FootballFanCast

Tottenham Hotspur are already set to feel the effects of their exciting new start under Thomas Frank, with Spanish giants Real Madrid setting their sights on another of the manager's key players alongside their well documented interest in Cristian Romero.

Simons fit for Tottenham debut vs West Ham

The international break is over and so could be the wait for Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani to make their Spurs debuts. With a London derby against West Ham United set to take place tonight, both are in contention to take Frank's frontline to a whole new level.

Simons is one that will particularly excite Spurs fans and rightly so. The Dutchman looked almost certain to head to Chelsea before the Lilywhites hijacked their rivals' move to welcome an incredibly impressive talent. With 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions for RB Leipzig last season, fans in North London can expect quite the impact from their new star.

"Both of them are looking good. Both are in contention for the squad. Xavi, for natural reasons, is further down the line as he has played for Holland and a few games for RB Leipzig. Randal hasn't played since the Club World Cup and didn't really train at PSG so he is not as fit as Xavi.

"I have some ideas. It is still a team I'm learning. It's one thing to look from the outside - it's another to feel them. Xavi, I see mainly as a 10 or a left-side player. Kolo, I see as a striker or he can play on either wing." (Frank on Kolo Muani & Simons)

Whilst there was plenty of good news to enjoy during the summer transfer window, there are still some concerns on the horizon. Romero's future is one of them. The Argentine is still attracting interest from Real Madrid despite recently signing a new contract and could yet be joined by another one of Frank's key men in the near future.

Real Madrid now targeting Micky Van de Ven

According to Football Insider, Real Madrid are now targeting Micky van de Ven in what could be a major blow for Tottenham. The centre-back, who has returned to full fitness this season, has got off to an impressive start under Frank and has attracted interest from one of Europe's biggest clubs as a result.

Reports have indicated that a move is unlikely at this stage, but Van de Ven is on Madrid's list. The Spanish club have seemingly commenced their search for central defenders with the contracts of Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba set to expire next summer. As such, names such as Ibrahima Konate have emerged as top options as well as Romero and now reportedly Van de Ven.

Nottingham Forest are set to embark on a new era under Ange Postecoglou, though their newly-appointed boss has been dealt a serious injury blow at the City Ground.

Ange Postecoglou set to get to work at Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic fans will attest to the notion that Nottingham Forest fans will experience an exciting rollercoaster under Postecoglou's stewardship. Still, his trophy-winning exploits at both have created an intriguing dynamic on the River Trent.

Speaking after his arrival to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, the Australian has made it clear he feels the Tricky Trees have a squad capable of competing on all fronts while he is in charge.

"I really like the squad. It’s got great balance in terms of being able to cover most positions for the rotations you need. There’s a variance in styles in there that will allow you to play differently.

"There’s no doubt European football has different demands on you than the Premier League and the cup competitions as well. We want to compete on all fronts. I’ve only had two days with the players. It will be one day with the whole squad.I think there’s a good balance there. A squad that I think is ready to compete but also robust enough to handle the challenge."

Intriguingly, Nottingham Forest star Jota Silva is set for Besiktas in a deal that could be worth over £17 million by next summer, offering an early boost to the coffers ahead of 2026.

After a mixed start to the campaign, the Tricky Trees will have designs on creeping up the Premier League table, and there will be plenty of positivity among supporters that they can begin to strike up a run of results.

However, Postecoglou may now have suffered a blow upon entering the dugout as one of his players could be out until the New Year with an injury concern.

Nottingham Forest see Ola Aina sustain serious injury

According to National World, Nottingham Forest star Ola Aina has been ruled out for around three months due to a hamstring injury, signifying that he may not return to the pitch until 2026.

John Percy described it as a "big early setback" for Postecoglou, and addressing his status, Postecoglou stated before his side faced Arsenal:

"We’ve sent him for some scans and we should get the results this afternoon. The rest of the boys, today is the first day I’ve had my eyes on them, and they’re all fine. We have a clean bill of health apart from Aina."

