FootballFanCast

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma is facing a very uncertain future under Thomas Frank, following a less-than ideal start to the Dane's tenure in charge.

Off the field, ex-chairman Daniel Levy has dominated headlines, after the polarising official was pushed to resign from his post after 24 years, with the Lewis family ushering in a new era at Spurs.

ENIC are reportedly planning to pump more cash into the club, and this windfall could be reinvested into their transfer activity in a bid to get Tottenham competing with the Premier League six for major silverware (Sky Sports).

While supporters will be wary of that old saying 'the grass isn't always greener', it is a very intriguing time for the Lilywhites, but it is unlikely Bissouma will be along for the ride long-term.

The Mali international is out of contract next summer and Frank has already penalised the player for persistent lateness to training, which resulted in Bissouma missing out on a place in Tottenham's 22-man Champions League squad.

He was also left out of the side which travelled to face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup last month, with Bissouma yet to make a single competitive appearance under Frank.

The transfer windows in Turkey, Mexico, Portugal and Saudi Arabia remain open for the time being, giving Spurs a chance to offload the £100,000-per-week ace even after the UK deadline on September 1.

Tottenham are open to offers for Bissouma, according to Sky's Michael Bridge, but Fabrizio Romano says things have gone quiet when it comes to a potential exit for the 29-year-old and Frank's side are not actively pushing to get rid.

Given the hectic fixture schedule awaiting Spurs, perhaps Frank is planning to keep Bissouma around in case of emergency as a squad player in the Premier League, with the ex-Brighton star fighting his way back to full fitness right now after sustaining an injury.

Bissouma held talks to join Galatasaray in the summer and fellow Süper Lig side Fenerbache also held an interest, but according to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, Tottenham's east London rivals were offered the chance to sign him too.

Tottenham offered Yves Bissouma to West Ham twice in a swap deal for Lucas Paqueta

C&H report, via an insider at West Ham, that Tottenham floated Bissouma towards the London Stadium on two separate occasions, with Spurs also proposing a straight loan swap deal for Brazil international Lucas Paqueta.

Before they sealed a £52 million deal for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, Spurs were actively pursuing a playmaker — seeing two very advanced moves for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze fall through in very dramatic fashion.

Paqueta was being targeted by Tottenham as an alternative to the duo, but the former Lyon star ended up staying with Graham Potter.

Spurs' attempts to agree a swap deal involving Paqueta and Bissouma apparently had "no chance".

“He was offered as a loan swap when Spurs asked about Paqueta," said the insider.

"It had no chance.”

The 28-year-old is now attempting to recapture the form he displayed from his early Hammers days, before Paqueta was embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal which derailed his career.

He would've been an intriguing signing for Spurs and only the third player to join them from West Ham in 14 years, after Scott Parker and Mohammed Kudus, but Simons' sky-high potential has the fanbase very excited ahead of the Dutchman's imminent debut.

Former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's exit is having a huge ripple effect, with his departure now leaving a previous agreement to potentially collapse.

Levy resigned as Spurs chair after 24 years, leaving his long-term hands-on role at the club as the Lewis Family and ENIC attempt to usher in what they describe as a new era.

“I am very honoured to become Non-Executive Chairman of this extraordinary Club and, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Daniel and his family for their commitment and loyalty to the Club over so many years," said Peter Charrington, the club's new non-executive chair, in a statement.

“This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch. I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future. We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the Club, led by Vinai and his executive team.”

During his tenure, Levy was a polarising Tottenham figure who attracted huge criticism and disdain from sections of the fanbase — specifically over their lack of success on the pitch with just two major trophies since 2001.

In that time, Spurs were often chastised for not spending anywhere near as much as their Premier League rivals on transfers, with Levy also overseeing some disastrous decisions like certain managerial appointments.

Off the field, Levy did work wonders — transforming the Lilywhites into a revenue-generating powerhouse and overseeing the move to their brand-new state-of-the-art stadium.

There is no doubt that Spurs' commercial appeal increased ten-fold during Levy's stay, but the focus for ENIC, and particularly Vivienne Lewis (the daughter of Joe Lewis), is now to deliver more silverware.

