For any new manager stepping into the biggest role of their career so far, a statement first transfer window can go a long way to setting the tone for a successful time at the club.
For Thomas Frank, he is faced with the prospect of improving a squad which both suffered greatly and achieved unexpected glory last season. It is difficult to predict where Tottenham Hotspur‘s 2025/26 season will go, and so it is Frank’s job to bring in players capable of taking the Europa League winners to another level.
We identified six players who could do just that for Spurs if they are brought in this summer, with some statement signings across a variety of positions.
Marc Guehi
A major concern for Frank will be to shore up his new side in defensive positions, after they conceded a massive 65 Premier League goals and kept just six clean sheets across the season.
Rumours that Cristian Romero is a target for Atletico Madrid only increase the problem at hand, though Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi may be the perfect solution.
England international Guehi is already a seasoned Premier League centre-half at the age of just 24, leading by example as his side won the FA Cup and earning 23 caps for his country, including a series of standout performances after he was handed a starting spot for the Three Lions at Euro 2024.
Guehi is clearly a man for the big occasion, and will feel he is ready to flourish on the biggest stages in the Champions League. He could shine for Spurs alongside the imperious figure of Micky van de Ven, and, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal and the capable options of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence at full-back, Frank may feel that he has all the tools for a strong defensive unit in North London.
Antoine Semenyo
Touted as a major transfer target for both Spurs and Manchester United, the Lilywhites will feel that Champions League football gives them the upper hand as they attempt to let Semenyo live out his dream at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
An outstanding performer across his two-and-a-half years at Bournemouth, the Cherries will be reluctant to part with the Ghana international cheaply if Milos Kerkez follows Dean Huijsen out of the exit door.
A price tag of £60m has been quoted for Semenyo, which may be viewed as worth paying for a 25-year-old with 19 Premier League goals from the wing in his last two seasons.
Spurs remain in the running for Bryan Mbeumo due to his Brentford connection with Frank, though it is believed that the Cameroon international wants to sign for Manchester United. Should this happen, it is still possible that Frank may raid his former club for another major signing.
Yoane Wissa
He may not get the plaudits Bryan Mbeumo does, but Yoane Wissa was equally important to Brentford’s attacking potency last season and may also look to move onto pastures new this summer.
The 28-year-old registered a career best of 19 league goals and five assists last season, and Frank may look to reunite with him at Spurs to offer increased firepower and competition for Dominic Solanke up top as the North Londoners aim to fight on all fronts.
Eberechi Eze
Rumours linking Eberechi Eze with Spurs have reignited on X following a recent report by TBR Football. The Europa League winners have held an interest in the Crystal Palace man for some time and may yet make their move.
If Palace are blocked from entering the Europa League, the 26-year-old may feel it is time to take the next step in his career and shine on a bigger stage. Having scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final to secure a first major trophy in the club’s history, Eze will forever have his name etched in Palace folklore and may feel that he has done all he can with the South Londoners.
With a £68m release clause he will not come cheaply, and Palace are not forced to sell, making this deal difficult to do, but never say never.
Jack Grealish
While this may appear a risky move, it may yet prove a masterstroke. Jack Grealish will leave Manchester City this summer, even Pep Guardiola has all-but admitted it.
Grealish’s quality has never been questioned, and Spurs may be on the look-out for a new left winger should Son Heung-Min depart following the club’s friendly in South Korea in August, as is anticipated.
A loan move for Grealish may be the most viable option, and will not cut a major hole in the club’s transfer budget amidst other big-money signings. But a £50m option to sign the 29-year-old may be on the table, should Spurs decide he is worth the investment.
Should a move materialise, Grealish could combine seamlessly with the likes of Eze and Udogie in a new-look Spurs team to find his feet and his innate creativity in the final third once again.
Tyler Dibling
Signing 19-year-old Tyler Dibling would be a statement by Thomas Frank for different reasons.
Spurs brought in teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall last summer and also boast Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert in their ranks, so Dibling could complete a quintet of talented starlets ready to be moulded and developed by Frank.
Renowned for his ability to drive effortlessly up the pitch with the ball, former manager Russell Martin called Dibling the “most talented player he has ever seen” during an interview with Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast, and it is easy to see why.
Dibling could reportedly cost around £51m, a more reasonable price than the ambitious £100m valuation quoted in previous months, and is a gamble but could be a worthwhile one. With several Premier League clubs interested, this could be one of those ‘what-if’ moments.