Mohammed Kudus is perfect fit to be Tottenham's Bryan Mbeumo as Thomas Frank eyes statement | OneFootball

Similarities to Manchester United-bound Brentford star are striking, making West Ham forward an ideal signing to kick-start new era

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Frank is looking for a statement signing to begin his Tottenham tenure, and he could well have found his man in Mohammed Kudus, a player who draws striking similarities to the jewel of his crown at Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo.

The Ghanaian is an explosive presence off the right-hand side, able to cut in and drive for goal. His directness and conviction in the attacking third is similar to that of Mbeumo, who had been linked with a move to Tottenham but looks to be heading to Manchester United instead.

After seven years as head coach at Brentford, Frank is looking for some familiarity to help him navigate his first season at Tottenham. He'll see Kudus in much the same mould as Mbeumo and will relish the chance to temper the at times fiery personality that Kudus exhibits into something productive.

Mbeumo has admitted that during his first few years at Brentford, his deep-held competitive edge caused friction on the training ground.

He was erratic and unpredictable on and off the pitch and Frank sensed that. The Dane entrusted assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, who followed Frank to Tottenham, with channelling Mbeumo's potential by working with him intensively on his finishing.

That, coupled with his close friendship with team-mate Yoane Wissa, took Mbeumo's game to another level and he finished last season with 20 Premier League goals.

Frank, who's looking for a right winger to provide competition for Brennan Johnson, would hope to replicate that with Kudus, a player of undoubted ability but with a tendency to shrink in the face of increasing scrutiny.

Frank knows first-hand the individual quality that Kudus, sent off in angry scenes at Tottenham last season and hit with a five-game ban, can provide.

Familiarity: Thomas Frank has likely missed out on a reunion with Bryan Mbeumo at Spurs

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The Ghanaian scored a miraculous scissor-kick goal away at Brentford in his debut season in England as he hit the ground running following a £38million move from Ajax. It was the sort of opportunistic finish that exhibited confidence and quality.

First impressions are key, and Kudus could arguably not have made a more striking one on Frank.

It could yet be enough to sway Tottenham into making him the centrepiece of their attack, while for a project manager like Frank, the reward of helping Kudus realise his potential will be incredibly tempting.