The Nigeria international has featured in all of Nottingham Forest's Premier League fixtures until this point. However, it may now be over to Nicolo Savona to take over the mantle while he works his way up to full fitness.

Postecoglou had to deal with widespread injury concerns at Tottenham last term, so if anything, the Australian boss will hope this is an isolated setback.

After taking the reins during the summer, new boss Thomas Frank will want to bring added success to Tottenham Hotspur after the Europa League triumph last season.

The Dane has key Premier League experience, spending four years in charge at Brentford after getting the Bees promoted back in the 2020/21 campaign.

However, his appointment is undoubtedly the next step in his career, but his tactical knowledge could see him be a huge hit with the Lilywhites faithful in the years ahead.

The 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact in the role, winning two of his three outings in England’s top-flight - one of which was against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Despite his impressive start to life at the club, Frank will undoubtedly be wishing that he had one former player to rely upon in his hunt for trophies in North London.

Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

After arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old, Gareth Bale originally moved to Spurs as a left-back, but that quickly changed during his time in North London.

His trajectory changed massively after transitioning into a more attacking role, with his hat-trick in the Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro back in 2010 certainly aiding his claim for a forward-minded position.

In the following campaign, the Welsh international registered 26 combined goals and assists - catching the eye of various sides across Europe, but staying put to continue his impressive development.

The former Saints youngster became settled in a right-wing position, with such a move helping him achieve the best season of his career for goal contributions in 2012/13.

Bale scored 26 times that year, subsequently becoming known for his trademark cut-in off the right-hand side before finding the top corner - which made him one of Europe’s hottest properties.

Real Madrid would win the race for his signature that summer, moving to the LaLiga side for a reported £85m fee - a then world-record fee, overtaking the money forked out for Cristiano Ronaldo a few years prior.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s own Bale

Whilst Bale was a player who endured huge levels of success at Spurs, his time at the club wasn’t all plain sailing - he nearly departed the Lilywhites back in the summer of 2009.

It was previously reported that Nottingham Forest made a £2m bid for the Welshman, with the hierarchy even accepting the offer to allow him to depart after just a couple of years in North London.

Whilst a deal appeared close at one stage, the player himself, in the end, had a change of heart, deciding to stay and fight for his place in the first-team rather than starting afresh.

The decision proved to be a blessing in disguise for the club and the player himself, with no one anticipating such a rise at the time of his proposed move to the City Ground.

Such a situation has reoccurred over the last couple of years, with full-back Djed Spence a player who looked almost certain to leave the Lilywhites at one point.

The 25-year-old joined the club back in the summer of 2022, arriving in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough - even though manager Antonio Conte was against the signing at the time.

He only made six appearances for the first-team, before three unsuccessful loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa - with the latter having an option to buy at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, the immense injury crisis last season handed the right-back the opportunity to impress - one that he took with both hands - subsequently going on to make 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.

Spence, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has played in every minute of Frank’s tenure to date - earning himself a maiden England call-up during the recent international break.

No supporter could’ve predicted such a rise given his lack of action in previous seasons, but it’s safe to say the Englishman now looks a bargain and a player who will play a huge part in any success during the Dane’s tenure.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why the defender can’t be a part of the 2026 World Cup squad - not to mention further impressing in North London.

His situation is extremely similar to that of Bale, with the Lilywhites once again having another huge talent on their hands, which could see another massive payday in the years ahead.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is desperate to keep hold of his best players as the Dane attempts to usher in a brand-new era at the club, following the departure of ex-chairman Daniel Levy.

Levy, after 24 years overseeing the day-to-day running of Spurs, was forced to resign from his post as the Lewis family and ENIC attempt to go in a new direction.

While the 63-year-old helped to transform Tottenham into a financial powerhouse off the field with much larger commercial appeal, Levy has always attracted criticism due to their lack of on-pitch success, with Spurs winning just two major trophies since 2001.

CEO Vinai Vinkatesham is expected to take a more hands-on role amid a broader restructure of the club, and Spurs are believed to be attracting interest from investors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the USA as a result, who see an opportunity to turn the Lilywhites into a Premier League powerhouse (TEAMtalk).

