Football FanCast

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have expected a victory against Bodo Glimt last night, but it wasn’t to be, as they walked away with a 2-2 draw in Norway.

Such a result could have been a lot worse for Thomas Frank, with the Lilywhites trailing by two goals heading into the final 24 minutes of the European contest.

An own goal and a Micky van de Ven effort saved the side from a shock defeat, with numerous players failing to impress in their second Champions League outing of 2025/26.

Numerous players fell way below the levels expected of the Premier League side, with Richarlison, the club’s centre forward for the clash, only registering a total of 10 touches in 90 minutes.

There’s no denying that one former player would have been perfect for their clash last night, with the Lilywhites massively lacking his presence within the final third.

Why Harry Kane would’ve got Spurs out of trouble on Tuesday

Harry Kane is a player who remains close to the hearts of the Spurs fanbase, given his time in North London, where he netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell at the club.

Such a tally is the highest in the club’s history, but they’ve been without his services over the last couple of years after he joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

In 2025/26, with the Club World Cup included, the 32-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal, scoring 20 times and registering four assists - subsequently having the creative nous to produce the goods at key moments.

He’s registered 12 goal contributions in his last five matches across all competitions, further highlighting his ability to cause carnage within the attacking department.

To highlight his creative ability, he’s registered three more combined goals and assists than the Lilywhites first-team have managed in the same time period - with Frank certainly wishing he was able to call upon the Englishman.

However, a reunion could prove to be on the cards in the near future, with rumours linking the talisman with a sensational return to his boyhood club in the not-too-distant future.

Despite his impressive form away from the club, the Dane does have the ability to rely upon one player who showcased his talents massively against Bodo Glimt last night.

The Spurs player who’s emulating Kane under Frank

There’s no denying that the showing of Spurs in Norway yesterday was way below the expectations of the fanbase, with the front line coming under fire for their lack of impact.

As previously mentioned, Richarlison failed to produce any meaningful contributions, after only completing two passes all game and missing one big chance in the process.

Brennan Johnson was another player who struggled to make the desired impact, subsequently failing to complete a single dribble or cross during his hour-long display.

The Welshman has come under fire from the fanbase once again, not for the first time, after previously having to delete his social media accounts following abuse from supporters online.

However, it wasn’t all bad for Frank’s side in Norway, with right-back Pedro Porro managing to impress during the draw - undoubtedly being one of the shining lights in the disappointing showing.

The Spaniard managed to register an assist for Van de Ven’s effort, now holding an impressive record that highlights the creativity he possesses despite his defensive role.

He’s now registered 18 assists since the start of 2023/24, a number which is the highest of any Premier League defender across all competitions in the same time period.

It's that ability to create goal-scoring opportunities at will that has seen him emulate Kane. Truth be told, the Lilywhites have missed not just the English striker's goalscoring exploits but also his assist-making.

Indeed, the centre-forward registered 63 assists during his time in north London, with a whopping 17 of those coming in one campaign (2021/22). So good was Kane at playmaking that former teammate Matt Doherty once said: "That period under Antonio [Conte], he had a better passing range than [Kevin] De Bruyne at the time."

Safe to say, Porro's creativity is pretty damn good too, and he's helping to void the creative void left behind by Kane.

However, despite the full-back's tangible success, his underlying numbers were just as impressive on Tuesday evening, including his ability to register 78 touches during the contest.

Porro also completed 40 passes last night, 13 of which were into the opposition’s third - further showcasing the creative ability he possesses in his locker.

Numbers such as three chances created and 100% dribbles completed also add to his talents in possession, but he still managed to produce impressive figures without the ball, too.

The 26-year-old made two tackles during the draw, whilst also making two recoveries and one interception - arguably being the perfect all-round fullback for Frank’s system.

Questions may be asked about his display, but there’s no taking away from his ability to create chances and get the side out of trouble when they’re void of ideas in attacking areas.

Should he continue his impressive assist record, there’s no reason as to why he can’t be a crucial member of Frank’s squad in the Dane’s hunt for success during his tenure in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur managed a late comeback last night in Norway to secure a 2-2 draw with Bodo Glimt in their second Champions League outing of the 2025/26 campaign.

At one stage, it looked certain as though Thomas Frank’s men would be heading for a defeat after the hosts established a two-goal lead with just 24 minutes remaining.

