FootballFanCast

Tottenham could sign a highly-rated player in the winter window, knowing that he was once keen on a move to N17.

The recent board restructure, which resulted in ex-chair Daniel Levy resigning and CEO Vinai Vinkatesham taking a more prominent role alongside members of the Lewis family, has prompted some optimism over their future recruitment plans.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol recently mooted the possibility of further squad investment from ENIC, who may now be willing to spend more on both wages and transfers overall to hand Thomas Frank the best chance of on-pitch success.

"A lot of Tottenham fans complain about the fact that we don't spend as much money on players as our rivals, we don't pay the kind of wages our rivals pay," Solhekol said on Sky.

"Now, that could be set to change, because Tottenham's majority owners, the Lewis family, could be ready to put more money into the club, and how would that extra money be spent?

"Well, that would be up to the new leadership team at Tottenham, because they have been told what you need to do is deliver more success on the pitch. If they believe that we [Tottenham] need to pay higher wages, or if we need to spend more in the transfer market, then I think they will be backed to do that."

The Lilywhites are already one of world football's highest revenue-generating clubs, according to the Deloitte Money League, and Levy's success in turning the club into a financial powerhouse cannot be understated.

However, Levy's reputation for underspending compared to rivals was a key complaint of his tenure, and arguably contributed towards Tottenham's lack of silverware during the 24 years he was chairman.

Now, Spurs insist a "new era" has begun with the swathe of recent boardroom changes, and it will be very intriguing to see how the north Londoners tackle their first transfer market post-Levy.

Frank has overseen an excellent start to 2025/2026, and worked wonders to tempt Xavi Simons with a move to Tottenham, according to super agent Ali Barat.

Reports over the summer claimed that Frank was also really pushing to sign Man City forward Savinho, and the Dane apparently believed that he could do 'big things' in north London, as per the reliable Fabrizio Romano.

Pep Guardiola was publicly clear that he wanted to keep the Brazil international and a potential Spurs move ultimately fell through, with City rejecting two bids, including an offer just under £61 million (Fabrizio Romano).

Savinho transfer to Tottenham alive for January after previous Levy plan

As per journalist Dean Jones, speaking to TEAMtalk, Levy was prepared to pay up to £65m for Savinho in the summer, and Tottenham know the winger wanted to join them before deadline day on September 1.

Spurs are still keeping an eye on Savinho, and it is believed they could move in January if Frank's side get enough encouragement.

“Spurs are still keeping an eye on Savinho, knowing that he wanted the move in the summer,” Jones said.

“His minutes recently are not very convincing at City. Guardiola told him he wants him to stay but Savinho needs to see how he fits in.

“The next couple of matches should bring more game time for him and will be a better chance to assess where he is at – but it is the case that Tottenham would revisit in January if they saw the chance to do so.”

Savinho has played just 37 minutes in all competitions so far.

This is partly down to injury, but if the ex-Girona star continues to be on the fringes of Guardiola's plans, a January move could well tempt him.

Savinho faces a battle to get into the starting eleven on a regular basis amid Jeremy Doku's sensational start to the season, and with the 2026 World Cup looming, the 21-year-old may fancy a move elsewhere as Frank's side maintain a serious interest.

In an attempt to bolster the attacking midfield department, Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of talented youngster Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The hierarchy forked out a staggering £52m for his signature, a figure that made him the fourth-highest addition in their history - being one of five players to join the club for £50m or more.

At just 22, he’s seen as an immediate and long-term solution to the issue in such an area, already showcasing his quality in his first handful of Premier League appearances.

Simons has already notched an assist for the Lilywhites, teeing up Pape Matar Sarr from a set piece in the 3-0 triumph against local rivals West Ham United.

However, a deal for the youngster may not have been completed, especially if they had agreed another deal for a player who was previously on their radar.

Eberechi Eze’s proposed move to Spurs this summer

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, Spurs turned their attention to fellow English star Eberechi Eze in an attempt to improve the options at Thomas Frank’s disposal in forward areas.

