TBR Football

TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Thomas Frank plans to use Yoane Wissa as a striker if Tottenham Hotspur can get a deal done for the forward.

Frank is driving Tottenham’s move for Wissa, as TBR Football reported on Wednesday, as the Danish coach continues to add to his attacking options.

Tottenham have agreed a £55m deal for Kudus, who is set to undergo a medical at Hotspur Way on Thursday, and are now targeting another Premier League attacker.

The North London club are working hard to ensure that Frank’s squad is well-equipped before the team travels to Asia at the end of July.

Thomas Frank wants to use Yoane Wissa as a striker at Tottenham

Sources have informed Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football that Thomas Frank wants to sign Yoane Wissa to use as an alternative option to Dominic Solanke.

The Lilywhites ideally would like a reliable option to allow the former Bournemouth striker a chance to be rotated, especially with so many games next season.

Richarlison could suffer from Wissa’s arrival as the club may need to move on an attacker to facilitate the Congolese striker.

Speaking about the situation, Bailey explained to TBR Football: “I am told that Frank always wanted, ideally, Wissa and Mbeumo to join him.

“Mbeumo did not happen, and then Kudus emerged as that target for the right – the idea is firmly to bring in Wissa and Kudus from this point, but a lot to be done on both those fronts at this point.

“Wissa really is fascinating, as I am told Frank considers him to be a striker when it comes to the role he is expected to fill at Tottenham.

“Not every club that’s in for him, see him in that role, but Spurs want him to be that striker – the alternative to Solanke at this point, it would seem. Also, it’s interesting to see how this impacts not only someone like Son but Richarlison.”

Daniel Levy convinces David Sullivan to accept Mohammed Kudus bid

Tottenham Hotspur have finally received the green light from West Ham United over a deal to sign Mohammed Kudus.

After Tottenham’s deal for Kudus stalled on Tuesday evening, Daniel Levy took control of the situation and finally convinced David Sullivan to sell the 24-year-old.

Spurs upped their cash offer to £55m, which was enough to get the Hammers to accept as they look to fund their own transfer moves.

Sullivan was initially asking for around £65m to sell, but Levy has managed to pull off a deal for £10m less and £30m under his release clause.

Tottenham Hotspur will be welcoming plenty of new faces through the door at Hotspur Way this summer, and one of those players is Luka Vuskovic.

Vuskovic officially joined Tottenham this summer following his long-awaited transfer from Croatian club Hajduk Split.

Tottenham are excited by Vuskovic’s potential following his impressive form on loan in the Belgian Pro League with Westerlo.

But now, the 18-year-old is finally a Spurs player and following his move to North London, he has just put out an emotional message on his Instagram.

Luka Vuskovic’s farewell message to Hajduk Split after joining Tottenham

Luka Vuskovic has just bid farewell to Hajduk Split after the defender finally completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham signed Vuskovic for £12m back in the summer of 2023, as they beat off competition from Manchester City to land his signature.

The young defender was just 16 at the time Spurs agreed to sign him, and he was only able to make the switch to North London this summer, due to EU rules.

Vuskovic’s size has impressed Tottenham fans, with the youngster having finally started pre-season training at Hotspur Way.

After finally becoming a Spurs player, Vuskovic wrote on his Instagram: “I’m happy that I have the privilege of being a player of my favourite club.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Hajduk coaches who were on my path and the people who cared about me and helped me in my football growth.

“We have been separated for two years, but always connected by heart. Hajduk, you are everything to me. I’ll be back to you someday!”

Thomas Frank could love Luka Vuskovic for set-piece threat

Thomas Frank needs to utilise Vuskovic’s threat from set-pieces, with the defender proving himself to be a real danger in the penalty area.

The Croatian international netted an impressive seven times for Westerlo last season despite featuring as a central defender.

Vuskovic often found himself popping up in the penalty area following a set-piece situation, and this is something the Danish head coach could love about him.

Frank’s Brentford team netted 13 times from set-pieces last season, which equated to 20 percent of their overall goal tally, therefore highlighting the importance of these situations.

Having the teenager at his disposal and his impressive goal aerial threat could become a secret weapon for the 51-year-old in North London.

Kota Takai became Tottenham Hotspur’s second summer signing after the North London club confirmed the deal on Tuesday.