The Lewis family are also prepared to pump more money into the club, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, and this cash could be reinvested into paying higher player wages in an attempt to attract the world's best.

"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 started.

"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.

"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."

Currently, Spurs have the lowest wage to turn over ratio in the Premier League at 42 per cent, and it isn't out of the question that elite clubs could come in to tempt Frank's stars with a much higher salary elsewhere.

According to reports, imperious Spurs centre-back Micky van de Ven has been attracting interest from Real Madrid, but now London rivals Chelsea are also keeping a watchful eye on the Dutchman.

Tottenham ready bumper Micky van de Ven salary offer amid Chelsea interest

That is according to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, who reports that Tottenham are ready to double van de Ven's salary of around £50,000-per-week amid interest from Stamford Bridge, Real and Bayern Munich.

Vinkatesham is also prepared to open talks with the 24-year-old and his representatives about the possibility of a pay rise which could be worth £100,000-per-week, right after making Cristian Romero the joint highest-paid player at the club on a new £195,000-per-week contract running until 2029.

New signing Xavi Simons is also on £195,000-per-week, according to Capology, so it appears Vinkatesham is already beginning to pay illustrious squad members much more in what is a real statement of intent from ENIC.

Tying down van de Ven would come as another major boost for Frank, right after Romero decided against joining Atlético Madrid to commit his future, and Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has previously explained why it could be an absolute necessity.

The summer transfer window was hugely successful for Tottenham Hotspur, as Thomas Frank attempts to be a success during his first season in charge in North London.

He was handed over £100m to make the changes he craved to the first-team squad, adding new bodies to multiple areas of the Lilywhites side ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Joao Palhinha is just one of the new additions made by the Dane, with the Portuguese international already making an immediate impact with his new side.

The 30-year-old may be a defensive-minded option, but he’s already opened his account for the Lilywhites, netting the second goal in the 2-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad.

He’s just one of numerous additions made by the new boss over recent times, with other players hoping to make a similar impact during their own stint in the Premier League.

Spurs’ moves to land Tel & Kolo Muani this summer

Deadline day was a frantic one for Spurs, as they looked to provide further quality and depth to help build on their excellent start to life under Frank’s guidance.

Randal Kolo Muani moved to North London on a season-long loan from French giants PSG, subsequently fending off competition from Juventus, the club he spent six months on loan at last campaign.

The deal to land the 26-year-old doesn’t include an option to buy next summer, but the deal could see Frank land a new talisman - especially if he can replicate his tally of 10 goals in 22 matches in Italy during 2024/25.

His compatriot Mathys Tel also made a move to join the Lilywhites, but the 20-year-old’s switch to England was a permanent one after spending the second half of the previous year on loan during the Ange Postecoglou tenure.

The hierarchy forked out £30m to land the youngster during the off-season, but such a move has already caused controversy, given the decisions around his selection.

Tel wasn’t selected in the club’s Champions League squad for the group stage - a decision that has surprised many, whilst undoubtedly being an upsetting one for the player himself.

The former Spurs star who’s worth more than Tel & Kolo Muani

Spurs’ youth setup has produced numerous top-level talents over the last couple of years, but none more so than Harry Kane - rising through the academy before cementing his place in the first-team.

The Englishman ended up making over 400 appearances for the Lilywhites, ending his decade-long spell in North London on 280 goals across all competitions.

Such a tally is the highest of any player in the club’s history, overtaking the record set by the late Jimmy Greaves - subsequently cementing his place in the club’s history forever.

He would depart in a £82m transfer to join German giants Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, with the club banking a huge profit on one of their homegrown talents.

However, the same can’t be said for winger Noni Madueke, with the Englishman failing to make a name for himself during his own stint in North London.

The attacker spent four years in the Lilywhites’ academy side between 2014 and 2018, but was unable to make a jump into the first-team - subsequently leaving the club on a free transfer to join Dutch outfit PSV.

The 23-year-old would go on to spend just shy of four years at the Eredivisie side, racking up a total of 20 goals - before getting his big-money move to Chelsea in January 2023.

