Spurs open talks to sign "sensational" new Mohammed Kudus for Frank

Coffee-cup-gate has added another layer to Thomas Frank’s suffocating tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. There’s a man whose facial lines have deepened over the past six months, with his side flattering to deceive in the Premier League.

Spurs covered over a wretched 2024/25 campaign with a triumphant Europa League campaign, dispatching Manchester United in the final, a weary and wary encounter that was an eyesore for neutrals.

Tottenham didn’t care. It’s often the way in finals. And they had ended a long drought, opening a road into the Champions League. However, Ange Postecoglou, the architect of the success, was swiftly dismissed, then Daniel Levy, who pulled that lever, followed him out the door.

Now, Brennan Johnson has been sold to Crystal Palace for £35m. The Welsh winger bundled in the winner in Bilbao, but his struggles have typified Tottenham’s wider struggles under Frank’s wing.

Spurs open talks for Johnson replacement

Tottenham waved goodbye to Johnson before the transfer market roared into life, and though he hit some high notes down N17, this season has been a disaster on an individual level, and change was needed for all parties.

The injury to Mohammed Kudus, which will sideline the Ghanaian until April, was an unforeseen obstacle. The Lilywhites’ assist leader is unique and dangerous, and now ENIC Group know the need for winter reinforcements has been accentuated.

Perhaps that’s why enquiries have been made for Wolverhampton Wanderers starlet Mateus Mane. That’s according to TEAMtalk, who stress that the 18-year-old has been the subject of a number of phone calls from Premier League suitors after his emphatic emergence in recent weeks. Arsenal and Chelsea are also named.

Wolves have no intention of selling their most valuable prospect this month, but Rob Edwards’ bottom-place side are surely doomed, and a sale might provide some financial wriggle room as they plan to bounce right back from the Championship next term.

Why Mateus Mane is perfect for Spurs

It is important not to overburden an up-and-coming Premier League talent. But then, as Sir Matt Busby once said, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

Mane is old enough. With that name, a flashy and direct wide forward stands a good chance of making it big. Hailed by manager Edwards for his “sensational” goal in the recent draw against Everton at the Hill Dickinson, Mane plays without fear, and he’s developing a keen sense in front of goal.

With only four league starts to his name, maybe this is somewhat premature, but it says something of his skill and self-belief that he is shining for such an imperilled outfit, crucial in their mini-revival of recent weeks.

As per Sofascore, Mane won five duels against Everton and in the thumping win over West Ham United before that. The old Old Gold manager, Vitor Pereira, described him as a “special” talent back at the start of the campaign, and that is now being realised.

Mane said after the win over the Hammers that he’s “not scared of anything“, and it shows. He’s raw, yes, but there’s something really exciting about watching him zip up the pitch and into the danger area. In this, he’s not all that dissimilar to Kudus.

Kudus joined the club from West Ham this summer, signing for £55m. He’s not perfect, but he’s good. The 24-year-old has offered a new kind of threat this year, a source of entertainment and a creative spark in an otherwise dim room.

Given that the maverick is set to be sidelined for the best part of the campaign, it might be worth throwing the kitchen sink at Wolves’ up-and-coming star.

Mane has already shown he has what it takes to become one of the division’s most dangerous wingers, and after the recent chain of events (and against the backdrop of pre-existing attacking issues), Tottenham could do with his signature.

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He finishes like Kane: Spurs intensify talks to sign £59m Kudus replacement

Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their bid for a new forward to ease the loss of Mohammed Kudus.