Thomas Frank has lifted the lid on a trio of Tottenham stars who have impressed him at different levels this season, although fans are still waiting for more from one of them.
It was an eventful summer transfer window for Tottenham as expectations were high after the Europa League triumph that earned the club a spot in this season’s Champions League.
Fans hoped this European success would attract big names, yet the window was filled with drama; frustration at missing out on targets, a slow start from the club in signing players, last-minute deal collapses, lawsuits and high-profile exits.
Despite all that, Tottenham still delivered one of their most impressive windows under Daniel Levy, spending a whopping £170.6 million on arrivals.
Big names such as Mohammed Kudus from West Ham (£55 million), Xavi Simons from Leipzig (£51 million), alongside loans of Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich and deadline day signing Randal Kolo Muani from PSG, arrived at the club.
Several of these players, particularly Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha, have already cemented themselves as regular starters under Thomas Frank, contributing heavily to Tottenham’s strong start under the new boss.
Thomas Frank hails three Tottenham summer signings
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Thomas Frank was asked to give his assessment of the summer signings and how they have performed so far.
The Spurs boss had plenty of praise for them, saying, “I think they’ve been very good. All three of them, I think. Mohammed Kudus came from day one, and I think he’s been very good. Hit the ground running, more or less, from day one. But, you know, more (importantly), good thing he got his goal against Leeds. I think he’s been extremely important in the way we attack, creating things. So, I’m very pleased with his performance so far.”
Speaking on Joao Palhinha, Frank added, “Palhinha came a little bit later and just gave us that little bit extra foundation, solidness, in the middle of the park.”
He also touched on Xavi Simons, noting his gradual adaptation to Premier League football. “And Xavi Simons now is growing into it (the game) more and more, (We are) seeing more of the offensive actions we like to see from him.”
Spurs still need more to reach the next level
Mohammed Kudus has already impressed as Tottenham’s highest-rated player this season, leading the league in assists and successful dribbles in Europe, beating the likes of Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
Joao Palhinha is also dominating defensively, leading the chart for most tackles in Europe, while also being the club’s joint second top scorer.
However, it’s not a surprise that Thomas Frank needs reinforcements with the biggest gap remaining on the left flank. Tottenham are reportedly keeping tabs on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has nine goal contributions in nine games, and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche. Striker cover is also a priority, as injuries and form issues have left the attacking line thin.
With the Spus ownership having already injected 100 million pounds into the club, the long-awaited return of sports director Fabio Paratici, and promises of more hands-on involvement in footballing decisions, Tottenham are set for a busy winter window.