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Thomas Frank believes Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham's time working alongside Mikel Arteta at Arsenal has helped him secure patience from a club historically known for its trigger-happy approach to managers. Premier League bosses are being sacked at an alarming rate currently, with Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca departing Manchester United and Chelsea respectively within a matter of days.

Before Spurs' trip on Wednesday evening to Bournemouth, some supporters have demanded their 13th-placed side make a similar change following an underwhelming beginning under Frank, who has overseen just two victories in their last 11 top-flight matches.

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Yet, despite being a club that has typically cycled through managers with remarkable frequency under previous chairman Daniel Levy, there is fresh leadership at the helm in Venkatesham.

He was among the influential decision-makers at Arsenal who demonstrated faith in Arteta during some challenging initial campaigns and believed the Spaniard required sufficient time to establish his vision.

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Six years later and the Gunners sit six points clear at the Premier League summit, and Frank is convinced he is reaping the rewards of Venkatesham's understanding gained during those formative years across North London with Arsenal.

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"Definitely [that has informed the way he acts]. No doubt about that. He also knows what good looks like and how, unfortunately, it can take time to get up to where good should look like," the 52-year-old explained. "That's definitely beneficial because he understands the journey we're on.

"Vinai is one of the best communicators I ever met, as a CEO, leader, he is absolutely excellent in that. I think I'm ok but he is way superior which I think is crucial internally and externally. He's calm and takes sensible decisions, two rare abilities in football, but also two absolutely crucial abilities if you want to have success long term.

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"My experience is very limited. As I understood, he was the one that was signing off and negotiating the final bit [with transfers]. He will not do that now, that will be more down to Johan [Lange] and Fabio [Paratici]," the head coach explained.

"We have a good recruitment side with the numbers behind it, looking at the players and then taking the right decision. Then it's down to Johan and Fabio to do the job with the agents and get the deals done. That's the biggest difference."

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Despite their struggles this season, Frank maintains that Spurs are still an appealing prospect for transfer targets this window, with a new left winger and left-back on the wish list and potentially another midfielder and centre-back depending on departures. "We are very attractive in many ways. Spurs is a fantastic club with huge potential," he asserted.

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"Of course if we compete against the three teams that are clearly ahead of us - City, Arsenal and Liverpool - unfortunately those three clubs are probably more attractive right now. That's not to say we can't attract some of the players that also want to go to those clubs. It depends if there is a spot available for the player to play in those clubs and here.

"Regrettably, those three clubs are likely more appealing at the moment. That's not to say we can't attract some of the players that also want to go to those clubs. It depends if there is a spot available for the player to play in those clubs and here."

Tottenham have confirmed the exit of Brennan Johnson. The 24-year-old forward, who was signed from Nottingham Forest in September 2023 for a hefty £47.5million, has moved to Crystal Palace in a record-breaking deal for the club. Johnson made 106 appearances for Spurs, netting 27 goals and setting up 18 more. The Welsh international played a crucial role in Tottenham's UEFA Europa League triumph in May 2025, scoring a close-range goal in the final at San Mames Stadium.

Under Ange Postecoglou's management, Johnson was a pivotal figure in the team. Despite his stellar performances, contributing to at least 15 goals in each of his last two Premier League seasons, he found it challenging to secure a spot in Thomas Frank's starting eleven. Although Johnson featured 22 times under the Danish manager, he only clocked up around 900 minutes of play. Frank favoured Mohammed Kudus, a player Tottenham acquired from West Ham for an initial £50m in July 2025.

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Johnson was told by the club's top brass on New Year's Eve that he was no longer needed. The Welshman drew attention from clubs such as Bournemouth, Everton, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United before Crystal Palace swooped in to seal the deal.

It is believed that Crystal Palace shelled out £35m for Johnson, whom Steve Parish has labelled an 'exciting young talent'. Speaking to the club's media, the Eagles' chairman expressed: "I'm delighted that Brennan has joined us at Crystal Palace.

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"An exciting young talent with an excellent recent record in domestic, continental and international football. We feel we are the perfect place for Brennan to continue his already impressive journey, and his arrival bolsters our attacking options in what is proving our busiest season to date, competing on numerous fronts including, for the first time, in Europe."

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Crystal Palace's head coach, Oliver Glasner, has hailed Johnson as a 'valuable addition'. He expressed: "I'm really delighted that Brennan has joined the club. He arrives very early in the window, so credit to the club for making this happen so quickly.

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"Brennan will give us options in our attacking play with his pace and goalscoring ability and with all the upcoming games he will be a valuable addition to the squad."