As revealed by TBR Football, Tottenham beat strong competition to sign Takai, with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich all going to watch him.

Tottenham have paid £5m to sign Takai from Kawasaki Frontale, and he is expected to join Thomas Frank’s squad for the season ahead.

The Japanese international completed his first training session as a player of Tottenham Hotspur, and the club’s supporters all noticed the same thing.

Kota Takai’s height impresses Tottenham fans

Tottenham fans have been impressed by the height of their new central defender Kota Takai after seeing images of him in training for the first time.

The 20-year-old stands at six feet three, making him the joint tallest at the club, along with Luka Vuskovic, Micky van de Ven and Ashley Phillips.

Vuskovic’s size also shocked Tottenham fans, and both young defenders could certainly have an impact on Frank’s squad next season.

Kawasaki Frontale fans think Takai is a ‘gem’ and have been hyping him up after his prestigious move to the Premier League.

The defender already has a great deal of experience, with Frontale and Takai facing Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League.

The J1 League club actually beat Ronaldo’s team 3-2 to reach the final of the competition, where they eventually went on to lose to Al Hilal.

But now, the youngster will need to prove himself in the Premier League, and supporters are confident his size will help him settle in.

One fan had very high praise for the Japan defender: “Kota Takai was grown in a lab as a Paulo Maldini clone. Exciting Times Ahead.”

Another added: “Takai’s massive!”

Finally, another claimed: “Our new wall!”

Kota Takai is buzzing to play in the Premier League

Takai admitted in his first interview as a Tottenham player that he cannot wait to become a Premier League player.

The 20-year-old revealed that he’s watched the English top flight for so many years, and now he has the chance to make his mark in the league.

The defender went on to add that he can play on either side as a central defender, which will be a useful trait for Frank to have at his disposal.

Speaking to Tottenham Hotspur’s official YouTube channel, Takai said: “My position is centre-back, I can play on either side – right or left.

“I’ve always watched the Premier League a lot since I was little. At Spurs, my first aim is to be on the pitch for a match and do my best.”

The Japan star will have his chance to make his first impression on the fans in less than nine days when Spurs face Reading in a friendly.

Tottenham have been seeking fresh investment for some time now, but Daniel Levy’s valuation of the club in tandem with several other factors means they are yet to find a suitable buyer.

It has been over a year since Amanda Staveley was linked with Spurs. Since then, there has been very little fresh information.

Staveley’s negotiations with Daniel Levy and ENIC focused on the potential for a minority investment worth around £500m. A full takeover, however, has never been ruled out, with the private equity firm MSP Sports Capital among the groups who have been interested in a deal for a majority stake in the club.

Tantalisingly for Spurs fans desperate for their club to take the handbrake off in the transfer market and furnish Thomas Frank with big-name signings, the prospect of an investment backed by Qatari sovereign wealth has also been regularly floated.

Earlier this year, it emerged that an unspecified group of private investors from the Gulf nation had also been in contact with the club that Levy values at close to £4bn.

Could Daniel Levy bring his son onboard at Spurs?

The ownership structure at Spurs isn’t particularly clear, particularly since former outright owner Joe Lewis stepped back from operations.

Lewis passed on his stake in Spurs, which is held via ENIC, to his heirs. But ENIC itself is believed to be owned by Lewis-founded investment firm Tavistock, who list Tottenham as a key investment on their website.

After the departure of chairman Shehan Dissanayake, the two most senior figures listed in Tavistock’s senior management are Nick Beucher, the husband of one of Lewis’ children and Josh Levy, the 34-year-old son of Daniel Levy.

“We appear to be reaching dynasty football,” says football finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking to TBR Football.

“We have seen it at Man United with Malcolm Glazer’s stake and control over the club being inherited by his children. At West Ham, you have Jack Sullivan. Tony Bloom initially had a relative on the board, which is how he became

“If the club is originally owned by a fan, the handing over of control can be beneficial if the same values that the fans hold are being promoted as part of the transition. But there is a tension – should a club be a business, a community asset, a trophy asset? Those lines are getting quite blurred.

“Trying to work out what is going on at Spurs is an enigma. Every time you strip back one layer, there is another layer.”

Tottenham valued at £704m, per minority shareholder market

A relatively little-known fact about Spurs is that, as well as Levy and ENIC, they have thousands of minority shareholders from their days on the London Stock Exchange.