However, Micky van de Ven’s goal and an own goal from Jostein Gunderson secured a point for the Lilywhites to maintain their unbeaten European record this season.

It was far from an impressive display by Frank’s men, but the Dane will no doubt be impressed by his side’s ability to come back from an almost certain defeat.

Despite the fightback, numerous starters failed to take advantage of the chance that had been handed to them, with the manager desperately needing to drop multiple of them from his side.

Brennan Johnson’s performance against Bodo Glimt

Over the last couple of weeks, Brennan Johnson has been dropped to the Spurs bench in somewhat controversial fashion, after scoring twice in his first two outings of the Premier League campaign.

However, the Welsh international was handed a recall to the side for the clash in the Champions League last night - subsequently having the perfect chance to stake his claim for a regular starting role again.

The 24-year-old was unable to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way, producing a performance to forget against the Norwegian outfit.

He featured for an hour of the contest, but failed to create any chances for his teammates, whilst only registering one effort on goal, but failed to direct it on target.

Johnson also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst also being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses - subsequently being replaced by Mohammed Kudus.

However, despite the winger’s dismal showing, he wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with one other starter unable to make the impact he would’ve craved.

The Spurs star who produced a 3/10 display

After winning the Europa League last season, it has handed a generation of Spurs supporters the chance to endure a new and memorable adventure across the continent following their team.

The victory on the opening day may not have been the most convincing display, but it did manage to kickstart their ambitions of going deep in one of the world’s biggest competitions.

However, the performance against Bodo Glimt was one the manager will want to forget in a hurry, but their ability to come back will please the manager somewhat.

However, just like Johnson, numerous players failed to deliver during the draw, with centre forward Richarlison another talent who had an evening to forget.

The Brazilian has been the Dane’s main talisman during the opening weeks of the season, but he may need to experiment with his options after the latest showing from the forward.

During his 90-minute display, the 28-year-old only managed a total of 10 touches - an average of one every nine minutes, with such a tally lower than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who notched 46.

Richarlison also only managed to complete two passes, whilst also losing possession five times - an average of once every two times he made contact with the ball.

To further rub salt into his wounds, the attacker also missed a big chance, highlighting his wasteful nature despite having limited chances to make an impact in the final third.

As a result of his showing, the Brazilian was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by The Standard journalist Matt Verri - further highlighting his lack of quality in Norway.

After such a display, Frank simply must be left with no choice but to finally drop the attacker from his starting eleven, with Richarlison unable to build on his impressive form early on in the season.

It’s clear that reinforcements are still needed in such a department, but if the club are to be successful in the short-term, the boss desperately needs to come up with an immediate solution to the current centre-forward issue.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is fast earning plenty of admirers for his work at N17 so far, and some players have gone up another level since his arrival.

Thomas Frank slowly transforming Tottenham after Ange Postecoglou era

Ange Postecoglou, despite a torrid 24/25 season in the Premier League, had his own loyal section of Spurs supporters after the Australian helped to end Spurs' 17-year wait for a major trophy last season.

Postecoglou also endeared himself to members of the Lilywhites fanbase with his personality, memorable quotes and 'no-nonsense' demanour, whilst those within the Spurs squad appeared to have a very strong relationship with Frank's predecessor, including Yves Bissouma, who described the tactician as a father figure.

The likes of Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min, Guglielmo Vicario and more posted emotional tributes to Postecoglou after ex-chairman Daniel Levy and the board made the decision to part company, but since his departure, Frank has begun to steadily transform Tottenham.

Tottenham's fragility defensively was a key complaint of Postecoglou's tenure, and there is little denying that the north Londoners look far more assured in that respect under Frank.

Spurs have conceded just six goals in Frank's first nine games in all competitions, and two of them came against European champions PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final.

Bar a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth, Tottenham have displayed real character when under the cosh too — mounting comebacks in each of their last two Premier League games against Brighton and Wolves.

Their very convincing 2-0 win away to Man City, where summer signing Joao Palhinha dominated the midfield, and 3-0 trouncing of London rivals West Ham were only overshadowed by the performances of some star players.

Barcelona are still regretting their botched deal for Lucas Bergvall, according to reports in Spain, with the midfield sensation, Palhinha, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Pape Sarr and others standing out among Tottenham's best-performers of the season thus far.