Reports claim that Levy was pushed out by Tottenham and didn't find out about his resignation until hours before it was announced (The Times), with the news leaving influential footballing figures "stunned" (Miguel Delaney).

Levy's exit is also having an effect on Tottenham's potential re-appointment of popular ex-managing director Fabio Paratici.

Tottenham U-turn over Fabio Paratici agreement with return now in limbo

The Italian has now served his worldwide ban from football and acted as an unofficial advisor to the club as recently as the last transfer window.

Paratici had reached an agreement to return to Tottenham in his previous managing director role from the start of next month, according to talkSPORT, but now the 53-year-old is being left in "limbo".

As per the outlet and journalist Alex Crook, Levy's ally may not be returning to Spurs after all, as the move to bring him back was largely driven by the club's now-former chair.

Paratici's appointment at Tottenham is now in serious doubt, which will come as upsetting for some supporters who were fans of the director famed for his incredible work ethic.

This season is one filled with promise and excitement among the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase, understandably so, given the Europa League triumph against Manchester United in 2024/25.

After years of struggles on the pitch, the night in Bilbao will live long in the memory of all Lilywhites supporters - as they ended their near two-decade wait for a form of silverware.

The hierarchy have also backed Thomas Frank in his quest to build on such a triumph, with over £100m being spent on new additions to help the Dane in North London.

He’s already made a sensational start to life in the role, even beating Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad - currently sitting fourth in the Premier League after the first three outings.

One of his recent additions to the squad has already made an excellent start to life at the club, potentially looking like a shrewd signing despite his expensive transfer fee.

Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs

In what was Frank’s first major addition as Spurs boss, he landed winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in a deal totalling £55m including add-ons.

The Ghanaian achieved a total of eight combined goals and assists in England’s top-flight last campaign - undoubtedly being the shining light in the Hammers’ dismal season.

He’s already made an immediate impact to life in North London, registering two assists on his league debut for the Lilywhites in the 3-0 triumph over newly-promoted Burnley.

Alongside his assist tally, the 25-year-old has also created the most chances per 90 (2.4) within the current first-team squad, which has so far made him the most threatening option at Frank’s disposal.

Kudus has also completed the most dribbles per 90 (3.1) and won possession the most times out of any player in the squad per 90 (1.4) - offering an all-round presence within the final third.

If he can continue his impressive early start to life under Frank, there’s no doubt the attacker will be a key player in any future success endured during his tenure.

However, despite his big-money transfer, he’s still valued lower than one player who’s also endured somewhat of an incredible rise during his own spell at the club.

The Spurs player worth more than Kudus

Ange Postecoglou’s stint as Spurs manager brought about their recent Europa League success, with the Aussie mainly focusing on young talents in his quest with the Lilywhites.

The likes of Pape Sarr and Micky van de Ven both joined under his guidance, with both talents starting in the final and playing a key role in their victory in Bilbao.

The latter of the duo even made a miraculous goal-line clearance in the second half, maintaining the side’s clean sheet and ultimately helping them end their extended wait for a trophy.

Other players had to bide their time before making an impact in his side, often having to resort to limited minutes before getting their chance and grabbing it with both hands.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall is a player who did just that, cementing his place within the first-team setup after his move from Swedish side Djurgarden just over 12 months ago - costing just £8.5m.

The 19-year-old was an outcast at the start of 2024/25, but rapidly made himself a key member of the squad and ended the campaign with a total of 45 appearances across all competitions.

Despite his tender age, the Swede scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup semi-final victory over league winners Liverpool - highlighting his nouse to perform on big occasions.

He ended up making 12 appearances in the Europa League, but missed the final due to injury, which would’ve been a bitter blow given his success during his debut campaign in England.

However, Bergvall, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Squawka Sport, has seen a sharp upturn in his market value over recent months, further highlighting his superb rise to stardom.

The youngster has now been valued at a staggering £50.3m by FootballTransfers, which has seen a phenomenal six times increase on the fee forked out for his signature last summer.