These shareholders own around 13 per cent of the club, and Levy says they try to run Tottenham like a public company – with maximum transparency – as a result.

A recently concluded auction on the Asset Match platform saw several tranches of shares bought at a value of £3 each, giving the club a market cap of £704m.

In reality, the true value of the club is in the billions. But could the minority shareholders be a block in negotiations with a potential investment partner?

“As for the individual shareholders, there is a concern,” Maguire tells TBR Football.

“They may have seen what has happened at Everton. If shareholders hold onto shares, could they get a better price when the club is eventually bought? It could be that Levy and ENIC could sell their shares, but the new owner would be under no obligation to buy the minority shareholders out.

“I don’t think those minority shareholders would be involved necessarily in a deal unless someone so rich comes along, says they don’t want the hassle at the AGM, they could pay them bog-off money. That would allow them to run it as a fiefdom.”

Tottenham’s reaction to UEFA decision to fine Chelsea and Aston Villa

Last week, UEFA announced that it had fined Chelsea and Aston Villa for breaching its financial rules.

“Spurs will be pleased but not pleased from the rulings we’ve seen from UEFA,” says Maguire.

“Given that Barcelona have now been fined twice, they haven’t spent money this summer. But the Premier League clubs are all spending money. We aren’t seeing any evidence that these clubs are being impacted yet, but on a medium-term basis, if business plans are being imposed upon clubs, there will be a gap that other clubs in theory can take advantage.

“Whether that is enough to attract to people given the wages that are being offered at Spurs is another matter.”

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on their biggest signing of the summer so far after striking a deal for West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus.

David Ornstein has reported that Tottenham have reached total agreement with West Ham over Kudus in a deal worth around £55million.

Meanwhile, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that it was Tottenham’s fourth offer, and that there are no add-ons, just cash.

Interestingly, Kudus has already revealed his ideal position – but it could pose a problem for new Spurs manager Thomas Frank.

Mohammed Kudus says his best position is at No. 10

Over the years, Mohammed Kudus has made a name for himself as a superb and versatile Premier League player who has featured in no fewer than seven positions for the Hammers.

Most of his appearances for West Ham have come on the right wing, followed by the left wing, and then there’s a tie at centre-forward and in attacking midfield.

However, Kudus has mentioned several times that his preferred position is as a No. 10.

When he joined West Ham, he told the club’s media team: “We all know my versatility for the past years, but I think the position I’ve played most spots from my actions are from the central areas.

“But it’s the team that’s above everyone else so the position the coach feels is best for me to help the team, of course, I will give my 100 per cent best.

“Everything that I’ve played in did my best is from like, an attacking position, from the midfield.”

And in an interview with Sky Sports, Kudus said: “[My best position is] like a No.10, attacking midfielder. That’s where I’ve played all my years since I was a kid.

“Recently, I’ve played on the wings or even as a striker sometimes but I’ve always been a midfielder.”

The two problems Mohammed Kudus may face at Tottenham regarding his preferred position

The first problem with Kudus admitting he prefers playing as a No. 10 is that Tottenham are already pretty well stocked in that position.

Spurs currently have James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski who can play at No. 10, so there will be fierce competition in that position for Kudus.

In addition, Frank has been known to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation, with room for only one No. 10 in the line-up.

As a result, if Kudus were set on playing at No. 10, there would be three top players vying for one position per matchday.

Tottenham are now stepping up their interest in Yoane Wissa.

The DR Congo international shone under Thomas Frank at Brentford last season, scoring 19 goals in 35 Premier League appearances, and the Dane is now pushing to be reunited at Hotspur Way.

TBR Football understand Tottenham have opened talks over a deal for Wissa – although the Brentford No.11 is also wanted by Newcastle after entering the final 12 months of his contract.

As Yoane Wissa engages in discussions with Tottenham, it is worth taking a look at what the 28-year-old said about Spurs back in May.

Yoane Wissa has already given Thomas Frank advice about joining Tottenham which he may soon need to adhere to himself

When asked if he thinks Frank can handle life at Tottenham, Wissa made it clear to John Obi Mikel that the Dane should brace himself for “egos” at Hotspur Way, something that Brentford do not have.

