Tottenham’s midfield problems continue to hinder the club’s development under Thomas Frank this season.
Tottenham have quickly found themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table following a poor run of form that has placed Thomas Frank’s job at N17 under scrutiny. Defeats to Nottingham Forest and Liverpool have seen the Lilywhites slip to 13th in the standings, with just 22 points from their opening 17 league matches.
This run of losses has exposed several glaring issues within the squad that need to be addressed in the upcoming transfer window. Chief among them is the need for a reliable holding midfielder for the second half of the campaign. Spurs must strengthen in the middle of the park this winter if they are to have any realistic chance of closing the gap on their rivals under Thomas Frank in the months ahead.
Tottenham are keen on landing Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves in January.
Tottenham are keen on landing Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves in January.
More often than not, the North Londoners have been outmanoeuvred and outworked in midfield this season. Frank’s decision to drop João Palhinha from the starting eleven has deprived the side of a protective shield in front of the defence, leaving the back line exposed on the counter-attack. The club is clearly lacking a player who can deputise for Palhinha while also offering the quality required to control games from deep and create chances.
Tottenham face competition to sign Al-Hilal star Ruben Neves
It is no surprise that Tottenham are actively searching for a long-term solution to their midfield problems at N17. The Lilywhites are targeting a number six in the upcoming transfer window as they look to build on last season’s Europa League success. With Yves Bissouma linked with a potential winter exit and Palhinha advancing in age, addressing this area has become a priority in the coming weeks.
Recent reports have linked Spurs with a move for Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves. The Portuguese international is understood to be keen on a return to Europe after rejecting a new contract offer from his current club. He is eager to test himself again in one of Europe’s top five leagues, making a January move a genuine possibility if the right opportunity arises.
However, securing the 28-year-old may not be straightforward for Spurs. According to Fichajes, Real Madrid are also monitoring Neves’ situation ahead of the January transfer window. Los Blancos are looking to strengthen their midfield for the second half of the season and reportedly believe they could strike a cut-price deal with Al Hilal for the experienced midfielder.
A shrewd signing for Tottenham?
Neves’ current contract with Al Hilal is set to expire next summer, and the player has shown no desire to extend his stay in Saudi Arabia. As a result, the Saudi Pro League side are reportedly willing to cash in on the Portuguese international in January. They are said to be prepared to lower their asking price to around €20m in order to recoup part of the fee they paid Wolves for him in 2023.
Spurs would benefit greatly from adding a midfielder of Neves’ calibre for the second half of the campaign. With Pape Matar Sarr already headed out for AFCON and João Palhinha struggling for regular starts, the 28-year-old represents an attractive option to strengthen Thomas Frank’s midfield. It remains to be seen whether the North Londoners move quickly for his signature as he appears increasingly likely to leave Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks.