From Eze transfer rumour no-show to a Mohammed Kudus strategy
The news from the rather reliable David Ornstein, that Eberechi Eze is not a player Tottenham Hotspur have been working to bring in, comes as quite a blow.
I am convinced that we had spoken to the player himself, and that personal terms had been agreed, some good while ago.
Now it emerges that the talk of Arsenal’s supposed interest is just as spurious, and the Gunners also haven’t made a formal approach.
We’ve seen this before, of course, where an agent, or connections to agents, are willing to get the jungle drums playing that familiar lament of unrequited desire to travel and meet new money, despite the player himself having expressed zero ambitions.
Indeed, it was Palace’s Wilfried Zaha that appeared to get caught up in similar razzmatazz a few years ago. That worked out appallingly, and the player was back in London before anyone could say, ‘Who’s a silly boy then?’
The impact of this flat news on Spurs fans is predictable enough, where we are hoping for some early window magic, we instead got an elderly uncle doing the old ‘finger over the thumb’ trick, with a cry of, ‘Look, I’ve got your ear!’ Profound disappointment all round.
Then there’s the news from Matt Law of the Telegraph, who led the charge on us being in for Mohammed Kudus.
Matt Law tells us what he believes is behind the thinking with this one:
Kudus would give Spurs Premier League and Champions League experience, and his ability to play across the forward positions behind a striker will give Frank plenty of options.
Tottenham are yet to make an offer for Kudus and the club will need to help fund signings by selling players this summer, while there is also the possibility of fresh investment from owners Enic or from outside the club
Fabrizio Romano adds some spice to the mix, telling us what he understands via Chelsea News:
“Tottenham are seriously working for Mohammed Kudus and are speaking to his camp. Chelsea remains interested and is keeping a close eye on the situation with one other club. Let’s see what they decide. Race still open.”
More key passes and more non-penalty goals
Looking at the radar for Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski, one can see the appeal of playing one of this pair in a central position, and providing a fulcrum to Tottenham’s attack.
This has probably been the key weakness at Spurs, who have spent a terrifying amount of money on strikers, but have yet to get a return from any of them.
A solution to Spurs’ woes may still be at hand
So what’s the answer? Well, it might be that Thomas Frank wants to keep it simple and seek to revisit the same tactic that he employed with Ivan Toney at Brentford.
Jay Harris, previously the Brentford correspondent who is now full-time on Spurs for The Athletic, said the following on the View From The Lane podcast:
“I think Solanke will excel under Thomas Frank, and I have a suspicion he tells Solanke to be more selfish. I think he’ll tell Solanke to concentrate on getting into the six-yard box a lot more. I remember he did something very similar with Ivan Toney.”
I interviewed Toney once, and he said that there were times when he was so concentrated on taking the ball into the box, Frank told him:
“‘Don’t bother with that. This team is going to be set up to provide for you,’ and I can see him doing something similar with Solanke.”
Those few words could well make Tottenham fans view Solanke in a different light; they should find a way of making Frank and Kulu, and Kudus all click.
Richarlison has been an abject failure at Spurs. There’s nothing personal in this; he simply hasn’t worked. Strikers are supposed to strike, and in the main, he’s been unreliable. For me, this is a great time to move the Brazilian on.
Kudus won’t be cheap, and whilst some will huff and puff over a supposed fractious atmosphere between West Ham and Spurs, Graham Potter needs transfer funds, just as Frank does. Needs must, when the devil drives, might be a phrase worth looking up for some.
What of Tottenham’s left-wing situation?
‘Problematic’ might be the best description. Wilson Oderbert is disproportionately adored by Spurs fans, with the usual arguments being made that all he needs is a good, uninterrupted run out – see Richarlison and many others for further details.
However, many of us have struggled to see the supposed gem which Spurs snapped up for a paltry £25 million plus add-ons from Burnley.
Sonny remains cherished, but he is effectively shot, and how Tottenham now manage his exit is probably best done with equal measures of dignity and speed, for all concerned.
Frank can certainly improve on the chaos of the Australian, but they must let the man manage, or this will be another fine mess. So I conclude with the line that this transfer window is less about what the fan reading this might wish for, and more about what Frank wants.
