tractor Boys, a tally higher than that of Johnson, who’s only scored twice in the 2025/26 campaign.

There’s no denying the Englishman is achieving such heights in a lower division, but it’s clear that he’s a player full of confidence at present - but the same can’t be said for the Welshman.

Frank needs to give Johnson the support he needs to get back to the levels he produced last season, with his drop in from in recent weeks a huge concern to everyone involved with the club.

As for Clarke, it’s great to see a former player finally fulfilling the potential he arrived with, but it’s a real shame that he’s not doing so in the whites of Tottenham.

His departure may have been a tad premature, but unfortunately for the fanbase, he will now remain a case of what could’ve been with their loss now Ipswich’s gain.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is dividing opinion among the Lilywhites fanbase so far, despite what's been a solid start on paper, but the Dane is continuing his plans to slowly transform Spurs into a winning team.

Tottenham get out of jail in Champions League draw against Bodo/Glimt

Spurs were far from their best in Norway on Tuesday evening as Frank's side snatched another draw against the run of play.

Bodo/Glimt dominated the ball with quick, sharp interplay and made life extremely difficult for the travelling Londoners, during what was a cold, dark and challenging night in the Arctic Circle.

A brace from Jens Hauge briefly handed the plucky home side a deserved 2-0 lead before Spurs' star defender Micky van de Ven grabbed a goal back just two minutes later, with an own goal from Jostein Gundersen later stealing all three points from Bodo/Glimt.

The 2-2 draw was Tottenham's third comeback of the campaign after their trip to Brighton on September 20, which ended by the same scoreline, and their dramatic 1-1 at home to Wolves last weekend.

The Lilywhites largely failed to convince with their overall display against last season's Europa League semi-final opponents, but there is a case to be made that all the best sides in football are able to come away with results despite not playing to their full potential.

Frank's side have displayed a real grit and resilience which was largely absent from Ange Postecoglou's final season in charge, and a few of the tactician's players hit impressive milestones against Bodo/Glimt.

Since the start of 2023/2024, no other Premier League defender has assisted more goals in all competitions than right-back Pedro Porro, with van de Ven also attracting high praise from Frank after his contribution.

Speaking after the game, Frank said that van de Ven has been promoted to the leadership group after being very impressed by the Netherlands international so far.

"I have made a decision. I haven't told the players yet, that will be on Thursday," Frank said.

"I’ve made the decision, but it's probably pretty obvious he will be (in the leadership group). He has impressed me a lot as a player, but also as a communicator on the pitch. And a little bit of show of character, I think he was good today.”

Van de Ven and Cristian Romero are two crucial cogs in Frank's system, and despite signing Kevin Danso permanently in the summer, it is believed that Tottenham want to sign another back-up to the duo, as Radu Dragusin continues his slow comeback from an ACL injury.

Thomas Frank keen on signing Brentford defender Nathan Collins

As per journalist Graeme Bailey and TBR Football, Tottenham's manager is personally keen on a reunion with Brentford defender Nathan Collins at N17.

The 24-year-old has become Bees captain after emerging as a stalwart in his 85 appearances for the club, with a lot of them coming under Frank, and Collins is believed to be "very high" on Spurs' target list as they plan to sign a centre-half in January.

Tottenham apparently have a solid transfer budget for the winter window and Frank is a big fan of the Irishman as a potential mid-season signing, with Leeds United's defender Pascal Struijk also on their agenda as an alternative.

Collins' injury record last season was flawless — starting every single Premier League game under Frank and playing their most top flight minutes — all while averaging more blocks per 90 than any other Brentford player (WhoScored).

Frank has publicly praised Collins on numerous occasions too, and he, interestingly, once called him a "perfect" player in his Brentford set-up, so this could be one to watch.

When Tottenham Hotspur sell a key player for mega money, there is history now to tell us that the cash isn't always invested very well. Still, Daniel Levy is no longer at Spurs, so things may well change in the future.

After Gareth Bale left north London behind, heading to Real Madrid to the tune of £85m, the 'Magnificent 7', as they were infamously known, were not much of a success.

Enter Paulinho, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela. While the latter scored that ridiculous Rabona goal, the only real success story here was Eriksen, a creative and technical marvel.

Ten years later, it was Harry Kane's time to leave Spurs. He moved to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, a relative bargain considering what he's achieved since.

