The January transfer window has officially slammed shut, and for Tottenham Hotspur, the silence in the final hours has left a lingering sense of unease. As the dust settles on another month of high-stakes trading, the general consensus among the N17 faithful is that Thomas Frank’s squad is navigating a storm with a vessel full of holes that remain stubbornly unplugged.
While the club managed to retain some key figures, the reality is that the team appears arguably weaker now than it did on New Year’s Day.
The departure of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for a hefty sum has thinned the attacking ranks, a situation made worse by a medical room that seems to be operating at full capacity. With dynamic playmakers like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined, and both Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus joining the long-term injury list, the creative spark in North London has dimmed.
While Dominic Solanke has shown his class since returning to fitness, he cannot carry the offensive burden alone. This lack of depth has turned the spotlight onto a specific missed opportunity: the failed pursuit of Antoine Semenyo.
The Ghanaian forward was a primary target for Spurs, but the club was ultimately outmuscled and outmaneuvered by Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side triggered Semenyo’s release clause in a deal worth £62 million, securing a player who had become one of the most feared attackers in the league during his time at Bournemouth.
Since arriving at the Etihad, Semenyo has hit the ground running, displaying a clinical edge and a directness that is currently missing from the Tottenham frontline. His ability to operate on either wing with equal effectiveness makes him a nightmare for defenders, and his early statistics in Manchester only twist the knife for a Spurs board that came so close to signing him last summer.
| Player | Apps (Minutes) | Goals + Assists |
| Antoine Semenyo | 5 (424′) | 4 + 1 |
| Dominic Solanke | 6 (302′) | 4 + 0 |
| Wilson Odobert | 6 (448′) | 1 + 3 |
| Randal Kolo Muani | 5 (321′) | 1 + 1 |
| Richarlison | 1 (31′) | 0 + 0 |
| Mathys Tel | 4 (174′) | 0 + 0 |
As the table illustrates, Semenyo’s impact has been immediate and profound, outperforming most of Tottenham’s current attacking options in terms of pure output per minute. For Thomas Frank, whose position is under increasing scrutiny due to a lack of tactical fluency, missing out on such a transformative talent feels like a massive blow.
However, amidst the frustration over what might have been, ENIC and the Tottenham hierarchy may have already struck gold elsewhere. While Semenyo is the man of the moment, Spurs possess a talent that many experts believe has a significantly higher ceiling: Xavi Simons.
Acquired from RB Leipzig last summer for £52 million, the Dutch international represents a vision of the future that is both ambitious and potentially world-beating.
Simons’ introduction to English football was not without its hurdles. He was initially criticized for being “swallowed” by the sheer physicality of the Premier League, struggling to impose his technical brilliance on games that were often chaotic and disjointed.
Yet, it is important to remember that Simons joined a team that was and arguably still is tactically dysfunctional. He is a player who thrives on “magic” and intricate interplay, qualities that are hard to display when the team around you is struggling for basic cohesion.
At just 22 years old, Simons is a developmental masterpiece. When comparing him to Semenyo, it is vital to note that at the same age, the now-City star was still finding his feet in the Championship. Simons, by contrast, has already dominated in the Bundesliga and performed on the biggest stages in European football.
His value reflects this potential; according to recent data from the CIES Football Observatory, the playmaker’s market value has already skyrocketed to approximately £82 million. This valuation makes him the most valuable asset in the Spurs squad and, statistically, a more precious commodity than Semenyo himself.
The Dutch youngster possesses a rare ability to navigate tight spaces and unlock defenses with a single pass. While he may not offer the raw, explosive power of Semenyo, his footballing intelligence is elite.
As he continues to adapt to the pace of the English game, the “magic” moments that earned him such high praise in Germany are becoming more frequent in a white shirt. He is a potential superstar in the making, and if Thomas Frank can stabilize the team’s overall structure, Simons is expected to be the catalyst for a new era of attacking football.
While the missed signing of Semenyo will likely haunt the boardroom through the spring, the long-term success of the ENIC era may well be defined by the development of Xavi Simons. He is a shrewd investment that is already paying dividends in market value, even if the on-pitch results are still catching up.
For the fans, the message is clear: the present might be rocky, but in Simons, the club has a gem that could eventually shine brighter than any other star in London.
