5 Big Signings That Thomas Frank Could Make To Fix Tottenham Hotspur | OneFootball

Despite winning their first trophy since 2008, and their first European silverware in over 40 years, Tottenham Hotspur find themselves at a crossroads – needing to rebuild their identity once again.

The decision to sack Ange Postecoglou was met with a mixed response, but Thomas Frank has since come in, and getting this transfer window right is essential to any forthcoming success for the season ahead.

The Danish manager is going to need to build a squad capable of taking that Europa League win and turning it into future success, and that will likely be done through signing players. Here are 5 transfers Tottenham could make that could kickstart the Thomas Frank era.

5 Transfers That Could Define the Thomas Frank Era at Spurs

Kyler Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters is linked with a move back to North London this summer after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship last season. The full-back has evolved from a promising Spurs youth product into a well-rounded, versatile defender.

With Championship promotion at Southampton and international caps to his name, plus respectable stats, Walker-Peters is poised for a big career step. He made 200 appearances for Southampton over five years.

The Englishman joined Tottenham’s academy in July 2013 and made his senior debut on a post-season tour in May 2015. He stayed at Spurs until 2020, when he was loaned to Southampton in January under Ralph Hasenhüttl. He made 10 appearances in that half-season, impressing enough to sign permanently in August 2020 for £12m, in a swap deal with Hojbjerg moving the other way.

Spurs may want to secure this deal quickly before other clubs swoop. He’s a free transfer, club-trained for Champions League rules, can play both left and right back, and fits Spurs’ wage structure. From Daniel Levy’s perspective, it’s a safe, sensible move, especially given his positional flexibility and cost.

But critics will say that’s the problem; it’s safe and sensible and unambitious—a 28-year-old coming off relegation with a very poor Southampton side. Levy promised Spurs fans they’d compete with Europe’s best in transfers and on the pitch when moving to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For many, this signing feels like a club signing rather than a bold one.

Walker-Peters’ inconsistency remains an issue and could be one reason against bringing him back, but his club-trained status solves Spurs’ homegrown player problem. Whether it’s the right football decision and why he’s being linked is up for debate.

Bryan Mbeumo

Brentford’s talisman and player of the season. Twenty goals, seven assists—the Premier League’s second biggest xG overperformer.

Mbeumo matched the League goal contributions of stars like Dembélé and Raphinha last season. One big difference? Mbeumo plays for Brentford.

He led Europe’s top five leagues with nine carries leading directly to goals in 2023/24. Calling his season “decent” is an understatement. He was crucial in Brentford’s historic top-half finish, turning out to be Thomas Frank’s last season at the Bees.

Since Frank’s appointment at Spurs, Mbuemo’s future at Brentford is uncertain. Manchester United looked set to sign him but now it hangs in the balance, as the two clubs haggle over a fee. The first transfer window closure due to the Club World Cup gave Mbeumo time to weigh up his options. At this current time, he is expected to choose Manchester United and wants no one else.

However, at 25, he’d transform Tottenham’s attack. He’d walk straight into the frontline, hands down. Wingers are key in Frank’s system, delivering crosses for the striker—a recipe perfected with Ivan Toney. After Toney’s move to Saudi Arabia, Brentford looked stronger without Toney, and that was because of Mbuemo.

He excels in pressing, a necessity in Frank’s approach and Postecoglou’s Spurs last season. Ranking top for pressures per 90, his energy and tactical discipline would sharpen Spurs’ high press, increasing turnovers.

Mbuemo offers flexible attacking options: right winger, left wing, or cover striker. His signing would allow Spurs to move players like Richarlison and even Son if the price is right. But fitness is a concern. His 2023/24 was disrupted by injury, and playing twice a week, plus the Champions League, demands a lot.

The real barrier? Wages and Manchester United. It’s never about price or interest or convincing the player—Tottenham’s wage structure simply doesn’t support “world-class” pay. This flaw has seen Spurs fail repeatedly in the final stages of deals, losing out on signing many top players. The wage structure means it is harder to keep hold of your top assets, as well as attract world-class players. It is killing Tottenham.