Madueke, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator George Benson, joined the Blues for a fee in the region of £29m, but made yet another transfer move during the recent summer window.

He moved across the capital to join Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal, costing a staggering £52m in an attempt to provide needed depth and cover to compatriot Bukayo Saka.

As a result of his big-money switch, the attacker is now valued at £34.6m by Transfermarkt - further highlighting the mistake the Lilywhites made in allowing him to depart for nothing.

His subsequent value is higher than those of Tel and Kolo Muani, with the French duo only currently valued at £30.3m and £25.9m respectively by the same site.

There’s no denying that the aforementioned duo are excellent players and ones that would thrive under Frank’s guidance - but that doesn’t take away from the mistake of allowing Madueke to leave for absolutely nothing.

His tally of 13 Premier League goals is higher than both of the Lilywhites’ new additions, potentially being a more suited option in England’s top-flight - but it’s now down to the new boss to get the best out of the players currently at his disposal.

Tottenham Hotspur sealed a dramatic last-minute summer deal for playmaker Xavi Simons in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig, with the Dutchman preparing to make an imminent Premier League debut.

Following botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, Spurs finally ended their summer search for a creative midfielder by signing Simons on a five-year deal with the option of a further two years — one of the longest player contracts in Tottenham's history.

Fresh off the back of two seasons impressing in the Bundesliga with Leipzig - initially on loan before signing permanently for them earlier this year - it didn't take long for Simons to swiftly seal another move, this time to England.

Chelsea appeared set to sign the former PSG sensation at one stage, but their dilly-dallying over a deal handed ex-Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy a chance to hijack the Blues' talks and sign Simons for Spurs.

In one of his final acts as chair before resigning last week, Levy backed Thomas Frank with the addition of a highly-rated attacker who's set to step into the injured James Maddison's shoes.

Simons bagged 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 total appearances for Leipzig, and was a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy before he moved to PSG in his youth.

Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard claims that Spurs supporters will be a fan of Simons, but recently hinted at some concerns surrounding his attitude after reports he's heard in the German media.

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

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

“That might be unfair. That might just be gossip but that has been in the German media."

With Maddison out until 2026 after rupturing his ACL, and Dejan Kulusevski not named in Tottenham's 22-man Champions League squad as he continues his recovery from a knee problem, Simons could prove to be an absolutely vital addition for Frank.

What Rafael van der Vaart has already said about Xavi Simons

Bearing in mind the excitement around his potential debut against West Ham on Saturday, it is worth pointing out what Tottenham fan favourite Rafael van der Vaart has already said about Simons in the past.

Speaking to Studio Voetbal in 2023, the ex-Spurs star was adamant that Simons could be sensational, saying very few players can do what he can do when showed footage of the 22-year-old striking the crossbar.

“Very few players can do this: in such a small space: accept, turn and shoot the ball on the bar," said van der Vaart.

“I look at the potential, how good can someone become in the future? With Xavi Simons, everything that makes me very happy."

When asked if he could be world-class, Van der Vaart said:

"Absolutely. There are always smarties walking around who say: yes, nice against RKC, but he didn’t show it against Sevilla. Believe me, in a few years we will all say: how nice that we can use this boy for the Dutch national team.”

As well as Simons, fellow new signing Randal Kolo Muani could also play against West Ham, so this is gearing up to be one of the most exciting London derbies against the Hammers in some time.

Mohammed Kudus is also braced for a return to his former club, and it will be very interesting to see the kind of reception he gets.

This summer was always going to be massive for Tottenham Hotspur after their Europa League triumph - but it was unclear who would be the man to take the club forward.

Ange Postecoglou was ultimately dismissed by the Lilywhites hierarchy, resulting in Thomas Frank being selected as the manager to build on the European success.

In an attempt to hit the ground running, he was handed funds by the board to make the changes he desired to the first-team squad to push the side back up the Premier League table.

He targeted a move for striker Yoane Wissa, a player whom he had at Brentford, subsequently wanting a reunion with his former centre-forward in North London.

