Tottenham Hotspur are enduring a new trial and taxing campaign, but Thomas Frank is adamant his project is on track and without time Spurs will be stuck in a never-ending cycle of purgatory.
But it certainly needs improvement. The 2025 Premier League table highlights Tottenham’s struggles, with only 36 points from 36 games. The points per game rate is shocking and needs to change going forward.
Years of neglect in team planning have left Spurs in a slump, but victory in last season’s Europa League final laid the foundations for a potentially prosperous chapter.
Outside help is needed, but Frank has the backing of his board of directors. Any number of positions could be targeted, but after a poor first half of the season, the North Londoners clearly need more creativity.
Target Spurs’ offensive signs
Tottenham parted ways with Son Heung-min last summer, with the club legend fulfilling his obligation and returning the silverware to N17 after 10 years of service. Harry Kane left two years ago.
Premier League xG total | ||
|---|---|---|
team | Number of points scored | xG |
(1) Man City | 41 | 32.4 |
(2)Man United | 31 | 31.5 |
(3) Arsenal | 31 | 28.5 |
(4) Chelsea | 29 | 28.1 |
(5) Crystal Palace | twenty one | 27.7 |
(17) Tottenham | 26 | 16.2 |
Data via FBref | ||
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability that a shot will result in a goal.
You need a strong power like a talisman. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is on the long-term list but looks set to leave for Manchester City. However, with Brennan Johnson closing in on a move to Crystal Palace in January, a right-sided forward is needed.
Tottenham have named a replacement player, and team talk revealed that AS Monaco star Magnes Akrios is a player under consideration, but Paris Saint-Germain and others have expressed interest, raising concerns about his future.
Acrioche, a 23-year-old worth £40m, would be a more cost-effective signing than Semenyo and may have greater potential than the Premier League’s hottest player.
Why Akuriosh could become a Spurs superstar
Frenchman Acrioch has quickly risen to prominence at Monaco in recent years and has featured on the right wing in Ligue 1 this season, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
Acryuche is more of a playmaking winger than someone like Semenyo, or even Son for that matter, but this could actually be a boon for a Spurs side that lacked clarity and dynamism in their build-up.
He has already created seven big chances in the French top flight, averaging 5.3 ball recoveries per game, according to Sofascore, and also has the energy and drive to promote Frank’s hard-working philosophy.
They are also looking to bring in a first-class centre-forward at some stage, and with Acrioche boasting a “golden left foot” as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, this could be a fantastic signing for Frank’s regime.
Akurioche vs Semenyo (last 12 months) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Akryosh | Semenyo |
Number of points scored | 0.16 | 0.39 |
assist | 0.30 | 0.19 |
shot taken | 2.25 | 2.60 |
The action that creates the shot | 4.13 | 3.59 |
touch (to pen) | 5.07 | 4.86 |
Pass completion rate (%) | 82.9 | 72.8 |
progressive path | 5.77 | 3.43 |
progressive carry | 3.81 | 3.62 |
successful take-up | 1.53 | 1.58 |
Number of balls collected | 4.89 | 4.20 |
Tackle + Interception | 2.31 | 1.82 |
Data via FBref | ||
And while he lacks the clinical acumen of Son or Semenyo, his athleticism and natural creative well-being highlight his potential to become a superstar in north London.
Analyst Ben Mattinson praised his “ridiculous” technical qualities, and this is exactly the progressive signing Tottenham need to achieve balance and fluency in the final third while maintaining a combativeness that plugs holes in leaky defensive areas.
Ultimately, Tottenham will need to make a series of additions to get back into the ascendancy, but signing Akurioche, a winger who could make fans forget about Semenyo, would be a strong step in the right direction for them.
Kudus upgraded: Spurs considering ‘future £100m star’ after Semenyo rejection
Tottenham are looking to strengthen their forward line in the January transfer window.

