tottenhamhotspurnews.com

Richarlison ‘like a new signing for Thomas Frank’ after Tottenham developments

Richarlison has struggled for the majority of his Tottenham career.

The 28-year-old starred in the Premier League previously and was even linked with a return to Everton earlier this summer.

However, Thomas Frank decided to keep him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it seems like the change in manager was exactly what he needed.

Richarlison‘s display in the UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain was encouraging, but his exploits in the first Premier League game against Burnley were even better.

This article includes exclusive comments from iconic commentator Ian Darke

MORE SPURS STORIES

Richarlison could be key player for Frank at Tottenham

Richarlison dazzled supporters with two goals against the newly promoted side as the Lilywhites brushed aside Scott Parker’s side with a 3-0 win.

Darke believes that the Brazilian could revive his Spurs career after his latest performance, comparing his impact to a new addition.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “Richarlison has been a good Premier League player in the past, but injuries have hampered his time at Spurs.

“If he stays fit, Thomas Frank can maybe get him back to his best; it would be like signing a new player“

Tottenham need Richarlison to keep his fitness

Richarlison has missed a total of 58 matches since joining the North London outfit in 2022, which is a major concern.

If he is to play a starring role for Frank, he needs to maintain his fitness and stay in contention for a first-team berth.

Darke is correct, it would be like a new signing if he can keep up the levels from the win over the Clarets, but it is completely dependent on his injury record going forward.

He boasted the best minutes per goal ratio for Spurs in the league last season (0.71), but if he cannot be a reliable option regularly, then it does not matter how lethal he is when he does eventually get on the pitch.

Frank will hope that he has now put his issues behind him and can turn over a new leaf and kickstart his career in N17.

Dominic Solanke is another injury-prone star, and if the Brazilian can stay fit and keep scoring, the Englishman may struggle to get back into the team.

Tottenham have identified Piero Hincapie as a defensive option to strengthen their left flank this summer.

Daniel Levy has accelerated transfer business this month. Joao Palhinha was signed from Bayern Munich on loan, while Mohammed Kudus has climbed the ranks at Tottenham.

Spurs are now looking to sign Eberechi Eze and Savinho before the market closes. But with Destiny Udogie predisposed to injuries, the Lilywhites are on the hunt for defensive reinforcements.

Hincapie has emerged as a viable option to strengthen their defence this summer.

Bayer Leverkusen do not intent to sell Hincapie

Tottenham were prepared to splash the cash on Hincapie this month.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The move was set to challenge Micky van de Ven’s place in Thomas Frank’s lineup. But it seems the Spurs defender can breathe a sigh of relief as Bayer Leverkusen have made their position clear.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on Monday, 18 August, despite Premier League clubs’ appreciation, Leverkusen see Hincapie as a key part of their project.

Erik ten Hag’s side have no intention of selling the Ecuadorian defender this summer and is seen as a crucial player by the manager.

This will come as a huge blow to Tottenham who already missed out on Jorrel Hato to Chelsea earlier in the window. But it seems that it’s back to the drawing board for Levy once again.

Will Tottenham miss out after Hincapie?

While Hincapie is frequently deployed as a centre-back, he is also comfortable as a left-back.

According to FBREF, last season, he was in the 98th percentile of aerials won, while Udogie was in the 24th.

There is also a huge gap when it comes to clearances between the defenders. Hincapie is in the 84th percentile, while Udogie is in the 15th. However, the Spurs left-back is in the 93rd for blocks while Leverkusen’s star is in the 85th.

Udogie is a greater asset going forward, performing better in progressive carries, take-ons and touches in the opposition box.

Therefore, it seems that it comes down to what the manager prefers to have in his team. Frank prioritises a tight defensive unit, which could require the expertise of Hincapie. But paired alongside Cristian Romero and van de Ven, Udogie’s attacking capabilities seem to offer the perfect balance.