Talks were held between the two parties, but the difference in price tag provided a stumbling block for the DR Congo international, who netted 19 times in England’s top-flight last season.

The 29-year-old would join Newcastle United in a £55m transfer, with Frank turning to Randal Kolo Muani to try and replicate the levels of one former player with the Lilywhites.

Harry Kane’s record at Tottenham Hotspur

Clinical goalscorers are extremely hard to come by in the modern game, but Spurs had one in their ranks for many years, in the form of Englishman Harry Kane.

The striker came through the youth ranks in North London, going on to find the net over 30 times in 50% of the seasons he spent as a first-team regular under various different managers.

The 32-year-old ended his decade-long spell at the club on 280 goals, with such a tally making him their highest-ever goalscorer, surpassing the record previously held by the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, the hierarchy have had the task of trying to replace the talisman over the last couple of years, after allowing him to depart in a £82m transfer to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

The likes of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison have both tried to fill the void over the last couple of years, but none have been able to nail down the position as their own, nor match the levels produced by the fan-favourite.

Kolo Muani will be the next to try and fill the void, but Frank may have been able to rely upon one other talent had the hierarchy decided against offloading him.

The former Spurs player who has outscored Kane

As previously mentioned, new boss Frank has been able to rely upon Wissa at Brentford in recent years - often having the calibre of player needed for success in the Premier League.

At present, Brazilian forward Richarlison has so far been his chosen option at the top end of the pitch - with the 28-year-old already finding the back of the key twice under his guidance.

The work completed in the transfer market highlights that the Dane desperately wanted a new number nine to aid his chances of success after taking the reins in North London.

However, the 51-year-old could have relied upon youngster Troy Parrott had the board not sold him to Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar for just £6.7m back in the summer of 2024.

The Irish international joined the Lilywhites at the age of 15, spending five years in North London - but only made four senior appearances - before being sent on various loan spells.

Unsuccessful stints at Preston, Ipswich and Millwall saw his career stagnate, before a loan move to Excelsior saw him burst into life after scoring 17 times in just 32 outings.

Parrott’s permanent move to AZ last summer has seen him reach new levels in his career, netting 20 times in 47 outings across all competitions last season - including four in the Europa League.

The 23-year-old has already started the new campaign in tremendous fashion, scoring 10 goals in just seven outings - further showcasing his incredible goalscoring nouse.

Such a record is higher than that of Lilywhites legend Kane, who’s only managed to find the back of the net nine times in his nine outings across multiple tournaments.

Parrott has now scored 30 times in just 54 outings for the Dutch outfit, a record that has taken his market value to nearly double what he was sold for, with Transfermarkt valuing the youngster at £12m.

It’s safe to say Spurs made a huge mistake in allowing the centre-forward to depart the club last year, with their loss now undoubtedly Az Alkmaar’s gain.

Frank will likely be gutted with the decision, missing out on the opportunity to work with another talented centre-forward - just as he did with Wissa during his time in charge at the Bees.

Over recent years, Tottenham Hotspur have been lucky enough to have multiple top-level strikers on their books, subsequently giving the fanbase numerous incredible memories.

Harry Kane undoubtedly tops that list, scoring 280 times for the Lilywhites - cementing himself as the highest goalscorer in their history, taking the record off the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, other players haven’t been as impressive, with Roberto Soldado struggling to produce the goods during his own stint in the first team in North London.

The Spaniard joined the club back in the summer of 2013, costing a whopping £26m - a figure that was a club record during those years under Daniel Levy.

However, he only scored 16 times in his 76 appearances for the club, leaving two years later for a measly £10m and losing £16m on their previous investment.

This summer, current boss Thomas Frank has made a move to land his own centre-forward, but the player will undoubtedly be hoping to have a similar impact to the former rather than the latter.

What Spurs can expect from Kolo Muani

In a summer transfer window littered with multiple £50m+ additions, Spurs also made various loan deals to help make an immediate improvement to the current squad.