A special nod also must go to Richarlison, who struggled with injuries under Postecoglou last season but has since found a new lease of life.

The Brazil international boasts three goals and an assist from his opening six league matches, replacing the injured Solanke with real aplomb, but Spurs chiefs may soon need to make a key call about his future.

The 28-year-old's contract expires in 2027, meaning that Tottenham could be forced to sell on the cheap unless they agree an extension.

Richarlison could join Crystal Palace from Tottenham in £20m deal

As per BolaVip and journalist Alexsander Vieira, as relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are seen as a realistic destination for Richarlison if Spurs opt to sell — and the striker could go for around £20-25 million.

A return home to Flamengo is also touted, but Palace are seen as the likelier option, with Richarlison also having one eye on a place in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup next year.

Frank has already made his stance on Richarlison crystal clear, and the player himself has apparently expressed his commitment to Spurs.

However, given Richarlison's contract situation, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and the new-look Spurs boardroom could take the decision out of both their hands.

Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to numerous top-level youth talents over the last couple of years, with attacker Mikey Moore one of the players on their constant conveyor belt.

The 18-year-old has spent the vast majority of his life as a Lilywhite, before making his debut in the first-team last campaign under Ange Postecoglou due to the injury crisis.

Despite his tender age, the youngster racked up a total of 19 senior appearances, ten of which came in the Premier League, with three of his outings coming from a starting role.

Moore even registered his first senior goal for his boyhood club in the Europa League, scoring in the victory over Elfsborg and helping the club end their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.

However, after Thomas Frank’s appointment during the off-season, he’s been shipped out on loan to Scottish side Rangers in the hope of more consistent game time.

He’s not the only young talent on the books who has caught the eye, with one other youngster set for a huge future in North London during the years ahead.

Luka Vuskovic’s future as a Spurs star

Back in the summer of 2023, Spurs forked out a fee in the region of £12m for the signature of teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split.

However, he’s spent a couple of years out on loan, with his spell on loan at Westerlo catching the eye - but for his attacking quality rather than his talent at the back.

The Croatian scored seven times and registered two assists in his 36 outings, a simply staggering feat for a young defender who is trying to establish himself at the top-level.

Such form led to the sensation being involved in the first-team’s squad pre-season plans, even registering a goal and an assist in the 2-0 victory over League One outfit, Reading.

Many fans were calling for the youngster to be included in the Dane’s Premier League squad for 2025/26, but it wasn’t meant to be, with Vuskovic sent on loan to Bundesliga side Hamburg this summer.

The prospect of top-flight German football to many youngsters may be a daunting one, but the 18-year-old has taken to the task like a duck to water - already netting his first goal despite making just three appearances.

However, his showing against Union Berlin on Sunday was his best to date, winning 18 aerial duels and making 12 clearances - helping his current side keep a needed clean sheet.

There’s no denying that he could be a huge player for Frank in the future, but the new manager already have another hugely promising talent on the books in North London.

The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Vuskovic

As previously seen by the aforementioned talents at Spurs, they do have a plethora of upcoming stars who could potentially catapult them to continued success in the years ahead.

Their recruitment strategy has certainly aided their ability to create a strong youth setup, with many taking the jump and already cementing themselves in Frank’s plans for 2025/26.

Lucas Bergvall may only be 19, but he’s already established himself as a regular starter, featuring in all six of the Lilywhites’ Premier League outings to date - even scoring once against West Ham United.

The Swede could be joined by youngster Luca Williams-Barnett for many years to come, with the 16-year-old already making huge waves across various levels despite his tender age.

The attacking midfielder has been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s for the majority of 2024/25.

He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again - now becoming a key member of the U21 side.

Williams-Barnett has once again exceeded expectations, already notching eight goal contributions in his first six appearances of the new campaign.

The 16-year-old has let his age get in the way, subsequently starring five years above his age group - something which has caught the eye of first-team boss Frank in recent weeks.

He was handed his first senior appearance against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup last week, coming off the bench for three minutes - leading to analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as a “superstar”.

Given his tender age, there’s no denying that the attacker needs more time in the academy system to develop before being able to make the jump into the first-team squad.

However, that’s not taking away from the fact that Williams-Barnett is a player with mammoth potential, with the club desperately needing to manage him in the right way.