The man born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges said when speaking on The Obi One Podcast: “Yes, he (Frank) is that good (to manage a top club). I think it will just be the ego. In a big club, you need to be able to deal with egos, because here (Brentford) no one has an ego. It’s easier to manage.”

Tottenham employ the likes of Cristian Romero – a FIFA World Cup winner who has eyes on an exit – along with other strong personalities such as Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs are also a UEFA Champions League outfit with a more substantial wage bill than Brentford, shelling out £116m annually on salaries, compared to just £44.9m at Brentford.

Therefore, it will undoubtedly be a different environment to Brentford, a seemingly humble, family-orientated club who Frank helped win promotion out of the Championship in 2021.

Yoane Wissa is ready to tackle potentially egotistical teammates at Tottenham

One thing Wissa would experience at Tottenham which was not present at Brentford is fierce competition for places, as Spurs already have Dominic Solanke, Heung-min Son and Richarlison who can play at striker.

In contrast, Brentford had a much thinner squad, with Igor Thiago the only real threat to Wissa.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer activity is really starting to pick up pace as Thomas Frank looks to build a strong squad for next season.

Spurs have already made a number of signings this summer, the latest of which is Japan international defender Kota Takai.

With Spurs set to play in the Champions League next season, they need to get their transfer activity spot on to ensure they can compete on all fronts.

Now, David Ornstein has provided an exciting update involving Tottenham and their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus.

Tottenham strike Mohammed Kudus deal with medical scheduled for Thursday

Ornstein has taken to X to report that Tottenham have reached total agreement with West Ham over the signing of Kudus.

Spurs have struck a deal with the Hammers worth in the region of £55million, Ornstein added.

The Athletic journalist concluded by saying Kudus’ medical is scheduled for Thursday ahead of him joining Tottenham on a six-year contract.

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Tottenham agreed to the deal in the last hour.

We understand it was their fourth offer, and there are no add-ons – the deal is in cash, which West Ham insisted on.

Harry Redknapp’s Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham verdict

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp recently gave his verdict on Kudus as a target for Spurs.

Whilst Redknapp seemed to be in favour of the move, he did admit to having some reservations over a move.

Asked if Kudus would fit the bill at Spurs, Redknapp told talkSPORT (8/7/25, 7:40am): “Yeah, he’s not bad. There’s no doubting his ability.

“I know one or two people around the place at West Ham, I think there are question marks over him.

“I think his ability is not questionable but I don’t know. But he’s certainly got ability and he’s a player that when he gets on the ball, he can make things happen, he’ll be exciting.

“So yeah he’ll certainly bring something to Tottenham for sure.”

Tottenham Hotspur have just launched a new bid to sign another attacker, and this could be great news for Everton’s hopes of landing Richarlison.

TBR Football revealed earlier this summer that Everton wanted Richarlison back, with David Moyes keen to land an attacker this summer.

Richarlison wants to start for Brazil at the World Cup next year, and he knows that he will need to be playing regularly for that to happen.

So now with the Lilywhites targeting a deal for a new striker, the door might just have been opened for the 28-year-old to return to Merseyside.

Yoane Wissa to Tottenham could open Richarlison to Everton

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move to sign Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, according to BBC Sport.

The North London club are currently weighing up the finances behind a deal for the 28-year-old before making their move for Thomas Frank’s former star.

Wissa, who Brentford value at £40m, is also open to making the switch across London and joining his former boss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham considered Wissa back in January before pressing ahead with a move to sign Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich instead.

This news follows TBR Football’s exclusive report that Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus move was stalling, with an agreement far from being reached with West Ham.

It’s yet to be seen whether the Congolese forward would be an alternative target to Kudus or if Spurs want both players to join.

But given Wissa plays either up top or off the left, it would likely be a case of both being signed, and another Spurs forward being sold.

Richarlison would fill the same role as the Brentford attacker, therefore, selling him would be the most logical step if they can find a buyer.

As mentioned, Everton are keen on Richarlison and bringing the fans’ favourite back to the club for the first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium would be a popular move.

For the Brazilian international, it would also make a lot of sense given his goal of being the number nine once again for Carlo Ancelotti’s team at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Frank has spoken very highly of Richarlison in the past and once backed him to fill the boots of Harry Kane following his move to Bayern Munich.