Joao Palhinha was added to the midfield department earlier in the transfer window, joining on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

However, on deadline day, Frank’s side also clinched the signing of PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan - despite huge rumours linking him with a return to Juventus.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A outfit, netting 10 goals in just 22 appearances - subsequently getting his career back on track.

He joined PSG in a £76m deal back in 2023, but only scored 11 times in two seasons, before falling down the pecking order - leading to his temporary spells away from the Ligue 1 outfit.

However, he’s showcased in his recent spell in Italy that he’s capable of thriving with regular minutes, registering 70 goals in the professional game over the last five years.

The former Spurs player who’s outscored Kolo Muani

As previously mentioned, the centre-forward position has been a troubled one for Spurs since Kane departed in 2023, with record-signing Dominic Solanke struggling with his fitness since his own move in 2024.

The Lilywhites forked out £65m for his signature, but he’s only managed 16 goals for the club to date - with injuries halting his progress in North London.

The Englishman has been restricted to just 31 minutes of Premier League action so far in 2025/26, opening the door for Kolo Muani to stake his claim for a regular starting role.

However, former strikers at Spurs have also struggled to match the expectations put upon them, given the stature of the club - none more so than Vincent Janssen.

He joined the club in a £18.6m deal from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016, with such a move generating excitement after the Dutchman ended the previous year as the Eredivisie’s top scorer.

During his first campaign in England, the striker only managed to net six goals - only two of which were in the Premier League - ultimately struggling to match the expectations he arrived with.

Janssen would subsequently be sent out on loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce, a move that would spell the end of his stint with the Lilywhites - only making three appearances upon his return to the club.

Such failures in England led to former striker Gary Lineker dubbing the Dutchman as “ a poor man’s Roberto Soldado” - a damning statement given the Spaniard’s own failures in North London.

However, in recent years, the 31-year-old has recaptured his best form away from England - now plying his trade for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, helping his current employers qualify for the Champions League.

He registered 13 goals across all competitions in 2024/25, subsequently outscoring new addition Kolo Muani (12) - highlighting his impressive form after his failed stint in the Premier League.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy made the right call in allowing Janssen to depart the club, with his transfer certainly one to forget given his lack of tangible impact.

However, Kolo Muani will be hoping to not emulate his disappointing spell in North London, undoubtedly wanting to hit the ground running in the clash against West Ham United on Saturday night.

The Lewis family have been tipped to pump more money into Tottenham, following the shock departure of ex-chairman Daniel Levy last week, and these funds could be put towards their recruitment plans.

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, who shared news on a live broadcast that ENIC are planning a cash injection.

"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 started.

"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."

Levy helped to transform the Lilywhites into one of world football's highest-revenue generating clubs over his 24-year tenure running the club, with Tottenham also moving to their state-of-the-art new stadium to seriously bolster their commercial appeal off the field.

However, Levy attracted criticism for a perceived lack of transfer spending compared to Spurs' Premier League rivals, and this was undoubtedly a factor in them winning just two major trophies since 2001.

Thomas Frank could now be backed by the ENIC and the Lewis family as CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, who is set for a more hands-on role after Levy's departure, aims to deliver more success.

Tottenham signed an array of star players during the last window under Levy, with Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani chief among them.

The latter two are poised to make their Premier League debuts against West Ham in a crunch London derby clash this weekend, and according to ex-Levy employee Bryan King, ex-Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could be a target to watch out for in this post-Levy era.

Tottenham tipped to sign Conor Gallagher in £45 million deal

They'll have to wait until January, but King believes that Tottenham signing Gallagher from Atlético Madrid is a very realistic proposition.

“What a buy he (Gallagher) has been for Atletico Madrid,” King said to Tottenham News.

“Simeone has built them up to a force in Spain to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid. Gallagher would be a good option for Spurs without a shadow of a doubt.

“At 25, they’d be expecting to have to splash £50m on him, but I think £45m might do the job for Spurs.”

As uncertainty continues to surround Yves Bissouma's future, Gallagher could come as an excellent replacement for the Mali international who has fallen out of favour with Frank.

