The victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night may have given Thomas Frank a momentary “stay of execution” as Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach, but the celebrations have done little to hide the growing cracks within his squad.
While the 2-0 win in the Champions League was a much-needed breath of fresh air for the fans, it has also brought the future of two high-profile French attackers into sharp focus. As the January transfer window enters its final stages, the club is facing a major decision regarding Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel, both of whom are reportedly considering shock exits before the month is out.
At the heart of the frustration is Randal Kolo Muani. The striker, who arrived on a high-profile loan from Paris Saint-Germain with a staggering £210,000-a-week wage packet, has become a lightning rod for criticism.
Despite his massive reputation, his impact in London has been bafflingly limited. Most of his meaningful contributions have occurred exclusively in Europe, and strangely enough, primarily against his parent club.
He managed two goals and an assist in a wild 5-3 loss to PSG, but his domestic form is a different story entirely. In 15 Premier League appearances, the Frenchman has failed to register a single goal or assist a statistic that is impossible to ignore for a player of his cost.
The tension reached a boiling point during the Dortmund match. In what was perhaps Thomas Frank’s only major selection gamble, he left Kolo Muani on the bench, making him the only fit, senior outfield player not to start.
When he did eventually come on for the final twenty minutes to replace Dominic Solanke, the performance was once again underwhelming. With only seven touches and a single shot, it wasn’t just the lack of production that bothered the Spurs faithful; it was a perceived lack of effort. In a results-driven industry where work rate is the bare minimum, the supporters have started to lose patience with the superstar loanee.
On the other side of this dilemma is Mathys Tel. The 20-year-old completed a permanent £30 million move to Tottenham in the summer and has quickly become a fan favorite.
However, despite his obvious potential and superior efficiency, he has spent significantly less time on the pitch than Kolo Muani. To put things in perspective, Kolo Muani has logged nearly 930 minutes of league football, while Tel has been limited to just 527.
Despite the lack of minutes, Tel has managed to find the net three times. This disparity has led to a growing outcry from the stands, with many questioning why the permanent investment is being sidelined in favor of a struggling loanee.
| Player Comparison | Minutes (PL) | Goals (PL) | Status | Wage/Cost |
| Randal Kolo Muani | 930 | 0 | On Loan | £210,000-per-week |
| Mathys Tel | 527 | 3 | Permanent | £30,000,000 Fee |
Reports now suggest that both players are looking for a way out this month, but for very different reasons. Tel is understandably hungry for more game time and is being linked with a loan move to Paris FC to continue his development.
Meanwhile, Kolo Muani is reportedly open to a loan recall that would see him return to PSG. For most Tottenham supporters, the choice is clear: they would much rather see the back of Kolo Muani.
Keeping Tel, who represents the long-term future of the club, is seen as the priority, while offloading the heavy wages of the PSG man would provide the club with much-needed flexibility.
From a strategic standpoint, letting Kolo Muani go back to France makes a lot of sense for Thomas Frank and the Spurs hierarchy. Premier League rules limit clubs to having only two players on loan at any given time.
With Joao Palhinha taking up the other spot, Tottenham is currently at its limit. If they can negotiate an early end to Kolo Muani’s stay, they would suddenly have the freedom to “take a punt” on a new signing for the second half of the season.
This is a strategy the club has used successfully in the past. Players like Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro initially arrived on loan deals that allowed the club to test the waters before committing to massive transfer fees.
By clearing Kolo Muani’s spot, the recruitment team could find a more motivated, hard-working alternative to help push the team toward a top-four finish. As the clock ticks down on the January window, the decision to prioritize the permanent talent of Tel over the expensive frustration of Kolo Muani seems like the only logical path forward for a club trying to find its identity under Thomas Frank.