In the years ahead, he could have a huge part to play in the Lilywhites’ hunt for success, with the youngster having the chance to create new history for the club alongside centre-back Vuskovic.

Aston Villa are now racing Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United for the signature of an "electric" Premier League star, who has made a very impressive start to the campaign.

Villa join race for new forward amid lack of goals

It would be fair to say Unai Emery's side fell below their usual lofty standards at the beginning of the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be particularly concerning, but they have since managed to get back on track.

Indeed, the Villans have won their last two matches in all competitions, most recently picking up their first league victory of the campaign courtesy of a fantastic second-half display against Fulham, which culminated in a 3-1 win.

Emery will be relieved his side are finally starting to look better in front of goal, but after failing to score in their opening four league matches of the season, the manager may still be worried about his side's lack of firepower.

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race for AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, but there could be fierce competition for the Ghanaian's signature, and it may take a huge fee to get a deal done.

Tottenham, Man United and Manchester City are also named as potential suitors for Semenyo, who was valued at £70m back in the summer transfer window, amid links with Spurs.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey also makes it clear that a winter exit is very unlikely to be on the cards, saying: "As it stands, Bournemouth are intent on making progress this summer and that means no sales.

"They have lost the likes of Huijsen, Kerkez and Zabarnyi in recent months and they are insistent Semenyo won’t be following them through the exit doors in January."

"Electric" Semenyo has made flying start to the season

It is no surprise that Bournemouth are reluctant to sanction a January departure, given just how well the 25-year-old has performed in the early stages of the new season, being dubbed "electric" by broadcaster Kris Temple.

The Cherries are currently sixth in the Premier League table, and the Ghana international has been paramount to their success, receiving Bournemouth's Player of the Month and Goal of the Month award for August.

That follows on from a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, during which the winger picked up 11 goals and six assists in the Premier League, helping his side surpass expectations and finish ninth.

There is every indication that Semenyo could be a success at Villa Park, but Aston Villa are well-known to be struggling PSR-wise, which means forking out the potential £70m asking price could be an issue.

TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has revealed that he spoke to Daniel Levy in the summer and urged the former Tottenham chairman to hire an alternative to Thomas Frank.

Tottenham braced for Champions League reunion with Bodo/Glimt

Spurs take on last season's Europa League semi-final opponents, Bodo/Glimt, in the Champions League group phase this evening as Frank looks to build upon their 1-0 win against Villarreal last time out.

At the end of 2024/2025, The Lilywhites ran out 5-1 winners on aggregate over Bodo/Glimt to reach their first European final since their Champions League loss to Liverpool in 2019 — beating tonight's opponents 2-0 the last time they travelled to the Aspmyra Stadion in May.

Bodo/Glimt's journey to the Champions League phase comes as historic for both the club and the country they hail from, as they're the first team from Norway to reach this stage of the competition for two decades.

Frank is no stranger to Scandinavian football and will be aware of the threat they pose this evening, according to Bodo/Glimt chief executive Frode Thomassen, who hailed the 51-year-old in an interview with GiveMeSport.

“I met Thomas at the stadium when we were visiting Brentford. I think he is a really good coach," Thomassen said.

“Tottenham have changed their manager since we last played them, so this will be the first time that we meet Thomas in a competitive game. He follows Scandinavian football, so he knows Bodo/Glimt’s story and will be well prepared.”

Thus far, ex-chair Levy and the board's decision to appoint Frank looks like the right one.

He's overseen five victories from nine of his first games in charge, with Tottenham also displaying a real grit to come back from losing positions to snatch dramatic draws in their last two Premier League outings.

Joao Palhinha's expertly taken side-footed half-volley ensured Spurs avoided a humbling defeat at home to Wolves on Saturday, yet again proving the case that Tottenham should activate the £27 million buy-option at the end of the midfielder's loan deal.

Despite their bad luck at the Amex in recent seasons, Tottenham also came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 against Brighton a fortnight ago, with signs suggesting that Spurs are already a far more robust outfit than under Ange Postecoglou.

Simon Jordan urged Daniel Levy to hire Oliver Glasner instead of Thomas Frank

Tottenham had other options on their managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou.

