Tottenham Transfer Reality: Frank Warns Against Football Manager Style Deals And Semenyo Interest

Thomas Frank has urged Tottenham supporters to stay realistic over transfers as pressure grows before Sunday’s Premier League match against Manchester City, revealing that Spurs held talks to sign Antoine

Semenyo earlier in January before Manchester City agreed a 65m deal with Bournemouth for the forward.

Frank’s first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is proving difficult, with Spurs currently 14th in the Premier League table and without a win in five league games, prompting sections of the fanbase to call for Frank to be sacked despite progression straight into the Champions League round of 16.

Domestic setbacks have fuelled the mood, including a 2-1 home loss to West Ham and a 2-2 draw at Burnley, part of a run of three draws and two defeats, the club’s fourth spell of at least five league matches without victory across the last two seasons, leaving scrutiny on performances and recruitment.

That West Ham defeat appeared especially damaging for Frank, as Callum Wilson’s 93rd-minute winner gave the visitors three points a fortnight ago and created a sense around the ground that the match might be Frank’s final game in charge, while chants at Burnley sharpened the feeling that the head coach’s position is under threat.

When asked if that late West Ham loss made Frank think his time at Tottenham was ending, the head coach rejected the idea and offered a wider view of the situation, saying: "No. I would say it's not about me, but I understand how football works. It's easier to blame the head coach. Of course, it's been windy and stormy weather when we're not hitting what we want to, but I think we need to get better results, no doubt about that. But all the underlying things behind the scenes. we're going the right way. Hopefully, all that work will materialise in consistently good performances and wins. "

Tottenham have been relatively quiet during the current transfer window, and while Frank accepts the squad needs help, he insisted Spurs will not behave like a simulation game before Monday’s deadline, even after strong interest in Semenyo ended when Manchester City moved first and secured an agreement with Bournemouth earlier this month.

Frank underlined both the club’s ambition and the ownership’s stance, stating: "The fans just want the best for the club," Frank 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. It is not. I can promise that the Lewis family is super committed to this project. They want to do everything andit's clear that the club wanted to sign Semenyo. They did everything. I think that's a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed. That's a big signing with finances and all that, so it's aligned with that. That's the quality players we are looking for to improve the squad. "

Supporters’ frustration has been clear at away grounds, with Frank recalling the atmosphere at Turf Moor after the draw against Burnley, saying: "The whole stand at Burnley was singing:'You're getting sacked in the morning', from 12-year-old kids to 25-year-olds to 70-year-olds! But that's the way it is. I understand that. "

Back in N17 on Sunday @Castrol pic.twitter.com/RopXTSkigBTottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 30, 2026

Tottenham prepare for Manchester City and potential Antoine Semenyo landmark

Tottenham’s meeting with Manchester City offers Semenyo a possible place in Premier League history, as the forward could become just the third player to score against Spurs for two different clubs in the same league season, following Eric Cantona in 1992-93 and Benito Carbone in 1999-00, if selected and on target for City.

Season	Player	Clubs scored for vs Tottenham
1992-93	Eric Cantona	Leeds United, Manchester United
1999-00	Benito Carbone	Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa
2025-26*	Antoine Semenyo	Bournemouth, Manchester City*

*Semenyo could achieve this if scoring for Manchester City against Tottenham.

As Tottenham approach a crucial stretch, Frank continues to argue that performances behind the scenes point in a positive direction, yet accepts that only improved results in the Premier League, alongside the club’s Champions League progress and a more effective approach in future transfer windows, will ease tension among supporters and reduce speculation about the head coach’s future.