Key Highlights
- Tottenham boss Thomas Frank reveals Spurs “did everything” to sign Antoine Semenyo before his move to Manchester City.
- Semenyo signed a £64m deal with Manchester City from Bournemouth this month.
- Spurs have struggled in the current transfer window, bringing in only Conor Gallagher and Souza so far.
- Frank defends the club’s transfer strategy despite fans’ frustration over poor form and lack of signings.
Thomas Frank is not exactly a man to mince words when it comes to defending his Tottenham Hotspur squad. In an interview, he revealed that Spurs “did everything” to sign Antoine Semenyo before the Ghana international moved to Manchester City in a £64m deal from Bournemouth.
Spurs’ Failed Pursuit of Semenyo
The news comes as a bitter pill for Tottenham fans, who are already frustrated with the club’s poor form and lack of significant signings this season. The Premier League table shows Spurs sitting 14th, having won just two out of their last 14 league games.
Frank’s Defense
Yet Frank stands firm in his support for the club’s transfer strategy. “The fans just want the best for the club,” he said. “Just like I want (the best), the owners, the staff, the players, everyone wants the best for the club, but I also think it’s fair to say that the transfer window is not Football Manager unfortunately.” Frank went on to explain that missing out on Semenyo and other potential signings does not mean Spurs are failing. “It would be a lot easier, but also a little bit more boring. We would not have as many good stories to talk about.”
The Transfer Window Woes
Frank acknowledged the challenges of the current transfer window, admitting that it is an art form. “In the last 30 days, you couldn’t go to work basically because there is nothing to write about or talk about,” he said. The club has only signed two players so far this window: Conor Gallagher and Souza. Frank also mentioned that Spurs could still be without eight players despite Pedro Porro and Richarlison being primed for a return at the end of February.
Missing Out on Semenyo
Frank’s comments about missing out on Semenyo come after Tottenham was one of many Premier League clubs that pursued him during this transfer window. The club had even tried to sign him in the summer before he signed a new Cherries deal. “They did everything – I think that’s a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed,” Frank said, referring to the ownership of Spurs.
Upcoming Match Against Manchester City
Frank will be hoping Semenyo does not cause more trouble for his side on Sunday as Tottenham host Man City. The match kicks off at 4:30pm UK time and is live on Sky Sports. Frank remains confident that Spurs can improve in the summer, stating, “For whatever reason, we are not able to get another player or players in this window, then for the summer it’s a big summer ahead, and I’m not in doubt we’ll see big improvements there.”
With fans growing increasingly frustrated, Frank’s comments serve as both a defense of his strategy and an acknowledgment that the club needs to act fast. The upcoming match against Manchester City will be a stern test for Tottenham, and the pressure is on for the manager to deliver results.
