Thomas Frank Discusses Transfer Challenges and Squad Strength at Tottenham

Thomas Frank, who has been at the helm of Tottenham since June, after a successful seven-year tenure at Brentford, recently spoke about the club’s attempts to secure Antoine Semenyo during the January transfer window. Despite Tottenham’s efforts, Semenyo, who recently transferred to Manchester City for £62.5 million, was not acquired by the North London club. Frank acknowledged the club’s commitment, stating, “It was clear, there is no doubt, that the club wanted to sign [Antoine] Semenyo. They did everything, and I think that is a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed.”

In addition, Frank has strengthened his squad by signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £35 million and Brazil left-back Souza on a long-term deal. He emphasized the type of quality players the club is aiming to bring in to enhance the squad.

Currently, Tottenham is experiencing a challenging season, sitting at 14th in the Premier League and having gone five games without a victory. This has led to mounting pressure on Frank, with some supporters expressing their discontent through boos and calls for his dismissal. However, a recent victory against Eintracht Frankfurt secured a top-eight finish in the Champions League, ensuring an automatic place in the knockout stages.

Due to injuries, Frank will be without eight senior players as they prepare to face Manchester City. He remarked that this situation has rendered his squad weaker compared to when the January transfer window opened. While he recognizes the immediate need for improvements, Frank is wary of becoming overly focused on short-term solutions, which he believes could hinder long-term progress.

Looking ahead, Frank hinted at a potentially significant summer for Tottenham, with hopes for further squad enhancements. However, he reminded fans of the complexities of the transfer market, stating, “The transfer window is not Football Manager, unfortunately. It is not. It would be a lot easier, but also a little bit more boring. We would not have as many good stories to talk about.”