At one stage, a deal appeared extremely likely to be completed, with the player himself in advanced talks over a switch to join the Lilywhites and move across the capital from Crystal Palace.

However, despite a £60m fee being mooted, a deal would rapidly crumble in front of the supporters’ very eyes - with such a failure undoubtedly being a disappointment given the previous failures.

Eze would instead make a move to join Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal in a deal totalling £67.5m including add-ons - further adding pain to the fans after missing out on his signature.

The Englishman’s announcement video with the Gunners threw shade on his failed move to join Frank’s side, claiming that he always wanted to join the Arsenal after previously playing for them as a youngster.

However, alongside the deal to land Simons instead, the club already have another talent on their books who could emulate the former Palace star’s success in the Premier League.

The Spurs star who’d be their very own Eze

Spurs’ academy setup has allowed for numerous top-level talents to emerge over the last couple of years - potentially saving them millions of pounds in the years ahead.

Mikey Moore was a player who took advantage of the injury crisis last campaign, subsequently making 19 appearances for the first-team across all competitions.

The teenager even scored his first senior goal in the Europa League victory over Elfsborg, showcasing the talent and potential he possesses to become a key member of the squad in the years ahead.

He’s not alone in having huge potential in North London, with midfielder George Abbott another star who could become a key man under Frank during his tenure.

The 20-year-old joined the club at the age of just seven, spending a decade at youth level before penning his first senior contract with his boyhood club at 17.

Abbott enjoyed his first taste of senior action last campaign, racking up 44 appearances on loan at League Two outfit Notts County - scoring six and registering seven assists.

Such performances led to one County analyst dubbing the youngster as “incredible” - even winning the EFL’s Goal of the Season for his effort against Accrington Stanley.

He would return to North London for pre-season, even starring in some of the fitness tests conducted by the first-team - further showcasing his remarkable talents despite his tender age.

Abbott is currently spending the 2025/26 season on loan at League One side Wycombe Wanderers, even scoring his first goal of the season against Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon.

Such a stint is similar to Eze, with the now Arsenal talent previously spending time on loan at the same club before making a name for himself in England’s top-flight.

There’s no denying that Abbott has a long way to go before reaching such levels, but the comparisons are there for all to see, with the midfielder needing to continue on his current development path.

If he can continue starring like he has done in recent years, the sky will be the limit for the 20-year-old talent, potentially having a key role to play in Frank’s potential success.

Should he get to the levels of Eze, it would once again highlight the impact of the club’s academy setup - with Abbott the next in a long line of stars to emerge out of the youth setup.

Tottenham Hotspur are now battling Manchester United for the signing of a "fantastic" midfielder, with Thomas Frank personally keen.

Tottenham looking to sign new midfielder

It is becoming clear that Tottenham are keen to bring in a new central midfielder during the January transfer window, having identified a range of targets, with signing Athletic Bilbao's Oihan Sancet believed to be a priority.

The need to sign a new central midfielder could be exacerbated by Yves Bissouma's potential departure, with it recently being revealed the Mali international was offered to West Ham United twice during the January transfer window.

However, it remains to be seen whether Bissouma will leave Spurs, with Frank making it clear he still has the opportunity to force his way back into his plans, saying: "To be fair he has just started to run outside, so he is not part of the group but everything I have seen when I've said hello to him and every day with the players, he seems good.

"There are no hard feelings at all. Not before, not now, not at all. Train well and everyone has an opportunity."

Regardless, Tottenham have now started to identify central midfield targets ahead of the January transfer window, with TEAMtalk revealing that Brentford's Yehor Yarmoliuk is now of interest, with Frank personally keen on a reunion.

There may be competition for Yarmoliuk's signature, however, with Manchester United also keen on a deal, which could amount to £30m, although the Bees are insistent that a sale during the January transfer window is off the table.

Frank has also taken the time to praise his former player in the past, saying: "[Yarmolyuk] possesses a fantastic mindset and trains well every day."

Yarmolyuk could be solid Bissouma replacement

With Bissouma's future still up in the air, it is no surprise that Tottenham are identifying central midfielders as potential targets, and the Brentford star could be a like-for-like replacement, given his defensive capabilities.

The 21-year-old places in the 86th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, and the 94th percentile for blocks, when compared to other midfielders.

The Ukrainian has also established himself as a first-team regular at Brentford, making 63 appearances across the past three seasons, which suggests he could be capable of making the step-up to Spurs.

Yarmoliuk clearly has a lot of potential, and given that he is still only 21-years-old, £30m seems like a fairly reasonable fee for his services.

Tottenham Hotspur splashed a fee of £30m to sign winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window after his loan spell in North London came to an end.

The France U21 international spent the second half of last season on loan with Ange Postecoglou's side, scoring three goals and providing one assist in all competitions.

Spurs and former chairman Daniel Levy opted to make that loan deal permanent for £30m, despite the change in head coach, to provide him with a chance to impress under Thomas Frank.

Unfortunately, the ex-Brentford manager opted to leave the 20-year-old winger out of his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, which does not bode well for the young talent.

Tel did score two goals for France's U21s during the international break earlier this month, which shows that he does still have potential to be a success at Spurs, but he needs to show it in domestic matches this season.

The French forward will be hoping that he does not join the list of expensive wingers who have failed to make a success of themselves in North London.

Ranking Tottenham's most expensive winger signings

Tel, who can play as a left-winger or as a centre-forward, ranks among the top five most expensive winger signings in the club's history if Transfermarkt fees are taken into account.

As you can see in the table above, summer signing Mohammed Kudus tops the list, whilst club legend Heung-min Son also features at the bottom.

If pressed to rank those five signings, Son would have to be at the top of the list. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 451 matches, per Transfermarkt, along with captaining the side to a Europa League trophy.

Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has to be ranked in second place in this moment of time, simply because he scored the winning goal in a European final for Spurs against Manchester United at the end of last season.

Irrespective of what the Wales international did before that or what he will go on to do, that moment alone makes his signing and the fee paid for him worthwhile.

It is too soon to judge Kudus, who only arrived this summer, whilst Lamela should be third on this list. The Argentine forward had longevity on his side, as he racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 257 outings for Spurs, per Transfermarkt.

That leaves Steven Bergwijn, who joined from PSV in 2020, at the bottom of the pile. He only lasted two-and-a-half years at the club, and the forward only scored eight competitive goals in that time.

The Netherlands international scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he was not as effective or impactful as Johnson, Son, or Lamela.

Bergwijn was an expensive flop on the wing, one that Tel is looking to avoid being a repeat of, and there is a winger at the club who is in danger of being the next version of the Dutch forward.

Tottenham swooped to sign French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer of 2024, and he has yet to prove his worth on the pitch.

Why Wilson Odobert may be the next Steven Bergwijn

The young forward was signed for a similar fee to Bergwijn and his performances on the field for the club have done little to dismiss a comparison between the two.

It is worth noting that Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries last season, which disrupted his progress, but his displays when fit and available offered little encouragement.

The 20-year-old winger, who is the same age as Tel, has scored one goal and created one 'big chance' in 21 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs to date, via Sofascore, with his latest showing coming against Brighton at the weekend.

Thomas Frank handed the youngster an opportunity to shine on the left flank, but the Frenchman ended the game with zero out of three dribbles completed, zero out of five duels won, and no key passes or shots on target in 72 minutes, per Sofascore.

Odobert, who was described as "incredibly raw" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was an expensive signing for Spurs, at £25m, and just falls short of being one of the five most expensive wide signings in the club's history, which is why it is not too harsh to expect more from the former Burnley man.

As you can see in the table above, Tel, who joined on loan in January, provided more quality at the top end of the pitch than his fellow France U21 international did in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that Odobert offers even less than Tel does in the final third, as both a scorer and, certainly, as a creator from a wide or central berth.

The 20-year-old forward, of course, has plenty of time left to turn things around and prove to supporters and the club that the money spent to bring him in from Burnley was worthwhile, rather than becoming the next Bergwijn, who was an expensive flop on the wing.

However, the signs are not promising at this moment in time. We can only judge on what has happened so far, and Odobert has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that his fortunes are going to turn around any time soon.

Therefore, the French winger is the one who is in danger of becoming the next Bergwijn, rather than Tel, who showed some glimpses of quality in the Premier League last term.

A manager who Jurgen Klopp once described as "incredible" is now the leading contender to replace Graham Potter at West Ham United.

Potter under serious pressure after Crystal Palace defeat

Potter would've been hoping the 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest could be a turning point in the season, but there has been a return to the mean since the end of the international break, with West Ham suffering defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed that the West Ham hierarchy have started looking at new managers, saying: "Internal talks are taking place with eventual replacements being assessed. Decision could follow soon."

A number of managers with Premier League experience have been identified as potential targets, including Gary O'Neil, Slaven Bilic, and Sean Dyche, but it has since emerged that a different manager is now the frontrunner for the job.

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who reveal that West Ham are seriously considering parting ways with Potter, following their terrible start to the Premier League season, collecting just three points from their opening five games.

Nuno Espirito Santo is named as the leading contender to replace Potter, with the former Nottingham Forest boss being dismissed by Evangelos Marinakis earlier this month, despite leading the Tricky Trees to Europe for the first time in 30 years.

The upcoming fixture against Everton is likely to be crucial in deciding Potter's future, with the Toffees set to travel to the London Stadium next Monday night.

"Incredible" Nuno could be major upgrade on Potter

Potter has experienced success in the Premier League in the past, impressing enough at Brighton & Hove Albion to get the Chelsea job, but the 50-year-old's performance in his last two roles leaves a lot to be desired.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman averaged just 1.42 points per match, lasting less than seven months, before going on to struggle considerably at West Ham, receiving widespread criticism from the fans after the recent defeat against Spurs.

Nuno, on the other hand, is vastly more experienced in the Premier League, with Klopp once praising the Portuguese manager for the work he did at Wolverhampton Wanderers, saying: "Nuno's doing an incredible job. They are a talented team, the quality is big. It’s really rare, but apart from two or three games they played exactly the same three players in the last line the whole year, that’s unbelievable."

The Sao Tome-born manager, who favours a 4-2-3-1 system, subsequently went on to be a success at Forest, averaging 1.48 points per match and guiding the Tricky Trees to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

West Ham have spent a number of seasons in Europe in recent times, winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023, and there are clear indications Nuno could be capable of bringing European nights back to the London Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an excellent start to life under Thomas Frank over the last couple of weeks, with the Dane having an immediate impact at the club.

He took the reins during the summer, replacing Europa League-winning boss Ange Postecoglou, but he’s already showcased that the board made the right decision.

The 51-year-old has only tasted defeat once in his first six competitive outings, winning four and drawing the other - making the desired start he craved in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites' most recent outing came yesterday afternoon, drawing 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion after being two goals down within the first half an hour.

Such a performance is evidence of the development the first-team have been on since Frank’s appointment - with two players playing a key role in claiming a point after being two goals behind.

Spurs’ star performers against Brighton

After joining from West Ham United for £55m this summer, Spurs fans have placed huge expectations on Mohammed Kudus to provide the quality in attacking areas.

The Ghanaian has certainly matched those ambitions, registering four assists in his first five league outings for the Lilywhites - two of which came in yesterday’s triumph.

He also completed six dribbles in his 90-minute display - the most of any player on the pitch - further highlighting the impact he produced on proceedings.

He wasn’t alone in impressing in Frank’s side, with Brazilian forward Richarlison continuing his phenomenal start to life since the Dane took the reins in the off-season.

The 28-year-old netted his third league goal of the 2025/26 campaign yesterday, with his effort just minutes before the break handing the Lilywhites a route back into the contest.

His tally of 100% dribbles completed and 11 touches in the opposition area showcases his excellent nature in and around the box - a trait that Frank evidently loves in his centre forwards.

However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other talent has taken his performances to the next level - arguably being one of the manager’s most important players.

The Spurs star who’s becoming Frank’s best player

After such a dismal season in the Premier League last time out, it was crucial Spurs made amends this time around - leading to over £100m being spent on new additions.