Alan Shearer could not believe his eyes during Tottenham’s win against Burnley in the Premier League.

Tottenham dominated against Burnley on Saturday to bag a comfortable 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Richarlison’s spectacular double fired Spurs in front while Brennan Johnson’s no-look finish sealed the deal. But Mohammed Kudus stole the show for Tottenham with his precision and creativity.

Thomas Frank will be pleased with the victory after a marginal defeat to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final. But like most things in life, you must get back up after falling, and Frank has done just that.

Shearer praises Frank’s tactics vs Burnley

Frank has switched up his formations regularly since becoming head coach at Tottenham.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Against Bayern Munich, Frank opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Pape Matar Sarr behind the striker and Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha as double pivots. While he switched to a back five for the Super Cup final against PSG.

Frank was questioned for his choice to start Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray in the midfield against Burnley. But the two ended up forming a solid partnership, which did not escape the notice of Shearer.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football Podcast about Frank’s tactical flexibility on 18 August he said: “But did you notice how, I mean, I did the analysis on Spurs last night, how Thomas Frank has gone straight away, what he did at Brentford in terms of getting balls up a lot earlier to the forward players, getting balls into the box a lot earlier in terms of crosses.

“I mean, they had three crosses in the first 90 seconds of the game Spurs yesterday. And I think that puts a marker down to say, this is how we’re going to play this year.

“And they adapted, because if you remember in midweek against PSG, they played five at the back. They went to four at the back and they played young Gray and Bergvall in the midfield yesterday, which that was a change around from PSG. So I think he perhaps may do that when they’re going in at home against teams they would expect to beat.

“They might play four. When it’s a tougher match against bigger clubs, they might just switch and play five at the back.”

How will Frank line up against Manchester City?

Tottenham face one of their biggest challenges yet when they take on Manchester City on Saturday, 23 August at the Etihad.

Frank switched up his formation quite a lot while at Brentford. His preferred formation in the Championship was 4-3-3, but 3-5-2 became more frequent in the Premier League against top-tier opponents where midfield control was essential.

Last season in the Premier League, Frank deployed a 5-3-2 against City at the Etihad. This resulted in a 2-1 defeat, and he switched to a 4-3-3 for the game at Gtech Community Stadium, which produced a 2-2 draw.

This demonstrates that Frank is keen to switch between attacking and defensive formations depending on his opposition. A more conservative approach did not work the first time around, which forced the Dane to reevaluate his options.

However, with a new team and the success against PSG for the first 85 minutes, there is reason to suspect that he would revert to the 5-3-2 for Saturday’s confrontation.

Attempting to control the midfield against City with new additions Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders could prove futile. As such, Frank could choose to sit back and defend before hitting them on the counterattack.

Thomas Frank is keen to reunite with Brentford defender Nathan Collins in the closing weeks of the transfer window.

Tottenham were linked to Collins earlier in the summer, but were said to be targeting the defender in the case of Cristian Romero’s departure.

But after Romero was named captain by Frank, the Argentine now looks set to stay at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Piero Hincapie is also reportedly among Tottenham targets, but any deal for the defender is expected to be significantly expensive.

Three Premier League teams target Nathan Collins

Collins has become a reliable centre-back for Brentford and Ireland in recent years, despite being just 24 years old.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The defender played every single minute for the Bees last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists along the way.

And following Christian Norgaard’s move to Arsenal, Collins was named Brentford captain in August.

That has not done anything to convince fellow clubs that the 24-year-old is unavailable this summer, though, with the Daily Mail reporting on 18 August (page 60) that Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham are all targeting moves for Collins.

United have already signed Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford this summer, but would likely need to sell before committing to another huge fee.

Liverpool signed 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni last week, and would like to sign another centre-back in the coming weeks – although their top target appears to be Marc Guehi.

That would leave Spurs, who would like to add another quality centre-back to compete with Micky van de Ven and Romero.