His subsequent valuation is higher than that of Kudus, who’s only valued at £40.4m by the same site despite his £55m transfer to the Lilywhites back in July.

At just 19, Bergvall has a huge future ahead of him, subsequently having the perfect opportunity to continue his tremendous rise in England under Frank in the years ahead.

If he can strike up an excellent partnership with Kudus in North London, the pair could play a crucial role in any future success - potentially making the side serial winners and cementing themselves as one of Europe’s elite.

The last 12 months have certainly been tumultuous for Tottenham Hotspur, whether that be on the field under various managers or even off the field and in the boardroom.

Ange Postecoglou ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for a trophy, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position at the helm after finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank was brought into the club during the summer, starting a new era to try and build on the Europa League success endured at the back end of the previous campaign.

However, another new era looks set to commence off the field, after chairman Daniel Levy stepped down in recent days after spending 25 years in the role.

Many of his decisions during his time in North London have been questionable to say the least, but his move to land Djed Spence now looks to be a fantastic piece of business.

Djed Spence’s rise to stardom at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2022, Spurs completed the £20m signing of right-back Spence from Championship outfit Middlesbrough - in a move that didn’t go down well with manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian was unhappy with the addition, even stating that he didn’t want to sign the player and subsequently excluding him from his plans for the 2022/23 campaign.

After just six first-team outings that year, he left to join Rennes on loan, before also spending the entirety of the following season on loan at Leeds United and Genoa respectively.

However, the injury setbacks endured during Postecoglou’s reign last season gave the 25-year-old an opportunity to showcase his talents - something which he grabbed with both hands.

Spence ended up making 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, even scoring his first Premier League goal in the win over Ipswich Town back in February.

Such a turnaround has been remarkable, especially considering he nearly left during Conte’s time at the club - with Frank now reaping the rewards of the hierarchy’s faith in the full-back.

The defender subsequently made his first England appearance in the triumph against Serbia on Tuesday night - further showcasing the sensational rise he’s endured in North London over recent months.

The player who could be Frank’s new Spence

After taking the reins during the summer, Frank will need time to implement his system that saw him take Brentford from the depths of the Championship to a consistent Premier League outfit.

However, glimpses of his tactical ability have already been evident, even beating Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad in just the second game of his tenure in North London.

He’s not been afraid to make big calls in recent weeks, even putting faith in striker Richarlison to make an impact after the Brazilian was hugely touted with a move away from the Lilywhites.

The 28-year-old already has two goals and an assist in his first three league games of 2025/26 - subsequently keeping summer addition Mathys Tel out of the starting eleven.

The Frenchman moved to the Lilywhites permanently during the off-season after spending the second half of last campaign on loan under Postecoglou - scoring three times in his 20 appearances.

However, it’s not been all plain sailing for the 20-year-old since his return to the club, failing to make a single start and being restricted to just 19 minutes of first-team action to date.

Tel’s misery has been further compounded in recent weeks, after being left out of the 25-man Champions League squad - a decision that has undoubtedly been a shock to the fanbase.

He gained a reputation for being a talented youngster at Bayern Munich, leading to one analyst claiming he can become “one of the world’s best”.

His recent snub from Frank’s side will certainly put his future at the club into huge doubt - suffering the same fate as Spence during the early months of his own spell in North London.

However, the right-back is evidence that players can still succeed even if they fail to make the best first impression, with Tel needing time to fulfil the potential he arrived with.

Offloading the Frenchman in the near future would be a huge mistake, potentially turning into a world beater with regular minutes away from the Lilywhites.

Competition for places isn’t a bad scenario for Frank to have, but it’s crucial he doesn’t neglect Tel’s talents, subsequently needing to manage his talents if the player is to follow in Spence’s footsteps.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma appears to be out of Thomas Frank's long-term plans, or so we thought.

The 29-year-old really hasn't made a great impression since Frank's arrival at the club this summer, with Spurs' new boss publicly damning Bissouma for his lateness to training and repeated disciplinary issues.