The aforementioned Kudus was one of those signings, with Xavi Simons also making the move to North London in a £52m switch from RB Leipzig in the latter stages of the market.

In his first three outings for his new club, he’s only registered one assist, even being benched for the clash against the Seagulls yesterday - with the youngster needing time to bed into life in England.

However, the same can’t be said for fellow new addition Joao Palhinha, with the Portuguese international already making an immediate impact for Frank’s side.

The 30-year-old will undoubtedly have an advantage after previously plying his trade for Fulham, before making the move to join Bayern Munich last summer.

He joined Spurs in a loan deal back in the recent market, but has wasted little time in making an immediate impact in London for the second time in his career.

Palhinha has already opened his account for the club, scoring in the triumph against Manchester City - but it’s his work out of possession that has made him a fan-favourite with the supporters.

His display against Brighton highlighted his impressive ability without the ball, making a key interception before Richarlison fired home the side’s first goal of the afternoon.

The 30-year-old also made seven tackles during the 2-2 draw - the most made by any player in a game so far this campaign - whilst also making four recoveries - leading to one creator labelling as "outstanding".

When in possession, the former Fulham star further highlighted his quality, completing 91% of the passes he attempted - in what was a superb all-round showing from the loanee.

As a result of his performance, he was handed a 7/10 match rating from Football London’s Alasdair Gold, topping off an excellent afternoon on the South Coast for the experienced star.

The first team have often lacked a real dominant ball-winner to break up the play and progress it into dangerous areas - but it appears Palhinha has already filled that void.

If the side are to be a success throughout 2025/26, it’s vital the manager continues to select Palhinha, with the Portuguese star a real key component given his talents out of possession.

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to open permanent talks to sign an "incredible" star, who could be their first signing in the January transfer window.

Spurs looking to sign midfielder

Tottenham have made a solid start to the campaign, taking 10 points from their opening five games, with a number of their summer signings hitting the ground running, including Mohammed Kudus, who grabbed two assists against Brighton on Saturday.

Having set up four goals in his first five matches, Kudus has already eclipsed his assist tally from last season, and the winger is not the only new addition who has caught the eye, with Joao Palhinha making an instant impression.

After his side edged a 1-0 win against Villarreal, manager Thomas Frank said of the central midfielder: "He's a very good player. He stabilised us more in the middle of the pitch. So that helped, definitely ... [The players] are working very hard, and that we have a very good foundation to stand on, in terms of our defensive organization.

Consequently, it will come as no surprise that Spurs are now looking to sign Palhinha permanently, according to a report from The Boot Room, which states they are keen to open talks over a deal for the midfielder this January.

The north Londoners have been very impressed by the maestro's start to the campaign, and they are now set to hold discussions over a deal, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey adding: "He’s exactly what they expected. When he left, he was already one of the Premier League’s best holding midfielders. Watching Palhinha play in that position probably frustrates Manchester United fans, knowing he was available and could have joined them.

"I fully expect discussions about a permanent deal to begin in January once the transfer window opens."

"Incredible" Palhinha must be signed permanently

On the face of it, a deal shouldn't be too hard to complete, given that Spurs have the option to make the central midfielder's stay permanent for £27m, which seems like a very fair fee for a player of his quality.

Journalist Kyle Bonn has spoken particularly fondly of the 30-year-old in the past, praising his passing, work-rate and tackling ability.

Those talents are underlined by the former Fulham man's performance across several key metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

With a 7.2 SofaScore match rating, the loanee was also Spurs' highest-rated starter in the 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, courtesy of winning 10 of the 16 duels he contested.

As such, it is a no-brainer to bring Palhinha in permanently, and Frank will be hoping for a similar performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the main contenders to sign a "tremendous" attacking midfielder, who has now been identified as a priority target.

Spurs looking to sign new attacking midfielder

It has been a solid start to the season for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank being left very impressed by his side's performance in the 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, despite the fact they were unable to take all three points.

Frank said: "I think this is our best performance of the season. I actually think that overall, if there should have been a winner, it should have been us.

