Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has asserted himself as one of the best managers in the world, and if he weren't already in the conversation among diehard fans after his results in turning Brentford from a promoted side to a European football contender, then his hot start at the N17 is entrenching his status as being among the very best.
Frank is known for being something of a forward whisperer. At Brentford, he turned Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and still others from relative unknowns into players who became among the most productive attackers in the Premier League, particularly from a goal-scoring perspective.
Already at Spurs, Frank is having a positive impact on the forwards. He's turned new signing Mohammed Kudus into a legitimate world-class winger, but what Tottenham fans really want to see is what he can do with the prospects.
Mathys Tel drew the start at striker for Tottenham before the break and was excellent in the position, scoring a nice solo goal and nearly grabbing another with a header that smacked the bar. Although he normally starts as a left winger, the former Bayern Munich man looked far more lively in the middle, and with Richarlison struggling and the other veteran strikers slow to return from injuries, Tel looks set to get at least one more start up top.
Thomas Frank creates attacking monsters
After impressing over the international break alongside fellow French youth left winger Wilson Odobert, Tottenham fans are optimistic that Tel and Odobert can shine again as a 1-2 punch with Odobert on the wing and Tel at the 9.
Frank has turned less talented footballers into stars in the Premier League, so you can only imagine what he can do with a player like Tel. With months of working under Frank and finding his best form at striker, perhaps Tel can become a Premier League star as a U21 talent and solve the No. 9 position once and for all.
Tottenham continue to be linked with strikers on the transfer market despite investing heavily in both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison in past windows, as well as signing Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG this past summer.
Nobody has distinguished himself yet, but Tel is the one with the most long-term value and intriguing traits. Frank loves to turn special athletes into productive strikers, and Tel is his most prolific project yet. Tottenham fans should keep a close eye on Tel's development at striker.