Brentford would be unlikely to give up their captain without a fight, having already lost several key players, and Frank’s willingness to rub salt into the wounds of his former employers is unclear.

Nathan Collins money better spent elsewhere

Collins is a brilliant defensive talent who may well go on to be among the Premier League’s very best.

But the likely £50million-plus it would take to sign him from Brentford is not a sensible use of funds for Tottenham right now.

Instead, decision-makers at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should focus on getting the Eberechi Eze deal over the line.

Tottenham are aiming to spend big in the final few weeks of the transfer window, and Daniel Levy may end up silencing his critics.

Spurs have signed Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha as key additions to their attack and midfield, but are now aiming to reinforce this area with true quality.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been struck down with long-term injuries, and this has forced Tottenham to enter the market out of sheer necessity.

Tottenham are interested in Manchester City winger Savinho, and Levy is now actively trying to sign him in a double deal alongside another Premier League star.

Tottenham aiming to sign Savinho and Eze

The Daily Mail has now given an update on Levy’s pursuit of Savinho, with Tottenham also trying to sign Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

MORE SPURS STORIES

It is reported that Levy is personally “working on a deal” to sign Savinho, with Man City demanding £67 million for the Brazilian, and the winger is keen to play regularly ahead of the World Cup.

Rather than trying for one or the other, Spurs are trying to sign Eze in addition to Savinho, and the midfielder started as Palace drew 0-0 at Chelsea on Sunday.

Eze played as talks are ongoing with Tottenham, but with a deal not yet agreed, he has remained professional and fulfilled his team obligations for Palace.

Levy can show ambition with double deal

Tottenham fans are rightly angry with Levy after years of underwhelming performances and limited investment, and this is now his chance to silence his critics and show some ambition.

Thomas Frank got off to a good start as Spurs beat Burnley 3-0, and there are very encouraging signs about his impact on the team.

Kudus has also started well since joining from West Ham, and if paired with Savinho on the other wing, and Eze in the middle, Spurs will have the potential to play some of their best attacking football in years.

Savinho’s output has been unimpressive at Man City, but he will bring a wealth of creativity, technical skill and speed, which was often lacking from the Tottenham side last season.

Destiny Udogie has worked his way up to being an uncontested starter for Tottenham.

Tottenham are overflowing with talent in all areas on the pitch. Some have landed this summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ transfer from West Ham has shown early signs of being the signing of the season. Meanwhile, Joao Palhinha is expected to offer Spurs defensive stability moving forward.

But Spurs’ defence takes the cake when it comes to quality. Udogie, in particular, has shone for the Lilywhites on the left side to the point where he has received the highest praise.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Djed Spence needs ‘consistency’ to become uncontested Tottenham starter

Tottenham are expected to announce Djed Spence’s contract extension after he impressed last season.

The left-back held down the fort while Udogie was sidelined due to injury. But his inconsistent nature has been on full display these past couple of weeks.

Spurs’ defeat to PSG exposed several flaws in his game. However, Spence’s showing against Burnley in the Premier League was the worst he has looked in a while. He appeared completely disconnected from the rest of the left-hand side.

As a result, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – has stressed the need to add consistency to his game before competing against the best.

“I think he will always be able to challenge because he’s a very good player, but he does need to keep his mind to it,” Wenham said.

“I think he was very up for the game against PSG, as he was very up for the game against Arsenal. But whilst he was incredibly good in both of those games, for me, he was fairly poor against both Luton Town and Bayern Munich.

“So I think he has to add consistency to his game. You know, Udogie, injuries aside, is one of the best left-backs in world football.”

Spence works better with Wilson Odobert

One of the key differences between Spence’s bad and good games was the starting left winger.

Brennan Johnson started against Luton Town and Burnley, which coincided with two of his less impressive games. Whereas Spence came to life against Arsenal when Wilson Odobert started.

While this is only a small sample of games, Spence may perform better when paired with a more direct partner. Odobert provides this; Johnson does not.