"So many crosses into the box, near chances, missed opportunities. We were physically strong and mentally strong, and that is so important if you want to achieve something."

Summer signing Mohammed Kudus played a key role in Spurs clawing their way back into the game, with the Ghanaian grabbing two assists, having made a flying start to life in north London.

However, the Lilywhites remain keen on bolstering their attacking ranks even further, having now joined the race for Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who has been identified as a priority target for the upcoming transfer window.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Tottenham have emerged as one of the main contenders for Sancet's signature. However, there could be rival interest from a number of other Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, who could be an expensive addition to the squad, given that there is a €80m (£70m) release clause included in his contract.

Sancet could be "tremendous" signing for Spurs

There are some doubts over whether the 25-year-old would be a necessary signing, given that a deal would be very costly, and Frank is already relatively well-stocked in attacking midfield, having signed Xavi Simons in the summer.

However, the Athletic Bilbao star clearly has the talent to be a success in north London, having received very high praise from sporting director Rafa Alkorta, who said: "Oihan is at a tremendous level. I'm very happy for him. I've known him for years, I've followed his career, and I think he's a very important player, probably more important than he thinks, and what he needs is continuity and luck with injuries."

The Pamplona-born attacker has shown a very good eye for finding the back of the net in recent times, bagging 15 La Liga goals last season, while also impressing with his passing ability over the past year.

Sancet could be a fantastic acquisition for Tottenham, but when James Maddison returns, Frank will be blessed with a number of attacking midfield options, so it may be best to invest the money into other areas of the squad.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has played a key role in helping to facilitate some Spurs transfer deals since his arrival in N17, with the Dane now believed to be a huge admirer of one player across the continent.

Thomas Frank "key" to Tottenham agreeing Xavi Simons deal

The Lilywhites' statement summer signing was their £52 million move for playmaker Xavi Simons.

Tottenham hijacked Chelsea's once-advanced move to sign the Dutchman on a potential seven-year contract which could be worth a grand total of £125 million (Paul O'Keefe) - putting their spectacularly failed deals for Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White behind them.

Super agent Ali Barat, speaking to RMC Sport this week, revealed that Frank played a very major role in convincing the 22-year-old to join Tottenham over their London rivals.

“Xavi has a very strong mentality and a big personality. Tottenham and Chelsea are both fantastic clubs with solid projects, and there was genuine interest from both sides," Barat said.

“But Chelsea was always clear with us; they had certain constraints that made it difficult to move forward in discussions.

“So, when discussions with Tottenham began, it became clear that this would be a project that would be a perfect fit for Xavi, and I think the discussion he had with Thomas Frank was really key to Xavi’s decision.”

Speaking after Tottenham's surprise 2-0 win away to Man City, fellow summer signing Joao Palhinha, who's enjoyed an impressive start to life back in London overall, also revealed that Frank "pushed" for him to make a Premier League return.

“The coach pushed me to come here, and he showed me the project he has here at Tottenham,” Palhinha said.

“The club is such a great club. I am really glad to be back in the Premier League again. Like the last time I was here, I am so happy. Now, I want to enjoy this top club and top atmosphere again.”

Now, according to reports from Spain, Frank has his eyes on yet another player.

Tottenham plan Morten Hjulmand bid amid Thomas Frank belief

As per one Spanish media source, that man is Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand.

The Denmark international is currently in fine form for Rui Borges' side, starting all five of their Primeira Liga matches so far this season and averaging a very impressive 92.9 per cent passing accuracy (WhoScored).

After becoming a star for the current Portuguese champions since his move there over two years ago, in a deal worth an initial £15.5 million, Hjulmand's value has skyrocketed.

His contract includes a £68 million release clause, but Tottenham are planning to test the water with a £52 million bid for Hjulmand.

Frank apparently believes he could be a "key" signing for the club, and with Yves Bissouma very likely to leave in 2026, Hjulmand could come as the Mali international's perfect replacement.

Sporting realise that the 26-year-old could be tempted by Spurs' "irresistible" offer of an opportunity to play English football, and there is apparent concern that this season could be the midfielder's last in Portugal.