The England international can play as an attacking midfielder when required, known for his excellent ball-winning ability, energy and tenacity in the middle of the park, and would help to fill Tottenham's 'locally trained' quota for European competitions.

The only caveat is whether Gallagher, given his Chelsea roots, would want to swap Diego Simeone's side for an ex-rival.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s spell at Tottenham Hotspur was certainly one to forget for the manager and the supporters after the dismal form endured during his tenure.

In the 17 matches he was in charge of the Lilywhites, the 51-year-old only won 52% of the matches he was in charge of - subsequently only being in the role for a total of four months.

Such an appointment raised eyebrows at the time, with the former Wolves boss tasked with the responsibility of taking the side to the next level after José Mourinho’s tenure.

The aforementioned period may not have been enough to make the desired changes, with Daniel Levy arguably making a harsh decision in cutting ties so early into his spell in North London.

The decision allowed the former Portuguese goalkeeper to make an impact elsewhere in the Premier League - subsequently making himself a success at Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s time under Nuno at Forest

Nuno joined Forest back in December 2023, leading the club back to European football for the first time in 30 years - but was handed his marching orders earlier this week after a fall-out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

He was overseeing the progress of attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White at the City Ground, once again linking up with the Englishman after their previous spell together at Wolves.

The 25-year-old enjoyed an incredible campaign throughout 2024/25, subsequently registering his highest tally of combined goals and assists in the Premier League under Nuno’s guidance.

He ended the year with 15 goal contributions, a tally which saw the Lilywhites even make a £60m bid for his services during the recent summer transfer window.

Such a deal was agreed between all parties for Gibbs-White to join Thomas Frank’s side, but Marinakis voiced his displeasure at the transfer and publicly threatened legal action against the club.

As a result, a deal hit a stumbling block, leading to the Englishman penning a new three-year contract at the City Ground and putting a deal off until January at the earliest.

There’s no denying that the failure to secure his signature would’ve been a disappointment to the fanbase, but they needn’t worry, given the talent already on their books in North London.

The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Gibbs-White

Whilst Nuno was only in the role for a short period of time, he managed to have a positive impact that has been showcased in recent months - arguably laying some of the foundations for the recent Europa League triumph.

He oversaw the arrival of centre-back Cristian Romero, with the Argentine now a key member of the first-team squad four years on from his switch to England from Atalanta.

The 27-year-old has been named the club captain in recent months, highlighting the importance to the side, with Frank putting huge faith in the defender to lead the club forward.

However, he wasn’t the only first-team member brought in during Nuno’s tenure, with midfielder Pape Matar Sarr also making the move to North London in the summer of 2021.

Whilst he spent his first year back out on loan at Metz, the Senegalese international has established himself as a key member of the side over the last couple of months.

The 22-year-old has started all three of the Lilywhites’ Premier League outings this campaign, showcasing the backing he has from Frank to make an impact in their quest for added success.

Sarr’s importance is further highlighted by his tally of 55 appearances in all competitions last campaign, starting and playing the vast majority of the Europa League final in Bilbao.

Despite being a deeper-lying option than Gibbs-White, he’s also operated in a number ten role in recent months - even managing to outperform him in numerous areas, subsequently making him a bigger talent at present.

Sarr, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Umir Irfan, managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate (38%) than Gibbs-White in the Premier League last season.

Such a tally showcases the threat the youngster possesses in attacking areas, arguably making him more of a goal threat when in possession of the ball in attacking areas.

The main responsibility of a number ten is creativity, but Sarr managed to complete more passes into the final third per 90 (4.2), along with a higher tally of carries into the final third per 90 (1.7).

The aforementioned tallies once again highlight the quality the youngster possesses in dangerous areas - something which will develop further given his tender age.

Many supporters will have been bitterly disappointed by the failure to land Gibbs-White, but it’s clear they already have a top-level talent on the books with the Senegalese international.

Nuno’s time at the club may have been one to forget, but the fanbase certainly must be thankful for his dealings in the market, which have given the Lilywhites the chance to compete with Europe’s elite once again.