Arguably, like Bale, money was not well spent the summer he departed. The signings of summer 2023 were rather hit or miss. While Dejan Kulusevski arrived permanently, they spent £45m on an inconsistent Brennan Johnson and £50m on an injury-prone James Maddison.

Meanwhile, in 2024 £65m was spent on Dominic Solanke, who also cannot stay fit, while young gems in the form of Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert also joined. Not quite a magnificent seven, but more of an average trio. Gray and Odobert may well come good, but Solanke's ceiling has likely already been hit.

So, perhaps Thomas Frank and Co will need to look to the academy again, just as they did when handing Kane his debut back in 2011. Once all was said and done, he'd found the net on 280 occasions, leaving as their all-time record goalscorer and Arsenal's chief nemesis.

His form in Germany since has been nothing short of scintillating.

Harry Kane's season in numbers

Kane does goals. There's not a whole lot else to say. Even bringing the likes of Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak into the equation, he is currently the best centre-forward in world football. The numbers support that.

While Viktor Gyokeres won the Gerd Muller Trophy at the recent Ballon d'Or ceremony, proclaimed as the best striker of 2024/25, Kane deserved to be in the conversation.

Gyokeres, for context, scored 54 times last season, but Kane ran him close, netting 41 in 51 outings.

Well, in 2025/26, he looks like he's on track for the best season of his career as he moves into his 32nd year.

If you thought Kane couldn't get any more ruthless, then think again. This season he has undeniably been the best player in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 17 goals in nine games.

He's scoring at a record of a goal every 46 minutes. It's a level of potency we've very rarely ever seen from a striker in the elite game.

Truth be told, it's peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo levels of goalscoring.

Kane has beaten the goalkeeper ten times in five Bundesliga fixtures while in the Champions League, he's been a demon too, netting four in two matches, including a brace against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.

The England skipper continued his rich vein of form against Cypriot side Pafos on Tuesday, bagging another two goals. This time he played as a no.10, behind Nicolas Jackson. It had no impact on his ability to score.

Replacing that type of output was always going to be impossible for Spurs. Solanke is a handy striker but he's always going to be compared to Kane. That's harsh but it's the way of the world.

Fortunately, the Lilywhites do have one exciting academy prospect coming through the ranks who looks more exciting than Kane ever did at youth level.

Meet Spurs' most exciting academy talent since Harry Kane

At youth level Kane was impressive, scoring nine goals in 13 official matches for Tottenham Hotspur's U21 side. Yet, he initially struggled at senior level.

The club's record scorer didn't find the net during five matches on loan at Norwich and also found life difficult at Leicester City and Leyton Orient, notching seven across 33 matches during those spells.

Nine goals in 29 matches at Millwall was slightly more productive but it wasn't until 2014/15 where he finally showcased his elite potential.

That term the Englishman registered 31 goals for Spurs and since then, there hasn't been a single campaign where he's not scored fewer than 20 across a single season.

Many have come through the academy since then hoping to emulate that sort of record. The likes of Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott and Will Lankshear, while still young, did not show enough in their fleeting appearances.

There are still high hopes for Mikey Moore, too. The 17-year-old was compared to Neymar by James Maddison last season and has so much potential.

Yet, the most exciting talent bursting through the ranks is another 17-year-old, Luca Williams-Barnett.

The teenager may be unknown to many supporters but has already made his first-team debut, appearing for the final three minutes of Spurs' League Cup win over Doncaster Rovers last week.

Those minutes were a fine reward for his remarkable development over the last few years. If Spurs were looking for their own Max Dowman, then they have found it here.

A no.10 by trade, who can also play up top, the talented teen was superb last season, scoring 20 goals and registering a further 12 assists in 23 outings.

He's begun the 2025/26 term in a similar vein of form with six goals and four assists in eight appearances for the U21s.

As data analyst Ben Mattinson has outlined, he is "one of England’s best talents at youth level" and he also "scores bangers".

His hat-trick earlier this season may not have showcased this but it proved he's usually always in the right place at the right time, influencing play positively.

A goalscorer, a creator, an innate dribbler, Williams-Barnett has all of the tools to thrive at Spurs in the coming years.

However, for Frank, the challenge will be finding him regular minutes now in the Premier League. Their fierce rivals Arsenal, have led the way by giving the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Dowman so many minutes over the last year.

Could Spurs be brewing their own version here? The future certainly looks bright.