According to reports, before the club announced Frank as their latest new manager, Tottenham did consider a move for Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian is working wonders at Selhurst Park right now, despite losing a succession of star players in the last two summer windows, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich in 2024 and Eberechi Eze signing for boyhood club Arsenal last summer.

They also face the looming threat of Marc Guehi's departure as his contract winds down towards expiry, but for now, Glasner's Palace are unbeaten in their last 18 games across all competitions.

Now, pundit and ex-Palace chairman Jordan has told talkSPORT that he urged Levy to go for Glasner before Tottenham eventually hired Frank, calling the tactician a "top, top manager".

"I like Glasner. With all due respect to the departed, I actually said to Daniel [Levy, ex-Tottenham chairman] during the summer, 'Why not Glasner?'"

"I think he's a top, top manager. Do I think he will be Palace manager at the end of the season? I'll be bloody amazed."

The 51-year-old's contract currently expires next summer, so if things don't work out with Frank, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be readily available in 2026 as things stand.

Of course, this is presuming another top side doesn't come in for Glasner, which may be wishful thinking considering just how fine of a job he's done in South London over the last 12 months.

Thomas Frank has confirmed Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke has undergone minor surgery to get to the bottom of his troublesome ankle injury.

Solanke, who last played for Spurs on August 23 against Manchester City, was absent from training again on Monday ahead of the Champions League fixture away to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.

England forward Solanke had returned to training earlier this month before he was pulled out last week, but Frank revealed in Norway that a final decision had been made to go down the surgery route.

“Dom has got that ankle issue that’s been bothering him for a little while, so now we’ve decided to make a minor surgery,” Spurs boss Frank told a press conference.

“It’s a small procedure, so that will mean he is not ready for today of course and of course Leeds (on Saturday) as well. We’ll have more news about a timeframe after the international break, but I don’t expect it to be long.”

Frank had played down concerns over Solanke’s fitness in Friday’s press conference before a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday night.

Solanke, on £140,000-a-week, missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle issue, but it appeared to be fixed by the start of August after he featured in matches against Paris St Germain, Burnley and Manchester City.

However, with the 28-year-old not able to play for Tottenham during the last five weeks, Frank was asked whether the club could have opted for surgery sooner.

He said: “No, I think you can look at it two ways. That is the easy answer but it is not that easy because if we knew we could have done the surgery a month ago, we probably would have done it.

“For me I am always ‘it is what it is’. We deal with it now and no doubt the way we dealt with it was because we thought that was the right thing. In general no one wants surgery.”

Surgery for Solanke leaves Frank light on attacking options in Bodo, with Paris St Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani unable to train on Monday.

Frank provided a positive update on the France international, but he will be unavailable for this rematch with Bodo four months on from a Europa League semi-final victory at Aspmyra Stadion.

Mathys Tel featured in the 2-0 win in the Arctic Circle, but is not registered for Tottenham’s Champions League squad, which is also the case for summer recruit Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.

Takai and Bissouma took part in training on Monday along with Ben Davies – after a minor knee issue – but Frank revealed captain Cristian Romero has been left in England as a “precaution” after a bruising encounter with Wolves.

Frank added: “Kolo Muani, I think now we’re finally on top of his dead leg, so that is also progress there and good. Cuti was just a precaution.”

Danish coach Frank heaped praise on Norwegian minnows Bodo after their historic run to the Europa League semi-final was followed by qualification for the Champions League for the first time.

Asked about Spurs’ 2-0 win under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, Frank admitted: “How many months is that? Four months ago? With all due respect, I was not the coach. This is a new game. This is a new situation.”

Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha scored his third goal for the club in their 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday night.

The Portugal international rescued a point for his team with a cultured finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a lay-off from Pape Matar Sarr, and it is safe to say that he enjoyed it.

Palhinha raced away to the corner, shirt ripped off, to celebrate with the Spurs fans, although some may argue that he should have taken the ball back to the halfway line to push for a winner in the final seconds.

The Portuguese ace has been a strong addition to the squad since his loan move from Bayern Munich in the summer, averaging 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, per Sofascore.

Palhinha, who has won 65% of his duels in the top-flight this season, is a defensive enforcer at the base of the midfield, but he has added goals to his game in recent weeks.

Whilst he will hope to continue his fine form and go on to be remembered as a great midfielder for the club, he will never be the silky and elegant operator that Luka Modric was in the middle of the park.