The Danish manager labelled the 28-year-old as ‘very good’ and believed he would score a lot of goals during the 2023/24 season.

Speaking to the media, Frank said: “It was England’s number nine, replaced by Brazil’s number nine. He’s a very good player, Richarlison, and I back him to score a lot of goals this season.”

Ultimately, Frank will want the chance to assess Richarlison in pre-season before making a decision, but it feels likely that he would take Wissa at Spurs if he had the chance.

Tottenham Hotspur are working on a major transfer arrival this summer, and it could be to the detriment of James Maddison’s close friend.

The North London club are preparing for next season and have so far made two new signings in Mathys Tel and Kota Takai.

Pre-season is now underway at Hotspur Way, and there are fewer than ten days until Spurs’ first game against Reading.

The Lilywhites will be hoping that by then they will have made a few new additions, and currently, one deal is being heavily worked on.

James Maddison on ‘synergy’ with Brennan Johnson

During the second week of Wimbledon, James Maddison revealed that Brennan Johnson would be his ideal doubles partner in a tennis match.

The English international admitted that the pair would share a ‘good synergy’ on the court as they are currently ‘very close’ at Tottenham.

Johnson, who cost Tottenham £45m, netted the winning goal in the Europa League final, whilst also being the club’s top goalscorer last term with 18 goals.

Maddison told BBC Sport: “I feel like doubles is all about chemistry, you’ve got to be on the same page as your partner.

“So I would say either Brennan Johnson or Harry Kane. I’d say Brennan Johnson, because at the moment, I think we are really close. He’s a funny guy, I think we’d have a good synergy on the court.”

But despite their great connection, the duo could be about to get split up, with Spurs eyeing a deal that could see Johnson replaced.

Mohammed Kudus could replace Brennan Johnson at Tottenham

Tottenham are in talks with West Ham United over a deal to sign Mohammed Kudus as one of their marquee deals.

The 24-year-old is expected to arrive as a right-sided attacker, which means Johnson’s place in the team would then be at risk.

Spurs have been focused on signing a player in this area of the team, having looked at Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo, but Kudus is now the first-choice option.

However, as of Tuesday evening, Tottenham’s talks for Kudus had stalled, as TBR Football exclusively revealed, with the two clubs far apart in valuation.

Kudus is very keen to join Tottenham, but Daniel Levy now has his work cut out if he hopes to bring the forward to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham are gearing up for a big season as they step into a new era under Thomas Frank.

Spurs need to step things up this season after finishing 17th in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou, and Thomas Frank will be hoping to get the most out of his squad.

Frank is eyeing new additions, Mohammed Kudus has been strongly linked to Tottenham, but this season will largely be defined by players who are already at the club.

The new manager is casting an eye over his squad at the moment as players return to pre-season training, but, sadly, there are a couple of players who will be absent for a little while yet.

James Maddison has been injured lately, while Dejan Kulusevski had surgery on his knee at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Radu Dragusin did his ACL last season, and according to Tom Barclay, speaking on his YouTube channel, the £27m man isn’t expected back until August still.

Radu Dragusin not expected back until August

Barclay spoke about Tottenham’s centre-back options and Dragusin’s return from injury.

According to the journalist, the defender isn’t due back until August at this point, meaning that he will likely miss the beginning of the season.

Dragusin has been linked with a move away from Spurs, but a deal will be difficult to strike if he remains sidelined with injury.

“He obviously has a lot of centre-backs already, Takai I think becomes the ninth centre-back in the squad alongside Romero, Van de Ven, Danso, Dragusin, who I believe is on track to come back in August time from his ACL. You have Ben Davies, Takai now, Luka Vuskovic, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Dorrington as well,” Barclay said.

Radu Dragusin’s injury history

Dragusin has been out of action for almost the entirety of 2025, and it’s been a very difficult period for the defender.

The Romanian hasn’t played football for a long time at this point, and, he’s really not used to these prolonged periods on the sidelines.

Indeed, before this ACL issue, Dragusin had an almost impeccable injury record.

Dragusin has only had two absence periods in his career to date, and even then those weren’t serious injuries as he was sidelined with fatigue and coronavirus.

The 23-year-old will be hoping to bounce back better than ever at Tottenham, but this is going to be a difficult period for the centre-back, that’s for sure.