On his part, Johnson shared his excitement about joining Crystal Palace: "I'm really excited and I'm really happy. Crystal Palace are such a great club, one that I've always admired. It's a great time for me to be here and join the journey that this club is on – I'm super excited."

The former Tottenham winger, who has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Crystal Palace, will be ready for selection for Sunday afternoon's match against Newcastle United at St. James' Park. Johnson will don the number-11 shirt.

Before the official announcement of the transfer, Frank was asked about Johnson's future. The Dane, keeping his thoughts under wraps, commented: "I think there are different scenarios.

"There are players that want to leave, there are players that are a little bit like, hmm, do they want to stay or do they want to leave? And then there are players that don't want to leave.

"And that is the three different cases you need to solve between the sports directors, head coach, player and agent. And hopefully in the most cases, everyone is happy in the end of the situation."

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has revealed details of a text exchange with Liverpool striker Alexander Isak following the striker's devastating injury setback. The club's record acquisition is expected to be sidelined for several months at the very least.

The ankle injury occurred when Isak was caught by van de Ven whilst scoring the Reds' opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He has since undergone surgery to address the issue, which also included a fractured fibula. The blow represents yet another obstacle for Isak, who has found it difficult to establish himself at the club following his £125million move from Newcastle this summer.

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Van De Ven has now revealed the contents of the message he sent to Isak after the high-intensity Premier League clash.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spurs centre-half disclosed: "Yeah, I've text him. Of course.

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"I've sent him a text because I didn't want to injure him, I didn't want to do something to hurt him. I just tried to block the shot and I think it was a bit unlucky how his foot landed between my legs.

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"So I sent him a text afterwards. I want to wish him all the best in his recovery.

"That's what I said to him. And I hope we can see him back on the pitch very soon again."

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When questioned about whether Isak replied, he added: "Yeah, he really appreciated the message. He texted back."

While van de Ven kept the specifics of Isak's reaction under wraps, it's safe to assume that the Liverpool star appreciated the gesture and accepted the apology. His focus will now be on returning to full fitness as soon as possible.

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Discussing Isak's comeback, head coach Arne Slot expressed his belief that the striker will return to action before the end of the season.

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"Yeah, [he'll play again this season]. I'm confident. It's been a really challenging and difficult period for him, I think. Maybe no-one understands, but if you haven't trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team and you're playing in this league... in this league you need to be on the top of your game to impact the games.

"That took, which we all knew, months before we could bring him there. Because there was no pre-season, there were games, games, games.

"We had hardly any time to train, so we always knew that it would take him time - and that's why he's so unlucky that he's now injured because I think we all saw with a goal against West Ham, and with this goal [vs Tottenham], that he got closer and closer to the player he was at Newcastle."

Liverpool have confirmed their first deal of the January transfer window.

They've allowed youngster James Norris to leave the club on a permanent basis, joining Irish side Shelbourne.

He spent the majority of 2025 at the club in a successful loan spell and has now signed a permanent contract.

In a statement, Liverpool said: "Everyone at Liverpool FC wishes James the best of luck for the future."

Hello and welcome to Express Sport's rolling coverage of the latest transfer news with the January window finally open for business.

Stay with us to keep up with the biggest stories from across the Premier League and beyond...

Tottenham are already active in the January transfer window, which opened only a few hours ago, as they are prepared to sell Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace. The Welshman is expected to undergo a medical shortly ahead of a £35million deal, which could be reinvested back into Thomas Frank's squad.

The Dane has struggled to win over the Spurs faithful and many have pointed out that his central midfield needs more of a cultured operator. But he will also be desperate to replace Johnson, and has a cool £35m in his pocket to spend. Here, Express Sport has taken a look at our priority first signing...

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Jack McEachen - Savinho

Savinho's situation has not changed since he came close to leaving Manchester City for Tottenham in the summer, despite signing a new contract in October.

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With Antoine Semenyo's impending £65million transfer to the Etihad, Savinho will surely be growing more concerned about his position at City.

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The Brazilian's ability to operate on both flanks would surely appeal, and he offers a dribbling threat that, outside of Mohammed Kudus and the raw Wilson Odobert, Spurs do not have at the club.

Why not resurrect this transfer?

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Charlie Malam - Yan Diomande

With Brennan Johnson looking likely to leave Spurs this month, a replacement attacker is a priority. The dream would be RB Leipzig's exciting Ivorian winger Yan Diomande.

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The 19-year-old, valued at between £50m to £60m, has all the attributes to be a consistent match-winner; explosive athleticism, elite dribbling off of both feet, versatility to play on either side and crucially, end product. He would be a cheaper and easier-to-sign Nico Williams of sorts.