Tottenham fans were attentive spectators as Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze started against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs have been linked with the England international, but he ended up being included in the Eagles’ team to face the Blues at Stamford Bridge on 17 August.

The 27-year-old thought he had given the visitors the lead in the first half, but the attacking-midfielder’s free-kick goal was disallowed after a VAR check due to Marc Guehi being less than one meter close to the wall before the ball was struck.

Eze has expressed his love for Arsenal in the past, but the North London outfit’s supporters arguably won’t care if he signs for Thomas Frank before the end of August.

Eze catches Tottenham eyes in Palace draw vs Chelsea

Eze played 84 minutes for Palace before being replaced by Justin Devenny, but had enough time to show glimpses of his talent.

MORE SPURS STORIES

One Spurs fan on X felt that despite the 27-year-old’s head seemingly distracted by talks of a move, he was still the best player on the pitch and was described as a “baller”.

Another supporter urged the North London outfit to sign the Englishman, branding him “world class”, while a third wrote: “Not overly impressed with Eze today.”

Some fans are worried Daniel Levy’s apparent knack for “screwing up transfers” could potentially cost Spurs a move for Eze, who has been a great professional at Palace compared to how Alexander Isak has handled his situation at Newcastle United.

Fabio Paratici was seemingly spotted at Stamford Bridge during the 0-0 draw, as one supporter quipped the Italian chief was on his way to North London with the 27-year-old after the game.

Some fans in N17 also noticed the playmaker’s body language on the bench after he was substituted, suggesting the match may be his final game under Oliver Glasner.

Read More: Watch Tottenham takeover as Spurs shirts fill MLS stands in Son Heung-min’s latest show

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison to struggle after Eze transfer

Spurs could sign Eze in the coming hours, with Daniel Levy negotiating a figure slightly lower than his expired £60million plus £8m add-ons.

James Maddison is injured at Tottenham, making the addition of the Palace attacker an evident priority for them.

Dejan Kulusevski also picked up a fitness issue last season and is yet to recover from it, but the Sweden international will undoubtedly find it tough to retrieve his place in the starting lineup if Eze signs.

The 27-year-old England international’s situation will surely be one that fans in N17 will be keeping a close eye on.

Daniel Levy is always looking to boost value wherever possible at Tottenham.

The 63-year-old is always finding innovative ways to boost finances at Tottenham. Meanwhile, on the pitch, Thomas Frank is looking to make his mark in North London.

Levy has provided Frank with some high-profile signings such as Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha this summer. However, who are Spurs’ most valuable players? Tottenham News takes a closer look.

Who is the most valuable player at Tottenham?

Kudus was brought in for £55million from West Ham, signing a six-year deal with Tottenham. He even rejected a move to Chelsea before joining Spurs. However, he isn’t the most valuable player in North London.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Ghanaian has a market value of £38.8m, as per Transfermarkt. That places him second in the list of Spurs’ most valuable players, with James Maddison and Dominic Solanke just behind him in third and fourth, with values of £36.2m and £34.5m respectively.

Above Kudus are three players who share the title of joint-most valuable player at Tottenham.

These are Micky van de Ven, Dejan Kulusevski and Cristian Romero, who all have a market value of £43.1m.

Levy needs to make smarter sales at Tottenham

For all of the smart financial decisions Levy makes for Tottenham, the Spurs supremo needs to improve when it comes to picking the right moment to sell players.

The Lilywhites have made big losses in recent seasons on the likes of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, due to their inability to offload unwanted players.

Richarlison is another perfect example of this. The Brazilian’s market value is now just £17.2m, after he was signed from Everton in a deal worth up to £60m.

Daniel Levy has been questioned over his transfer business at Tottenham this summer.

Levy has conducted some excellent transfer business at Tottenham in recent months.

Mohammed Kudus signed from West Ham for a comfortable fee. The right-winger has turned out to be a bargain transfer, producing back-to-back stellar performances against PSG and Burnley.

