Thomas Frank isn't going to be handed a 'war-chest' by Daniel Levy this summer, but there's hope that a collection of shrewd additions will be complemented by a statement arrival.
Contrary to popular belief, Spurs have spent a lot of money on transfer fees over the past five years. Our next spend of £463m since 2021 ranks third-highest in the Premier League. The wage bill is an issue if Spurs want to bridge the gap, but we know that the club prefers to create rather than cultivate superstars.
Nevertheless, it seems as if a big chunk of our summer kitty will be dedicated towards bolstering our frontline. While we had few issues scoring goals despite our Premier League woes last season, few would be content entering 2025/26 with the same attacking personnel. Moreover, there's a chance Richarlison and Son Heung-min end up leaving the club.
Right now, it seems as if there are four key targets on the table for Spurs. Interestingly, the quartet differ rather drastically in profile, rendering it tough to gauge what the club want from their 'statement' signing.
Nevertheless, we had a go at ranking these four supposed targets based on four criteria: how much they'd cost, their fit in N17, whether their profile is needed, and how good they are at football.
4. Antoine Semenyo
Many would argue that a right-sided attacker should be the club's priority this summer, especially if Son stays.
Brennan Johnson was the club's leading goalscorer last season, and Wilson Odobert was often stationed down the right (although I prefer him off the left) during his debut season, but there's otherwise little depth. We must remember that Dejan Kulusevski will miss the start of 2025/26 due to a significant knee injury.
Semenyo is thus a player Spurs could do with, given his two-footedness and capacity to play down both sides. He's a physical behemoth whose ambipedal nature renders him a unique talent. Frank will appreciate his ability to break open a game in transition, as well as his defensive contribution. Last season was the most productive of his career, as he scored 11 Premier League goals, but there are a few question marks regarding the Cherries' huge £70m valuation.
For that fee, I'd like to have seen more consistency from Semenyo (in front of goal, in particular) and a greater impact against the league's best. He's very good, but I wouldn't spend that much.
- Price: 3
- Fit: 7
- Need: 8
- Talent: 7
- Overall: 25/40
3. Bryan Mbeumo
No player was more efficient in the Premier League last season than Bryan Mbeumo, who scored 20 goals and outperformed his xG by 7.7 (via FBRef). Some may be sceptical as to whether the Cameroonian international will ever be able to reach such heights again, but Mbeumo may be in that bracket of players, like Son, who's capable of consistently defying the underlying metrics.
Mbeumo is a numbers-over-aesthetics guy. More Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard on that ideological continuum. Frank maximised Ivan Toney's Robin and converted him into Batman off the back of the Englishman's Saudi departure.
I don't think he's the most gifted of the four names listed, but his nose for goal, ability to work superbly in tandem, and success under Frank render him a great fit for Spurs in an area of need. Unfortunately, he wants to join Manchester United.
- Price: 6
- Fit: 9
- Need: 8
- Talent: 7
- Overall: 30/40—reduced to 25 due to desire to join Manchester United.
2. Mohammed Kudus
Mohammed Kudus lit up east London in year one, but his second year at West Ham was forgettable at best. He performed as if he had no interest in being there, which, to his credit, is fair enough.
Signing Kudus was a major coup for the Hammers, but many will feel let down by the Ghanaian if he was to depart this summer. However, that's not suggest any potential suitor would be signing a talent already on the decline. Far from it.
Kudus clearly backs himself, and he wants to be performing under the brightest lights. Our glorious night in Bilbao means we can offer the West Ham star Champions League football.
I'm not exactly sure what role what suit Kudus best in a Frank 4-2-3-1, but I know that he's pretty adept across the board. He's a risk-taker in possession and a magnificent ball-carrier. You want him operating centrally as much as possible, so he can devastate defensive structures via his ability to resist and weave beyond hopeful challengers. However, Kudus is also effective when cutting infield from the right and can shift past his man before hitting the byline down the left.
He's a wonderfully exciting footballer whose best is yet to come on these shores. He reportedly has a £85m release clause, but West Ham may accept closer to £65m. However, I can't see them letting us get our hands on the former Ajax playmaker.
- Price: 7
- Fit: 5 (might be a d***head)
- Need: 8
- Talent: 9
- Overall: 29/40
1. Eberechi Eze
I've said it once and I'll say it again. Eberechi Eze is so Tottenham Hotspur.
Our interest in the Crystal Palace playmaker is long-standing, and things are starting to heat up this summer. With a £60m release clause in place and Eze having two years left on his deal, Palace may be keen to cash in. Steve Parish surely won't make it easy for us, though.
Some suggest he's a wide player, but Eze, for me, is someone you must have working from a central position as much as possible. While adept down the touchline, his most ingenious work arrives from more congested but dangerous zones between the lines. That's where his innate playground-like feel for the game manifests most wonderfully.
He's scored double-digit goals in two Premier League seasons and enters this summer off the back of a scintillating run of form which catapulted Palace to their first major trophy. Eze is not a profile Spurs are crying out for with James Maddison and Kulusevski on board, but, you know, they could play together. Startling, right?
Not only is Eze an incredibly watchable footballer, but he's a great character, too. Frank would love him.
- Price: 8
- Fit: 9
- Need: 5
- Talent: 9
- Overall: 31/40