"Bissouma isn't here because of disciplinary reasons. He has been late several times, the latest one too many," said Frank after Bissouma didn't travel with their UEFA Super Cup squad for PSG.

"We need to give love and have demands but there have to be consequences. There's been a consequence, we will follow it up when we get home and park it for now."

The former Brighton star is yet to make a single competitive appearance for Frank since he took charge, thanks partly to injury, but it spoke volumes about Bissouma's situation when he was left out of Tottenham's 22-man Champions League squad.

Now, if Bissouma remains in N17, he won't be able to make a single European appearance until after the league phase, if Spurs even make it that far.

According to journalist Pete O'Rourke, Frank has been unimpressed with Bissouma behind-the-scenes, and the consensus is that Tottenham are prepared to sell the £100,000-per-week ace before his contract expires in 2026.

Other reports suggest that Tottenham could even let Bissouma leave on loan, potentially to get his wages off the books for a brief period before he eventually departs for free next year — if Spurs cannot find an outright buyer.

In any case, with the Turkish, Portuguese, Mexican and Saudi transfer windows still open, the Lilywhites still have an opportunity to offload Bissouma outside the UK window deadline.

Fenerbahçe were credited with a serious summer interest in the African, but a move failed to materialise. Galatasaray also held talks to sign Bissouma on loan with an obligation to buy, according to The Mail, and Spurs are believed to value him at around £20 million.

He played a key role in Tottenham's route to victory in the Europa League final against Man United in May, even starting the full 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim's side, but Frank's stance on Bissouma is crystal clear in comparison to Ange Postecoglou.

Fabrizio Romano shares Yves Bissouma twist out of Tottenham

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an intriguing twist on his future, after the consistent reports of him being set for a move away.

According to the reliable journalist, speaking to GiveMeSport's newsletter, Spurs actually aren't looking to get rid of Bissouma right now after all, with the situation described as "quiet".

The introduction of Frank has seriously altered Bissouma's role in the squad, coming after the ex-Seagulls star shined at times under Postecoglou.

The now-Nottingham Forest boss and Bissouma enjoyed a close relationship, and the player even described him as a father figure. Elsewhere, Pape Sarr praised Bissouma for his influential role behind-the-scenes in 2024.

The Lewis family are making big plans behind-the-scenes at Tottenham, as ENIC prepare for life beyond chairman Daniel Levy.

Levy has been the face of Spurs' day-to-day running for the last 24 years, and often the subject of real criticism, before Tottenham's shocking announcement on Thursday last week that the 63-year-old resigned from his post as executive chairman.

While it was a technically a resignation of his own accord, the consensus is that ENIC pushed Levy out of the door, and it is even believed that the ex-chair didn't find out he was going to resign until just hours before Tottenham made it official (The Times).

Levy was a polarising figure among the Lilywhites fanbase, often finding himself at the centre of mass ENIC protests towards the end of his tenure in particular, but it cannot be understated that he helped to transform Spurs into a financial powerhouse.

Levy oversaw Tottenham's move to their state-of-the-art new stadium and training facilities, which has gifted the club a far greater commercial appeal off the field, and you could even argue that they were more successful on the pitch in comparison to Sir Alan Sugar's era leading Spurs.

However, the departure of Levy has now ushered in a new era for the north Londoners, with the Lewis Family's restructuring of the board attracting serious investment interest from parties in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the USA (TEAMtalk).

ENIC's owners are also determined to bring more success after Tottenham won their first major trophy in 17 years back in May.

"When I talk about their ambition, what they’re really focused on is ensuring that everything we do across the complete breadth of the Club really centres back and is focused on giving our men’s team and our women’s team the best chance to be successful on the pitch over the long-term," said CEO Vinai Venkatesham.

"So that’s their laser focus – all around being successful on the pitch. They know, of course, that we operate in a very competitive environment and that there are a number of other teams that have the exact same ambitions we have – to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game."

Now, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has shared how they could be planning to do just that.

ENIC plot transfer statement in boost for Tottenham post-Daniel Levy

Speaking on Sky, Solhekol states that ENIC are plotting a cash injection into Tottenham, and this could be used on transfers to help them compete for silverware.