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Spurs may have to go big on Diomande now if they want to meet the massive competition for him, but if they could snag the Ivory Coast attacker at a cheaper price than they were willing to pay Man City for Savinho last summer, it would be the biggest success yet of the post-Daniel Levy era.

Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande after, seemingly, falling short of securing Antoine Semenyo, but an alternative deal may have to wait until season's end. Spurs were said to have shown an interest in the Bournemouth forward over the past couple of months, alongside the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

However, it is now understood Semenyo has highlighted Manchester City as his destination of choice when the January window swings bacl open, leaving the Lilywhites to reassess their options. Meanwhile, Spurs look increasingly likely to lose Brennan Johnson next month after telling the forward he is free to leave the club, with Crystal Palace agreeing the framework for a £35million deal.

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Should a deal with Palace fall through, the Welshman is not shy of admirers; with Sunderland, Everton and Aston Villa all said to be paying attention to the 24-year-old.

All things considered, Spurs would be wise to bring in a replacement to ensure a strong finish to 2025/26. And while the club have been linked with Diomande as of late, Leipzig are not prepared to sell their talisman in the upcoming window.

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Despite the two clubs holding a strong relationship following the £51.8m transfer of Xavi Simons this summer, Die Roten Bullen are eager to retain Diomande, given he only arrived at the club in July and is currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.

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Reports in Germany suggest that RB Leipzig will only listen to offers at the end of the season and they will demand a whopping package of around £85m. The 19-year-old has taken very little time to impress at the Red Bull Arena - providing seven goals and three assists across all competitions this season - as Leipzig sit fourth in the Bundesliga standings.

The Lewis family are reportedly ready to back Thomas Frank in the transfer market after investing some £100m into the club back in October. However, Spurs will be better suited looking elsewhere if they're eager to secure a forward for the latter half of the season, given Diomande seems set to stay put.

The north London-based outfit have also been linked with AS Monaco talent, Maghnes Akliouche, as well as FC Koln's Said El Mala, and it will be interesting to see how January plays out in Tottenham.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank appears to be facing an uncertain future after overseeing a disappointing start to the campaign. The north Londoners are currently in the Premier League's bottom half after winning just seven of their opening 18 games. It has led to questions being asked of the club's struggling players as well as Frank, who only took charge in the summer.

Not everybody has flattered to deceive, though, with the likes of Micky van de Ven and Archie Gray impressing for the most part. Others, however, have failed to step up and be counted over the last few months. Meanwhile, some players are clearly not in Frank's thinking at all and may never kick a ball for Tottenham again.

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Express Sport looks at six players who might have already had their last game for Spurs...

Brennan Johnson

A move away from Tottenham could be on the cards for the Welshman, who is being courted by Crystal Palace. Reports suggest a transfer fee of around £35million has been agreed between the two clubs but Johnson is yet to give the green light.

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He is expected to make a decision over the coming days but even if that move falls through, other clubs are said to be interested in snapping him up. The likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland are reportedly keeping a close eye on the situation.

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Johnson has struggled for regular starts at Tottenham this season and may choose to go elsewhere in search of more minutes, but only time will tell.

Yves Bissouma

The midfielder is yet to make a Premier League appearance so far this season and recently faced fresh allegations of using nitrous oxide. Earlier this month, Tottenham said they would be looking into it and dealing with the situation internally.

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Bissouma is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations but may not have a future in north London, given that he is essentially no longer needed.

However, it has been reported that Spurs could hand him a one-year extension if they fail to sell him in January. This would allow them to recoup a fee in the summer, as opposed to losing him for nothing.

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Dane Scarlett

Once regarded as one of England's brightest attacking talents, the young forward is yet to deliver on the huge promise he showed as a teenager.

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A handful of underwhelming loan spells in the EFL have done little to convince his doubters that he has what it takes to make it at Tottenham.

A permanent exit could be the most likely solution for Scarlett, who has only made five Premier League matchday squads this term without coming off the bench.

Mikey Moore

Another young player with huge potential, the 18-year-old is spending the season on loan at Rangers. He has shown glimpses of brilliance during his time in Scotland but still has a lot of developing to do.

As a homegrown academy graduate, any fee gained from selling Moore would go down as pure profit, which could be an attractive proposition for Tottenham if they decide to cash in further down the line.

There is still every chance that Moore could emerge as a future star for Spurs, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him leave the club in the not-too-distant future.

Manor Solomon

The winger excelled in the Championship during his loan spell at Leeds United last season and is currently playing for Villarreal on a temporary basis.

