Tottenham Hotspur have splashed the cash over the last couple of years to try and catapult themselves to a Premier League title fight – but so far, to no avail.
The Lilywhites’ 15th-placed Premier League finish last campaign showcases the size of the task Thomas Frank has on his hands, but there’s no doubt he will be backed by the hierarchy in due course.
Just last summer, the board splashed a club-record fee of £65m to land Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth, with the Englishman seen as a replacement for Harry Kane.
Mammoth funds have also been spent on the likes of Xavi Simons and Brennan Johnson, subsequently adding further depth and quality to the club’s attacking department.
However, despite the addition of the former during the recent window, he was also joined by another talent late on in the summer – in a move that will offer further competition for places.
How Frank can get the best out of Kudus
Despite the previous additions made during the summer transfer window, Mohammed Kudus was the most expensive addition made by the hierarchy, costing a fee in the region of £55m.
The former West Ham United star undoubtedly ruffled the feathers of the Hammers faithful with his move across the capital to link up with Frank’s side during the off-season.
The 25-year-old started the clash against Graham Potter’s side last weekend, failing to get on the scoresheet, but proving that he made the right decision after the 3-0 triumph.
His debut against Burnley saw him bag two assists for Richarlison, but he’s failed to register a single goal contribution since the opening day – which could leave the Dane scratching his head for ways to recapture his best form.
Kudus is at his best when driving at the opposition – as seen by his assists against Scott Parker’s men – with Frank needing to give the attacker licence to drive and try and beat the opposition on a consistent basis.
However, the hierarchy may have been better off keeping hold of another talent, given his recent form elsewhere after his transfer away from the capital a couple of years ago.
The Spurs star who’s now outperforming Simons
Back in November 2021, Spurs appointed Antonio Conte as the successor to Nuno Espírito Santo, but the Italian’s time in charge was certainly one to forget for all involved with the club.
Whilst he achieved a 53% win rate in charge of the Lilywhites, his off-the-field antics caught the eye most – often leading to various moments of controversy.
From touchline clashes with Thomas Tuchel, to rants in press conferences, his spell was littered with questionable moments which led to his demise in North London.
His dealings in the transfer market also led to questions being asked, with the sale of Steven Bergwijn in the summer of 2022 one that could come back to bite the club.
The Dutchman racked up 83 appearances for the club, scoring eight times in the process – with his best effort arguably coming in his first outing in the capital.
He scored a superb effort against Manchester City on home soil, securing a 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s men back in the 2020/21 campaign before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite making 32 appearances in his final campaign, he would be sold back to Ajax in his homeland – before joining Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad in the summer of 2024.
Bergwijn, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has scored 18 goals since the start of last season – a tally higher than that of Kudus, who’s only managed five in the same time period.
The Dutchman has also notched nine assists in that time, also outperforming the Ghanaian, who’s only managed six – further highlighting his superb levels of performance since leaving North London.
Transfer Fee
£27m
Appearances
83
Goals
8
Minutes played
3563
Assists
9
Goal involvements
17
Yellow cards
7
His subsequent tallies showcase that he still possesses a whole heap of quality that could’ve been of use to Frank if the previous management teams had kept hold of the attacker.
However, he will forever remain a case of what could have been, with Frank needing to put trust into Kudus to continue his fine start to life under his guidance.