Spurs to step up bid for £100m ‘machine’

Tottenham Hotspur ended 2025 with a win. Victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park reignited their hopes of securing a place in next season’s Champions League, but there is still a long way to go.

Thomas Frank was pleased with a lively and resilient performance, but will of course recognize that improvement is needed.

The Luiz family welcomes the investment in the January transfer window and needs to add another technical quality to Frank’s central midfield.

Spurs plan to sign midfielder

Last season’s winter transfer window was a busy one, and that trend is likely to continue next month. Tottenham need to make sure they get into a big-spending side, with tactical imbalances and unimpressive players hampering Frank’s project.

It’s worth reminding that both James Madison and Dejan Kulusevski are scheduled to return in the new year after battling long-term issues. Neither has featured under Frank’s management.

However, Tottenham need more control. An anchor in a deeper berth. Rodrigo Bentancur and Joan Parinha flattered to deceive in the middle of the park.

Adam Wharton would be a huge upgrade and TEAMtalk insider Dean Jones claimed the North Londoners are ready to further their long-standing interest in the Crystal Palace midfielder.

Palace value the 21-year-old Wharton at £100m, but with a number of elite suitors circling, Tottenham may be wise to pay that amount in 2026. This would strengthen Frank’s system and further strengthen it.

Why Wharton is an upgrade over Bentancur

In defense, Bentancur has spent much of his time at Tottenham battling injuries. However, Bentancur’s defense has been getting good points this season, and there is still a lot of room for improvement on the ball, and the team’s offensive efforts are increasing.

Analyst Raj Chauhan went so far as to claim that the 28-year-old is the “worst central midfield candidate at a big six club”. Standing on the high-speed track at Selhurst Park, Wharton will add youth and energy to a midfield that desperately needs all of the above.

Bentancur is an established and technically gifted international player. He has extensive experience at the highest level. It’s no exaggeration to wish he would pass the ball forward from time to time.

Wharton beats him in that regard. The “passing machine,” as noted journalist Henry Winter described him, is comprised of and gleaned from the core of the Eagles’ system, contributing to Oliver Glassner’s title success over the past year.

Additionally, Wharton is a capable defender. He has won 56% of his ground battles in the Premier League this season, averaging 1.9 tackles per game, according to Sofascore.

And he’s getting better and better. The England international has more to his game than Bentancur, who has been wobbly and uninspired in front of his partner in Palinha, who is characterized by his tough tackling and combative personality.

There isn’t enough variation or nuance.

Tottenham need to sign Wharton if they are to have any glimmer of hope. Palace will likely take a hard stance on winter signings, but Spurs will likely tackle a number of different positions in January and could reap big rewards for attacking on time during the summer.

Tottenham’s new hierarchy must show their ambition next month by adding quality to Frank’s squad. There’s only so much Bentancur can do, and having Wharton at the core would only shore up the bench, clean up the center, and add another dimension to the Spurs’ creative efforts.