Where Luka Modric ranks among Tottenham's all-time midfielders

Tottenham have had some terrific talents in midfield throughout their history. From the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Glen Hoddle to Christian Eriksen and Moussa Dembele.

In terms of what they achieved in their careers as a whole, Modric may well have the right to be called the best central midfielder to ever play for the club, even if his best performances came after he left North London.

The main reason for that is that he is the only central midfielder in the club's history, whilst at Spurs or not, to have won the Ballon d'Or. In 2018, the Croatia international was crowned the best player in the world, six years after switching London for Madrid.

As you can see in the post above, the midfield maestro saw off competition from Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award that year.

Modric is also the most decorated player in the history of Real Madrid, having won 28 trophies in 13 seasons before his move to AC Milan this summer.

It is not just his accomplishments for Real Madrid and Croatia that make him arguably the best midfielder in Tottenham history, though, as he also delivered 17 goals and 24 assists in 160 matches during his time in England, per Transfermarkt.

Modric was a wizard in the middle of the park for Spurs. He glided across the pitch and used his energy and quality to unpick defences and provide moments of magic for fans to enjoy.

Palhinha is not that kind of midfielder. He is more of a destroyer at the base of the midfield. However, Thomas Frank does have another star who could be the club's next Modric in the making.

Before his exit from North London, former chairman Daniel Levy sanctioned the signing of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a fee of £51m. The early signs are that they may have found their next Modric.

Why Xavi Simons could be the next Luka Modric for Spurs

Unlike Palhinha, the Netherlands international is a silky and technical midfielder who is a joy to watch when he is at his best. Supporters have already had plenty of glimpses of that early on in his Spurs career, even if he has yet to score a goal.

When an attacking midfielder arrives for £51m with the reputation that Simons had, it is understandable for fans to expect goals and assists instantly. Particularly given that he produced 21 goals and 21 assists in two seasons with RB Leipzig, per Sofascore.

However, the 22-year-old star is finding his way into English football and within Thomas Frank's system, which means that it is going to take time for him to show the very best of his ability.

Most of Simons' outings in a Spurs shirt to date have come on the left flank, but it could be in a central midfield role where Frank is able to get the best out of him.

The Dutchman keeps wanting to drift inside to take the ball in central positions so that he can drive at the defence and make things tick in midfield, but then Destiny Udogie is left as the only player holding the width on the left.

His statistics in a left wing position also suggest that he would far better in the middle of the park, as he ranks highly among his positional peers in a host of statistics that you would expect a central-based player to excel in.

As you can see in the table above, Simons has impressive output as a creative player and as a passer, whilst getting into goalscoring positions and dribbling past players are not two of his standout attributes.

This suggests that playing the Dutchman in the midfield three, possibly on the left, with a natural winger on the left for him to link up with could get the best out of the summer signing.

Simons was described as "tactically flexible" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and Frank should make use of that flexibility by attempting to mould him into his own version of Modric.

The former Paris Saint-Germain starlet has the technical quality, elegance, creativity, and passing qualities to emulate the Croatian in North London, as another central midfielder who could be a joy to watch for supporters.

He may not go on to win the Ballon d'Or, although you never know, but Simons has the potential to be a truly exciting player for Tottenham in the middle of the park, rather than out on the wing.

Tottenham Hotspur's final signing of the summer transfer window, striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG, is poised to make his imminent Premier League debut against West Ham on Saturday.

The Frenchman's versatility will be invaluable for Thomas Frank, with Kolo Muani able to play on both the right and left-hand side, though it appears he'll most likely be used as an alternative to centre-forwards Richarlison and Dominic Solanke.

The latter didn't play in Spurs' 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth prior to the international break due to a niggling ankle problem, and while Frank suggested that Solanke could be back this weekend, it is definitely wise to have another option up top considering Richarlison's fitness issues last season.

Kolo Muani has played the vast majority of his 269 total senior appearances as a striker, and there is reason for supporters to be excited by his arrival.

During his best-ever campaign to date in 2022/2023, the 26-year-old racked up an impressive 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, and this stellar form earned him a £76.4 million move to Ligue 1 heavyweights PSG.

While it hasn't worked out for him in the French capital, Kolo Muani's head-turning loan move to Juventus last term, where he managed 10 goals and three assists in 22 outings, showcases a player of serious attacking quality.