"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. The message I am receiving is that Tottenham is not for sale, they have no interest whatsoever in selling Tottenham."

Tottenham Hotspur could allow one senior player to leave on loan whilst a host of transfer windows remain open across the globe, with the man in question failing to impress new manager Thomas Frank since the Dane's arrival.

Following the conclusion of this international break, Spurs are braced for a hectic fixture schedule, with a maximum of just four days separating all of their clashes from September 13 to September 30.

The Lilywhites have a London derby against West Ham this weekend and two Champions League games before the next international break in October, with Frank currently sweating on the fitness of Dominic Solanke after was ruled out of their Bournemouth defeat with an ankle problem.

Some reports worryingly claimed that Solanke's injury was much more serious than initially feared and could require surgery, but this is yet to be confirmed, and Frank was hopeful in his last update that the striker could return against West Ham this weekend.

“Yeah, got a minor issue with his ankle, that’s been a little bit grumbling also in the pre-season," said Frank.

“It’s just too much for this game and now we have international break so hopefully he can be ready after that.”

Away from Solanke, and in a big boost for Frank, defender Radu Dragusin was spotted in first-team training this week for the first time in months, so it may not be long before the Romanian is eligible for selection once again.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski will be out for some time yet, while summer signing Kota Takai was also left out of Tottenham's Champions League squad with the aforementioned duo — though it is unclear whether this was solely down to the Japanese's injury.

Another player who failed to make Frank's 22-man European A-list is midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international has been repeatedly linked with a move away from N17 after falling out of favour with Frank, and there are opportunities abroad to sell Bissouma as Turkish, Portuguese, Mexican and Saudi Arabian transfer windows remain open.

The £100,000-per-week midfielder is yet to make a single competitive appearance under Spurs' new coach this season, partly down to injury, with journalist Pete O'Rourke reporting that he hasn't made the best impression under Frank.

Tottenham could let Yves Bissouma leave on loan

Now, in a further update, Spurs' eagerness to rid themselves of Bissouma means that the north Londoners' restructured board, minus the now-departed Daniel Levy, could green-light a temporary deal for the 29-year-old.

Tottenham could now let Bissouma depart on loan, despite wanting to sell him permanently, but they'll need to hurry and find suitors, as the Turkish and Mexican windows close this Friday.

Süper Lig clubs were heavily linked with a move for Bissouma in the summer, and it is believed that a Fenerbahçe representative even travelled to London for talks over signing the former Brighton star.

There is still some time left for the likes of Fenerbahçe to strike a deal for Bissouma, and this latest update points towards the possibility of a potential zero-cost transfer.

However, given the player's contract expires in 2026, it is unclear to see how this would benefit Tottenham in the long run.

Tottenham Hotspur waved goodbye to controversial chairman Daniel Levy after 24 years last week, in a move which sent shockwaves throughout the world of football.

Levy and ENIC's running of the club during his tenure attracted large protests from supporters, mainly due to a lack of success on the field, with the Lilywhites winning just two major trophies over the ex-chair's two-and-a half-decade-long spell.

However, away from the pitch, there is little denying that Levy transformed Spurs into a financial powerhouse.

Tottenham are now one of the world's highest revenue-generating clubs, according to the Deloitte Money League, with Levy overseeing the move to their state of the art new stadium and training facilities.

Speaking after the "big news" of Levy's departure, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham moved to quash rumours of a potential takeover whilst explaining what this means to the club's overall running.

"Yeah, I’ve seen that very quickly, as you say, there's been a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of media speculation about a takeover, so I can be really clear on this," Vinkatesham said in an official club interview.

"The Lewis family are really clear, they see their involvement in Tottenham Hotspur being long-term, and they see their involvement continuing through the generations. We made a statement very late last night, and the statement I hope was unambiguously clear that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale.

"Everything that we achieve at the Club will be part of a team, and I mean that. So, naturally, I guess, as Chief Executive, my name ends up in the media and I end up sitting here and doing an interview with you, but we've got 800 people at the Club, and we need everybody in the Club pulling together to drive us forward. This is certainly not all about one person or a small group of people."

