Tottenham Hotspur are a club who have endured success in recent times, something which the supporters have been starved of in the last two decades.
The Lilywhites were on a 17-year drought without any form of silverware, but that all changed at the end of 2024/25, after winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou.
However, it wasn’t enough to maintain his job, leading to Thomas Frank being appointed as the man to try and build on the recent levels reached by the Lilywhites.
The Dane has numerous years of experience in the Premier League, something which will massively help him in his quest for success during his spell in North London.
He will undoubtedly want to make his own mark on the current first team squad, with the style of play that saw him be a hit at Brentford, but will also need reinforcements if he is to reach the next level in his managerial career.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of days, João Palhinha has emerged as the latest player who appears to be making a move to join Spurs during the current transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed yesterday that a deal has been agreed for the 30-year-old to join the club on an initial loan deal, with the deal having an option to buy for around £25m next summer.
However, he’s not the only star currently in their sights, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi still firmly on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that despite missing out on him in previous windows, the Lilywhites are set to meet his current asking price of around £50m, with the centre-back only having a year left on his deal.
The report also states that Newcastle United are also willing to match his asking price, which could see a battle for the 25-year-old take place in the coming weeks.
Why Spurs’ £50m target would be perfect for Palhinha
As previously mentioned, Spurs are set to complete a deal for Palhinha in the coming days, a deal that could prove to be an excellent piece of business from Frank and the board.
Whilst the Portuguese international only made six league starts last season, he still managed to produce some impressive numbers, many of which would bolster the club’s ambitions for success.
He won 1.9 tackles per 90 in the Bundesliga – a tally which put him in the top 2% of all players in the division, handing Frank a needed ball-winner at the heart of his side.
Palhinha also thrived with the ball at his feet, registering 6.3 passes into the final third per 90, achieving a 92% pass completion rate, having the tools to star in and out of possession.
If he is to be a success in North London, he will need other reinforcements in his quest to impress, potentially opening the door to a move to sign Guehi this summer.
Whilst the Englishman is a defender and his primary role is to stop the ball from entering the goal, he also has the responsibility to build up play from the back and allow the former Fulham star to prove his worth after his own move.
The Palace captain completed 84% of the passes he attempted, with a tally of 3.9 of his passes being progressive, subsequently being able to break the lines and find Palhinha in pockets of space.
Games played
34
Goals & assists
5
Pass accuracy
84%
Progressive passes
3.9
Key passes made
0.5
Tackles won
1.8
% of tackles won
66%
Blocks made
1.6
Clearances made
4.8
Aerial success rate
54%
However, Guehi, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by former goalkeeper Joe Hart, also dominated out of possession, winning 1.8 tackles per 90, and winning 52% of the aerial battles he entered.
His tally of 66% of tackles won in England’s top-flight also ranks him in the top 10% of all defenders in the division, offering key depth and quality to Frank’s side next season.
If he can transfer such skills across the capital this summer, a deal for Guehi would be another huge statement made by the hierarchy in their attempts to build on their European triumph.
He has all the tools to link up with Palhinha in possession, whilst both players could hand the Lilywhites would be gaining two defensively solid players who can help improve their record at the back, which saw them ship 65 league goals in 2024/25.
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