Whisper it quietly, but there are some promising signs at this early stage of the season for Tottenham Hotspur.
Whisper it quietly, because there have been false dawns before. But then, in Thomas Frank, Spurs have appointed a calculated and composed manager whose experience and success in the Premier League with Brentford speaks for itself.
Wins against Burnley and Manchester City have placed Tottenham in a good position for the league season ahead, and having kept clean sheets in both, a new degree of defensive solidity may have returned to the club.
But it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows. Tottenham lost James Maddison to an ACL injury during a pre-season clash against Newcastle United in July, and he is expected to be out for much of the campaign.
Moreover, efforts for a new number ten have thus far proved fruitless: Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze both came close to one-way trips down N17, but alas, external forces have wreaked their will against Spurs’ plans.
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A talented playmaker, the 22-year-old has agitated to leave the Bundesliga club after last season’s struggles shut the door on any hopes of playing European football this season.
And while Chelsea remain interested, transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed on X on Thursday that the 22-year-old has flown to London ahead of crunch talks with the respective outfits.
Recent rejections will be stamped fresh in the minds of the Lilywhite faithful, and given that Chelsea have been working on a move for many months, it would be worthwhile for chairman Daniel Levy to identify a fallback.
Luckily, he has, and this England international might even work out to be a better signing.
Spurs prepare offer for Simons alternative
According to Spanish newspaper AS – as translated by Sport Witness – Tottenham are preparing a late-window offer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has been pursued by the Londoners several times when Ange Postecoglou was at the helm.
However, several other Premier League clubs are interested too, with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Ham United vying for the 26-year-old’s signature.
The Spaniards only welcomed Gallagher from Chelsea one year ago, but might be willing to talk business if their €40m (£35m) valuation is met.
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Palace have already made an official approach, but the pointers suggest Tottenham are getting ready to do the same, with a bid set to be lodged ‘in the coming hours’.
What Conor Gallagher would bring to Spurs
Gallagher was fashioned in the furnaces of Chelsea’s Cobham youth academy, bringing to the Premier League a robust, athletic and durable playing style.
Gallagher made 95 appearances for Chelsea before being sold, actually featuring 135 times in the Premier League all told due to successful loan stints at Selhurst Park and with West Bromwich Albion.
There may well be a vested interest in Simons, but the diminutive star hasn’t actually played Premier League football before, whereas Gallagher has, with his ex-Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo once hailing him being “like a machine”, adding so much energy and tenacity to the engine room.
He’s not quite so attack-minded as a player like Simons, but might his dynamism and multi-positional skill within the midfield game not prove worthwhile for Frank’s Tottenham?
Matches (starts)
35 (18)
37 (37)
Goals
3
5
Assists
1
7
Pass completion
85%
92%
Big chances created
5
11
Key passes*
0.6
1.4
Dribbles*
0.7 (50%)
1.0 (68%)
Ball recoveries*
5.1
6.3
Tackles*
1.3
2.3
Duels (won)*
3.5 (45%)
5.7 (50%)
After all, there have been suggestions that Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur might both leave the club before the market slams shut.
Simons is prolific, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists across 33 matches in all competitions last season. Moreover, he boasts an interesting defensive profile. His aggressive personality on the pitch, plus a high success rate in the duel, often beating his man and coming out on top during tussles.
However, Gallagher is truly the complete package, and has showcased as much across several years in his homeland and a recent foray into La Liga, where time spent under Diego Simeone’s wing will have fashioned an even steelier base to his combative side.
FBref reveal that Brentford ranked 15th in the Premier League for average possession held (47.9%) last season, with an emphasis on transitional play and applied pressure on opponents.
Gallagher, who was viewed by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to have been at tactical odds with his ball-playing vision, may well thrive in an environment at Tottenham that is not reliant on having the ball every moment, for his athleticism, fitness levels and ability to cover ground could add an impactful dimension to the squad.
And it’s not like he can’t contribute from an offensive standpoint, with FBref’s data also revealing that Gallagher ranks among the top 12% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements per 90.
Given that Maddison will be desperate to return to form when he is given the green light after the New Year, it might be shrewder and more prudent for Tottenham to sign a profile like Gallagher’s, especially with Dejan Kulusevski also readying himself to return from a muscular injury sustained toward the backend of the 2024/25 campaign.
Simons, who can play centrally and out wide, would be a fantastic buy regardless, but Chelsea lurk in the background of that race, and when considering the myriad facets, Gallagher might better fit the bill.
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