On the international stage, Kolo Muani has always maintained the faith of Didier Deschamps, even amidst his PSG exile, with the forward bagging semi-final goals against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in Euro 2024.

The former Nantes sensation has also been a long-time target for the Lilywhites. Tottenham attempted to agree a deal for Kolo Muani in January before his switch to Juve, and ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was personally pushing for him in the winter, according to club insider Paul O'Keefe.

Now, the Spurs recruitment team have got their man, but unfortunately for Frank, there is no option to buy Kolo Muani at the end of his loan spell if he manages to pull up trees in north London.

This is seen as quite an 'un-Spurs like' condition of the Kolo Muani deal, and pundit John Wenham has fired a warning to Tottenham over agreeing to a straight loan.

Tottenham sent Randal Kolo Muani warning as "frustrating" claim made

Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham says thatTottenham are taking a "risk" by just signing Kolo Muani on a dry temporary deal, calling it a "frustrating" development and explaining that other sides could outbid them next year.

"It’s frustrating that it doesn’t come with an option attached,” Wenham said.

“If it goes well, it might be that we’re thinking, ‘oh, my gosh’, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, whoever, are also trying to get the player based on his form for Tottenham this year. So we’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there.

“I mean, there’s an argument that you hope he does do that well, that those clubs want him, because that means he’ll have done well on the pitch at Tottenham.

“There’s also a risk attached to that. But I think in the scenario of having a free striker, I think it’s a risk worth taking, and I’m hopeful that Kolo Muani will be incredibly successful for us.”

While there is an argument that Tottenham face not being able to hold on to Kolo Muani, the fact he's arrived at N17 for essentially zero cost for the entire season is still a big boost for Frank.

Spurs need strength in depth if they're to finish in the top four and contend for major trophies, and Kolo Muani is exactly the calibre of player to help them do this.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a £60m opening bid for a "sensational" English star, who could now be open to a move to N17.

Tottenham looking to bolster attacking options despite Simons capture

Tottenham managed to get a deal for Xavi Simons over the line in the final stages of the summer transfer window, with Thomas Frank eager to bring in a new playmaker, given that James Maddison has been ruled out with an ACL injury.

However, Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has since suggested there are some doubts over the signing of Simons, given that he was not always consistent enough in an RB Leipzig shirt due to concerns about his attitude.

“The way he moves, the way he beats people, his intelligence in terms of the way he assists, goals. Very good player to watch, and I think Spurs fans will love him.

“My only concern over him is sometimes the body language is not great, sometimes the attitude isn’t all that it could be. I don’t know him personally, all I do know is that throughout his time in Germany there has been talk of, 'is his attitude the best? And can he be disruptive?'

“That might be unfair. That might just be gossip but that has been in the German media. Even when he left, there was a big editorial in one of the major publications about the fact that this may be a good thing for Leipzig in the long run in terms of the harmony of the team."

It remains to be seen whether the Dutchman can adapt to life in the Premier League, but it appears as though ENIC are pressing ahead with a move for a different attacker regardless.

According to a report from The Boy Hotspur, Tottenham are now plotting a £60m opening bid for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who is capable of playing on both wings and through the middle.

Spurs are said to be implementing a more aggressive transfer strategy following the departure of Levy, and they are now planning to test Villa's resolve, although Unai Emery's side are probably not inclined to accept £60m, given that they value Rogers at £100m.

The English attacker could now be open to a move to north London, with Frank's side taking more concrete action towards securing his signature than Chelsea, who have also been named as potential suitors.

"Sensational" Rogers could kickstart new era at Tottenham

While ENIC have made it clear they have no plans to sell, Levy's departure marks the start of a new era for Tottenham, who are now expected to be more willing to spend big in the transfer market.

As such, Spurs may be able to compete for Rogers' signature, and there is every indication he could be a fantastic acquisition, having once again performed very well for Villa last season, picking up 19 goal contributions in 37 Premier League games.

Journalist Eduardo Hagn lauded the England international as "sensational" back in April, and he also proved himself in the Champions League, picking up four goals and three assists in 12 outings.

Rogers is clearly ready to take the next big step in his career, and with Tottenham planning to be more ambitious following Levy's exit, a move to N17 could be ideal.