The other issue would be reconvincing the Cameroonian to choose Tottenham if a move to Old Trafford doesn’t transpire. At the moment, it seems unlikely but it would be transformative.

Eberechi Eze

Spurs lack a versatile midfielder and a natural ball-carrier in midfield—someone who can beat a man and unlock tight defences. Eze is one of the Premier League’s most progressive dribblers.

He averaged 2.5 successful dribbles and 2.1 key passes per 90 last season—numbers on par with top attacking mids. His talent explains the competition for his signature among London clubs.

Crystal Palace securing Europa League football might tempt Eze to stay, but Spurs offer a significant step up, even after a 17th-place league finish.

He is Palace’s creative hub—technically superb and tactically versatile—perfect for Thomas Frank’s system. Eze would challenge James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the ‘10’ role and could also play left wing. This flexibility means Spurs could finally cash in on captain Son-Heung-Min—a painful but necessary decision.

For many Spurs fans, signing Eze would be a statement signing, one of clear intent. They trust Levy and the board to meet Palace’s price, but wages remain the elephant in the room once again.

The big question: will Spurs be decisive and ambitious enough to beat Arsenal and others? Levy’s history of hesitation and lack of ambition must not repeat. Spurs must stop “admiring” and “monitoring” players like this and go and get the deal done.

Eze had hamstring problems late in 2024, a concern, but he recovered quickly. Staying fit will be vital next season, whatever shirt he wears.

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has quickly emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising young talents. His combination of composure, vision, and box-to-box energy makes him a natural fit for Thomas Frank’s dynamic midfield. Make no mistake about it; this would also be a signing of clear intent and one that won’t come cheap.

Wharton’s ability to break lines with accurate pinpoint passes, perfect positioning and his tireless work rate off the ball would bring a new dimension to Spurs’ engine room. At only 22, he offers both the immediate impact and the long-term potential—something Spurs desperately need in their midfield rebuild.

Spurs ship too many goals, even despite having a top-four level backline. Spurs currently lack that protection in front of the defence, with Bissouma being hot and cold. Now feels like the right time for Bissouna to leave after an underwhelming time at the club. It is worth noting that he got better as the season went on and was crucial in those final few games to win the Europa League. He would leave on a high.

Some might argue that chasing another Palace midfielder when Eze is already on the radar is overkill and expensive, but Wharton represents a lower-risk, high-upside gamble that could pay dividends, especially given his homegrown status and hunger to prove himself. He’s ready for the step up.

If Spurs want to compete with the Premier League elite over the next decade, investing in players like Wharton is not just smart—it’s essential. Whether it will happen or not is another thing.

Castello Lukeba

Defensive solidity has haunted Spurs for years, whoever the manager, and Castello Lukeba is exactly the kind of under-the-radar defender Thomas Frank needs to shore up the backline.

Lukeba’s physicality, tactical intelligence, and composure on the ball make him a standout centre-back outside the Premier League. His ability to step into midfield and start attacks fits perfectly with Frank’s philosophy of building from the back and advancing.

At 24, Lukeba is entering his prime and is already a French international, clear evidence of his quality.

While Spurs have been linked with lots of higher-profile defensive reinforcements, Lukeba feels like a player who can make an immediate difference rather than a long-term project. If Romero does leave, then this feels like a sensible replacement—someone who will settle in quickly and suit the new system.

If Levy can break the wage ceiling and bring in Lukeba, Spurs could finally address their defensive frailties that have cost them dearly in recent seasons.

An Extremely Important Window

The summer window is shaping up to test Tottenham’s ambition, decisiveness, and transfer strategy once again as a new chapter begins in North London.

Walker-Peters feels like a fallback plan—safe, sensible, but uninspiring. Mbeumo and Eze are clear attacking statement signings but come with wage hurdles and fitness concerns.

Adding Wharton and Lukeba could balance the squad’s youth and experience, addressing midfield creativity and defensive stability. Two top signings still, both ready for Champions League football

Ultimately, Daniel Levy’s willingness to break the wage structure and back Frank with truly quality signings, while retaining their key assets such as Cristian Romero, will decide if Spurs can step up to challenge Europe’s elite and push on to achieve sustained success or remain trapped in the same cycle of near-misses and regrets.