Tottenham Hotspur were forced to settle for a point at the AMEX on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank's side had beaten West Ham United and Villarreal in their last two matches without conceding a goal, but they were unable to add to those wins with a third successive victory.

A late own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke ensured that the Lilywhites did not come away from the match without anything to show for their efforts.

Despite it being a fairly disappointing result, as they were almost beaten and only picked up one point, there were some positive performances across the pitch.

One player who caught the eye with his display in the middle of the park was summer signing Joao Palhinha, who started in the number six position for Spurs.

It was his fourth start of the Premier League season since signing on loan from Bayern Munich, and it is already clear what kind of player the club have brought in.

Why Joao Palhinha is not the perfect player for Spurs

Palhinha is an out-and-out defensive midfielder. If you were told to list the attributes you would want in a pure defensive midfielder, he has all of them.

The Portugal international is tall, mobile, strong, wins tackles well, competes in the air, and covers gaps in midfield. All of the things that you would associate with a defensive-minded midfielder.

So far this season, per Sofascore, Palhinha has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 65% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, which is evidence of his defensive strength in the middle of the park.

However, despite getting on the scoresheet against Manchester City, the former Fulham star does leave a bit to be desired with his use of the ball.

The best number six types in world football are not pure defensive midfielders, because they are expected to dictate play and be impactful in possession as part of a team that wants to win the biggest prizes.

As you can see in the table above, Palhinha falls well short as a progressive passer in comparison to some of the best defensive or deep-lying midfielders, whether they play as a number six or a number eight, across Europe.

This does not mean that the Portugal international is a bad player, by any means, but his lack of progressive play in possession may be why Bayern were willing to send him out on loan in the first place.

Palhinha may not be the perfect player, therefore, to deploy in matches when Spurs are expected to be the dominant force and need to break teams down, but may be ideal in the biggest games, like against Manchester City, when they need backs-against-the-wall defending.

Spurs did once have a promising young player, though, who had the potential to be a defensive monster like Palhinha, but with the progressive passing to make him the club's own version of Declan Rice.

Given what has happened to him in recent years, it may seem ridiculous to suggest, but Oliver Skipp could have been Tottenham's own Rice in different circumstances.

Why Spurs may rue selling Oliver Skipp

The English number six came up through the youth ranks at Spurs and made a smattering of appearances for the first-team before going out on loan to Norwich City in the 2020/21 campaign.

Skipp played in 45 of Norwich's 46 Championship matches that season, per Sofascore, and played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League, winning the title in the process.

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international provided quality as both a progressive passer and carrier, whilst also excelling defensively with his ability to make tackles and blocks in his own third.

After that season with the Canaries, former Spurs striker Paul Stewart claimed that he could be as effective as Rice, who was at West Ham United at the time and ranked well above Palhinha in the earlier table for progressive passes for Arsenal last season.

The pundit stated: “You know what, I’d like to see him do what Declan Rice does. I think he’s got that in him and I think he showed that at Norwich. The plaudits that have come out of East Anglia have been massive about Oliver Skipp. I think he can go on and be as effective as Declan Rice at West Ham.”

Unfortunately, Skipp only started 37 Premier League matches in the next three seasons combined, fewer league starts than he managed in one season with Norwich, which meant that the midfielder was unable to really hit his stride in North London.

Ange Postecoglou opted to part ways with the English midfielder in the summer of 2024, selling him to Leicester City, and that is a decision that they should regret.

Skipp has failed to impress with the Foxes, having been thrown into a season that ended in his club being relegated from the Premier League, but things could have been so different for him.

It is all hypothetical now, but what if the defensive midfielder had been given a real run of games to show what he could do after returning from that superb loan spell with Norwich? Maybe he would have become the club's own version of Rice in the number six position, as a player who could progress play as well as disrupt it.

Instead of cashing in on him, Spurs could have given him a chance to nail down a place in the side and get his confidence back. Now, playing in the Championship, it seems like his career is heading in the wrong direction.