Credible reports suggest that influential footballing figures were left "stunned" by Levy's resignation (Miguel Delaney), which was ultimately taken out of the 63-year-old's hands.

In fact, The Times have stated that Levy was told to resign just hours before Tottenham made it official.

Saudi backers major plan for Tottenham as Levy exit kickstarts restructure

According to TEAMtalk, Levy's departure is the first domino kickstarting what is a broad restructure of Spurs.

It is also claimed that global investors, including backers from Saudi Arabia, harbor an ambitious plan for Spurs to build a "Premier League powerhouse", and see the club as a "prime opportunity" to do so.

While making it crystal clear that Spurs is not for sale, the Lewis family are open to minority investments that could help to inject significant capital into the club, with Saudi parties also joined by potential investors from Qatar and the USA.

Tottenham Hotspur have entered a new phase in recent months after Thomas Frank took the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Aussie ended his spell in North London on a high after winning the Europa League, but it was their lowly Premier League finish which brought his time at the club to an end.

Such a responsibility now falls to the Dane, with the 51-year-old tasked with building on their recent European success and making the side a force to be reckoned with.

The board handed the new boss over £100m to make the additions he craved during the summer, subsequently strengthening various areas of his first-team squad.

However, one summer signing in the form of Mathys Tel could also be heading for the exit door - after the latest development coming out of the Lilywhites camp.

Mathys Tel’s current situation at Spurs

After spending the second half of last season on loan at Spurs, the hierarchy decided to make Tel's transfer permanent - costing around £30m from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

At just 20 years of age, the Frenchman was undoubtedly brought in as an immediate and long-term option for Frank in the club’s attempt for future success.

However, it’s unclear how much of a part he will play during the 51-year-old’s tenure after the winger was left out of the club’s 25-man squad for this season’s Champions League.

Upon his move to join the Lilywhites, not many people would’ve anticipated that he would be left out of the squad - especially considering his record of two goals in such a competition for Bayern.

The likes of Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and new addition Mohammed Kudus were all selected ahead of him - prompting questions to be asked around his long-term future under Frank.

Tel himself spoke to the media in recent days, subsequently downplaying a move away, but there is no doubt he there will be a strong sense of disappointment felt by the youngster in the months ahead.

However, he may not be the only player to leave North London in the near future, with another first-team member also failing to make the desired impact since Frank’s appointment.

The Spurs player who could be finished alongside Tel

During the first three Premier League outings of the Frank reign, it’s clear to see the manager is capable of switching up his system - either able to use a back four or back five when needed.

The Lilywhites have won two of their first three outings, beating Burnley and Manchester City, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on home soil before the international break.

His appointment has allowed Richarlison to flourish, with the Brazilian netting two goals and an assist in his three starts - resurrecting his career at the club after falling down Postecoglou’s pecking order during the Aussie's two years at the helm.

The same can’t be said for centre-back Ben Davies, with the Welshman being an unused substitute in all the league games to date, along with the Super Cup final defeat to Champions League winners PSG.

The 32-year-old made 28 appearances across all competitions throughout 2024/25, but it’s clear that minutes will be harder to come by in the near future.

Cristian Romero is already ahead of the former Swansea City star in the pecking order, forming an excellent partnership with Micky van de Ven at the heart of the backline.

The former of the duo was also named as the club’s new captain, further reducing the amount of game time Davies may receive during Frank’s spell at the club.

When called upon in recent times, his performances have also left a lot to be desired, leading to John Wenham labelling the centre-back as “terrible” in the defeat against Wolves a couple of years ago.

Given his age, he’s certainly ending the back end of his professional career, handing another reason for the hierarchy to cut loose and allow young talents to stake their claim.

Davies also earns a pretty penny, currently pocketing a steep £80k-per-week in North London - potentially saving a whopping £4.2m a year if he were to depart the Lilywhites.

There’s no denying the Welshman has been a tremendous servant, making over 350 appearances for the club after joining from Swansea back in the summer of 2014.