He has been struggling for minutes, though, with just six league appearances under his belt. He has only scored one goal for his loan club, which is hardly an indicator that he is ready to make an impact for Tottenham.

Solomon is no longer a young player at 26 and doesn't seem to have a future at Spurs, which indicates a summer sale could be a real possibility.

Alfie Devine

The attacking midfielder is spending the season on loan at Preston North End and has done reasonably well in the Championship, but hasn't exactly pulled up any trees.

He has scored three goals and laid on another two assists in 21 appearances, which is a decent return but not a remarkable one.

That form in the second tier doesn't suggest that Devine will be thriving for Tottenham any time soon. As with Moore, any fee gained from selling him would be registered as pure profit, which could be an option if other EFL clubs take an interest in him.

Tottenham have reportedly agreed to sell winger Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace. But the Wales international could wreck the transfer if he decides he doesn’t want to join the Eagles.

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Johnson ended the last campaign as Spurs’ top scorer after bagging 18 goals in all competitions. But he has fallen down the pecking order under Thomas Frank this term and has only started six Premier League matches. On Sunday, he came off the bench for five minutes to replace Mohammed Kudus as Tottenham overcame Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park. And he hasn’t started a match since his side’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle at the start of December.

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According to The Athletic, Palace have agreed to pay Tottenham just shy of £35million to take Johnson to Selhurst Park.

Both clubs are keen to proceed with the deal, with Palace desperately in need of reinforcements as they have UEFA Conference League commitments on top of their usual commitments domestically.

But the player is yet to decide whether he is happy to join the reigning FA Cup champions, with other clubs also said to be interested in acquiring his services.

Johnson is said to be Palace’s main transfer target in January, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner currently struggling for numbers on the pitch.

Palace will be aiming to return to form in the coming weeks after slipping to three successive losses in the Premier League. The side are currently contending with a fixture pile-up and are in the middle of a run of nine games in the space of just 28 days.

Frank was asked about Johnson in the aftermath of Tottenham’s victory over Palace. And the Dane explained: “I think Brennan is very important for us. Maybe he didn't get many minutes, but unfortunately, we can only play 11 players.

“We spoke about it before with Mo [Kudus], he's coming in and put his stamp on that right-winger position. Then [on] the left, we tried different solutions. [He has] still started quite a few games. I think Brennan is an important player for us.”

According to talkSPORT, Bournemouth are also interested in signing Johnson, with the Dorset club set to lose star attacker Antoine Semenyo in January.

Semenyo is said to have set his sights on a move to Manchester City after starring at the Vitality Stadium since joining the Cherries from Bristol City at the start of 2023. The 25-year-old has bagged eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances this season.

Tottenham secured a narrow victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Richarlison found the back of the net just after the quarter-hour mark from Pedro Porro's low curling ball, but VAR identified that Lucas Bergvall was offside during the build-up. Tottenham's play in the first half was largely aerial, and all the pressure came from Palace with eight shots before Archie Gray scored his first senior goal against the run of play.

A deep corner from Porro was headed back by Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison flicked it on for the thrilled teenager to head into the net just before half-time. With 15 minutes remaining, Richarlison thought he had scored again when he slid home Mohammed Kudus' low cross, but a VAR check revealed he was slightly offside. Substitute Wilson Odobert hit an attempt against the left-hand post in the last 10 minutes, and Rodrigo Bentancur had a shot saved as Spurs concluded 2025 with a hard-earned win.

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Here are your Tottenham player ratings from today's victory...

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Tottenham player ratings vs Crystal Palace

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

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Despite the pressure from Palace, the Italian goalkeeper didn't have any significant saves to make and handled set pieces well when they came his way.

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Pedro Porro - 7

He delivered a fantastic low curling ball for Richarlison's disallowed early goal. He struggled defensively in the first half but improved significantly as the match progressed, along with the rest of the team.

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Kevin Danso - 7

He tripped Devenny early on as the Scot was charging towards the Spurs box, earning a yellow card with Palace demanding a red. Despite some shaky moments in the first half, he handled everything thrown at him in the second half and had the fans chanting his name in the final stages.

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Micky van de Ven - 8

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He was solid throughout and arguably Spurs' best defender on the day, making numerous crucial touches and interceptions.

Djed Spence - 7

He attempted to push forward in the first half but played a loose pass across his own box that gave Wharton a shooting opportunity. In the second half, he was among those who greatly improved.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 7

The same message applies here. The Uruguayan seemed lost at times in the first half but fought superbly in the second half.

Archie Gray - 8

He received a yellow card for holding back Wharton in the first half. He scored his first senior goal with a close-range header towards the end of the first half.