Meanwhile, Joao Palhinha’s season-long loan from Bayern Munich could turn out to be a fantastic move.

Levy still wants to sign Eberechi Eze and Savinho this summer. But has faced backlash for his sales thus far.

MORE SPURS STORIES

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

Tottenham questioned for not completing Manor Solomon’s Leeds return

Manor Solomon spent the 2024/25 season at Leeds United on loan after failing to impress Ange Postecoglou.

Speaking on the ‘Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet‘ podcast on 2 September 2024, BBC Radio Leeds journalist Adam Pope applauded his Leeds debut against Hull City.

He said: “He was superb, and I thought he’s going to burn out after an hour – but when he dropped his shoulder twice, went past two players and got the perfect cross in, I thought this guy was different level.

“I thought he was brilliant on the day, I thought he was fantastic.”

Solomon returned to Spurs after the season concluded. However, Frank seems to have excluded the forward from his plans.

A return to Leeds has been teased for Solomon, and Tottenham are willing to sell him for the right price.

However, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – is surprised that his return to Leeds has not been finalised.

“Maybe the form of Odobert, Tel and others and Mohammed Kudus and how quickly he settled in, has made them realise the decision to move Solomon on,” Wenham said.

“Apparently, he’s holding out to go back to Leeds. I’m very surprised that it hasn’t all been done already.

“After what a success he was at Leeds and how much their fans like him. He scored the winning goal to win them the league.”

Tottenham stars who have played for Leeds

According to Fbref, there have been 18 players who have played for both Tottenham and Leeds in past seasons.

From the most notable figures, it seems that the Lilywhites gained the most from their playing career.

Aaron Lennon is a name that Spurs supporters will not be forgetting anytime soon. The winger played 10 seasons for Tottenham as well as two for Leeds.

Robbie Keane is another standout to top the list. The legendary forward spent nine seasons in North London and 3 with the Whites. Other names include Paul Robinson, Neil Sullivan and Michael Brown.

With the track record between the two clubs in mind, Solomon’s transfer could be one for the ages.

Tottenham target Eberechi Eze seems to have played his final game in a Crystal Palace shirt against Chelsea.

Tottenham struggled to get the ball rolling in the market earlier this summer. But it seems now that the floodgates have opened.

Eze and Savinho are the latest players who have caught Spurs’ radar. Tottenhman had initially left the race for Eze after opting to pursue Morgan Gibbs-White.

But with Gibbs-White signing a new contract with Nottingham Forest and James Maddison’s ACL injury against Newcastle United, the Lilywhites are back in the running.

Eze ‘desperate’ for goal against Chelsea

Eze had the ball in the back of the net for Crystal Palace after a sublime free kick. But the goal was later disallowed due to a technicality.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Law 13 in the Premier League holds that where three or more defending team players form a ‘wall’, all attacking team players should remain at least one metre from the ‘wall’ until play is resumed.

Marc Guehi’s positioning was deemed to have impeded the Blues’ ability to defend the set piece, and the goal was struck down.

Eze was not initially expected to start for Palace against Chelsea. But showed a real determination to get back onto the scoresheet on the day.

The Palace forward recorded six shots in total, which was the most out of his teammates. From his goal attempts, only two were on target.

His decision-making could be considered selfish. But his desperation to score suggests that this could have been his final chance to net for the Eagles.

When asked about Eze before the game, Oliver Glasner sent a clear message that indicated the midfielder could remain. But his actions against Chelsea imply that he has kicked his final ball for Palace.

When could Eze debut for Tottenham?

Now that Eze’s signing to Tottenham appears imminent, fans will be curious to know when the Englishman could debut.

Spurs’ next game is against Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday, 23 August. The match is tipped to be another major test for Frank and his players.

The team will need all the help they can get, which is why it wouldn’t be surprising to see him debut against the Citizens.