It may be a harsh decision to move Davies on, but ultimately, if Frank is to make the side into serial winners, brutal decisions will need to be made to enable further progression on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur addressed numerous key issues throughout the summer transfer window after what was a dismal Premier League campaign in 2024/25.

The Europa League success glossed over the embarrassment suffered in England’s top-flight, but Thomas Frank was brought into the club to replace Ange Postecoglou.

The Dane has been tasked with catapulting the Lilywhites up the table, being handed over £100m worth of funds to land the additions he craved in North London.

Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus were the three high-profile additions made by the 51-year-old - with the latter the most expensive at £55m.

However, all three of the additions were made for a cheaper sum than North London rivals Arsenal paid for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice back in the summer of 2023.

The suffering Declan Rice has inflicted on Spurs

The rivalry in North London has been one that has been fiercely contested in recent years - with Spurs often having the opportunity to laugh at the Gunners, given their recent respective trophy tallies.

Mikel Arteta’s side have finished second in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons, unable to end their drought despite having £110m star Rice at their disposal.

The midfielder is unbeaten in 59% of his games against the Lilywhites, with many of the Spurs faithful wishing they had a player of his quality within their own ranks.

He’s notched 16 goals and 20 assists during his two years at the Emirates - subsequently ranking him in the 80th percentile of all midfielders in England’s top-flight last campaign.

The 26-year-old also ranked in the 86th percentile for key passes per 90 (1.9) and the 95th percentile for crosses completed per 90 (5.3).

Such numbers highlight the creative threat he possesses - something which is massively lacking in a deep-lying position with Frank’s current first-team squad.

However, the hierarchy may have made a mistake in allowing one talent to depart the club, especially given his impressive numbers since departing the side in recent years.

The former Spurs star who could’ve been their own Rice

During Daniel Levy’s tenure at Spurs, the club have been known to make multiple mistakes in the transfer market - subsequently offloading players who have gone on to achieve huge things away from the club.

Giovani Lo Celso was a player with huge expectations in North London, after the Argentine joined the club from Real Betis back in the summer of 2020.

However, he only registered ten goals in over 100 appearances for the Lilywhites, a tally fewer than Rice, who’s been known to operate in a deeper position for the Gunners.

He’s since matched such a tally in just 38 outings since returning to the Spanish outfit on a permanent basis - with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also achieving similar feats in Marseille.

The Danish international joined Spurs back in the summer of 2020 from Southampton, subsequently spending four years in North London - racking up just shy of 200 appearances for the club.

The 30-year-old was a consistent presence in the first-team squad, but ultimately fell out of favour in Postecoglou’s system and joined the Ligue 1 side on a temporary basis in the summer of 2024.

Hojbjerg subsequently left permanently this window, with such a decision now appearing to be a mistake - especially after Frank’s appointment in North London.

The Dane previously managed his compatriot at youth levels and raved about his qualities, stating that the star “could be a world-class defensive midfielder”.

It’s safe to say he’s lived up to the hype from the early days of his career, subsequently being labelled as a similar player to Arsenal star Rice, by FBref.

When comparing their respective stats from 2024/25, Hojbjerg managed to outperform the Englishman across the board, further highlighting the mistake the hierarchy made in allowing him to depart.

The Dane thrived in possession last campaign, completing more passes into the final third per 90 (7.8) and completing more of the passes he attempted (92%).

Such talents would’ve made him an excellent fit under Frank’s guidance, with the Lilywhites currently boasting the seventh-highest average possession rate in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

However, out of possession, the former Spurs star was just as impressive, winning more of the tackles he entered (54%) whilst also making more interceptions per 90 (1.4).

The stats produced by Hojbjerg highlight the impressive box-to-box qualities he possesses, with such figures undoubtedly highlighting how much of a mistake Levy made in offloading him.

£17m for a player of his quality is nothing short of an embarrassment - with such a fee far too cheap given the levels he’s produced since his move to France.

Frank will no doubt be gutted he’s not had the chance to work with the midfielder once again, especially given his ability to outperform Rice after departing North London.