After Bergvall's departure, he was pushed into a more attacking role, and his second driving run led to Richarlison's second disallowed goal. The fans gave him a resounding ovation when he was substituted with 10 minutes remaining.

Mohammed Kudus - 6

His performance lacked a final product until his low pass allowed Richarlison to score, only to be deemed marginally offside. He set up Richarlison again shortly after with some robust play.

Lucas Bergvall - 6

He was caught offside too easily for the early disallowed Richarlison goal. Despite working hard, some of his decision-making lacked sharpness.

He went down clutching his leg after the hour mark and immediately headed down the tunnel after being substituted.

Randal Kolo Muani - 6

Operating on the left, he demonstrated good control on the run to earn the corner from which Spurs scored. He didn't contribute much in the second half before being substituted along with Bergvall.

Richarlison - 8

He thought he had scored early in the match, only for his sliding finish to be disallowed due to Bergvall's offside. He battled up front with Spurs' long balls and assisted Gray's goal with his header.

He again believed he'd scored when he slid home Kudus' low cross but was offside by a kneecap. He took a shot at Henderson a few minutes later.

He flicked on the ball for chances for Dragusin and Odobert afterwards. Although he didn't score, he caused Palace numerous problems.

On another day, he could have ended up with two goals and several assists.

Substitutes

Joao Palhinha - 7

He made some spectacular sliding tackles and played a significant role in Spurs maintaining their lead.

Wilson Odobert - 7

He hit the base of the left-hand post with a run-on effort. A very promising late appearance against weary legs.

Radu Dragusin - n/a

His header just missed with his first touch almost 11 months after suffering that ACL injury back in January. He made some crucial contributions in the final moments.

Brennan Johnson - n/a

He immediately delivered a couple of threatening low crosses across the face of the Palace goal after coming on.

Thomas Frank isn't losing sleep over Tottenham's struggles because he's encountered similar situations throughout his managerial journey. The Dane's spell in north London has yet to ignite, with Spurs languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas and supporters growing increasingly frustrated with the team's lack of creativity and defensive frailties.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, where Tottenham ended with nine players following red cards for Xavi Simons and skipper Cristian Romero, marked five losses from Frank's last eight league matches. However, Frank has a track record of sluggish beginnings at both Brentford and Brondby, so he isn't tossing and turning over Spurs' current predicament, although he acknowledges spending considerable time pondering their situation.

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"The good thing is I've always been a good sleeper, so I think that's helpful!" he said. "But of course you can feel that the thoughts are just underneath you. Sometimes we've all experienced that with work.

"They've been there a long time because there's a lot of things to sort out. We want to be successful, we want to be consistent. There's all small different bits we'd like to improve. It's completely open and transparent.

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"I think it's also clear that we are searching to find a very consistent, competitive team week in, week out. When you get small setbacks and don't get the right response you try something new or you stick to it."

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The 52-year-old continued: "It's normal. It's not the first time in my career I haven't found the team instantly clicks but it's coming over time. I know it will come, probably sooner rather than later."

Frank achieved success at both his previous clubs, notably guiding Brentford to the top flight and enabling them to compete beyond expectations as an established Premier League side. These are the experiences he will lean on to navigate his current challenges in north London.

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"At Brondby I didn't win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine," he added. "At Brentford, we lost eight out of 10 games and then were unbeaten in 10. So I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here. Im not in doubt about that, because I know how to make a competitive team.

"We will make a very competitive team here as well. I'm in no doubt of that. To make it even more complex here is the amount of games we are playing, with rotation and physical load and mental load that just impact a team and especially if it's not used to doing that week in, week out."

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Whilst Tottenham broke their 17-year silverware drought by claiming the Europa League in May under Ange Postecoglou, losses became a familiar theme in the league as the club slumped to 17th place with a weakened squad, whilst the Australian prioritised European glory.

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With a string of losses this season, particularly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank acknowledges that losing can become as habitual as winning.

"I definitely think there are habits that can go both ways," Frank confessed. "There are good habits and bad habits, and, of course winning is a good habit and losing is a bad habit, but underneath that is the habit of every staff member, every player.

"How you react when there are setbacks in games is something we are really working very, very hard on. That's something I also think we have dealt ok with. For example, the Brighton away game maybe the year before we would have lost, but we came back and got a 2-2 draw. That was a good example as was Bodo away.

"So there are bits that are going the right way, but we are not consistent enough to do that every third or fourth day. No matter how much I hate saying it, that's an ongoing thing we need to work on. Small bits and good habits for every player."