Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a small but meaningful turnaround in recent weeks, giving Thomas Frank a bit of fresh air as he continues shaping his long-term project in north London.
Wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague have helped steady the mood, bringing back some belief and calming the frustration that had begun to grow around the club.
Yet even with the recent improvement, Frank knows that Spurs are still far from the finished product. The attack lacks the sharpness and precision needed to consistently break teams down, and the squad still feels one piece short in the final third.
This is why ENIC Group have been working quietly behind the scenes as the January window approaches. Tottenham want a forward who can make an instant difference, someone capable of lifting the level of the attacking unit and easing the pressure on Xavi Simons, who has been their brightest spark lately. The club’s form is improving, but the lack of a reliable, all-round striker remains the biggest issue holding Spurs back.
Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth has been Tottenham’s main target for some time. He fits the modern mould fast, direct, powerful and still young enough to grow.
But Spurs are not the only ones circling. Liverpool and Manchester City are watching the situation closely, and both clubs carry a natural pull that makes negotiations difficult. Tottenham know they need a big signing, someone closer to the level of Heung-min Son and Harry Kane, two players who have never truly been replaced as leaders of the attack.
With competition growing around Semenyo, Tottenham are exploring alternatives. One name standing out is Ivan Toney. TEAMtalk report that Spurs have already held informal talks about a potential move, with Everton and West Ham also interested.
Toney is in his second season in Saudi Arabia, earning around £400k per week, and while he is enjoying a lucrative spell abroad, he reportedly wants a Premier League return to boost his chances of making England’s squad for the next World Cup. Tax complications could slow the process, but not enough to rule out a deal.
Toney would bring something Spurs have been missing since Kane left: a powerful, clever No. 9 who can score but also create. He left England with a reputation as one of the league’s most complete forwards, and his numbers in Saudi Arabia show that he has not lost that touch.
With 42 goals and eight assists in 62 appearances for Al-Ahli, he remains a serious attacking threat. But more importantly, he knows Thomas Frank’s system intimately. He helped lift Brentford into the Premier League and then kept them competitive for three straight seasons. His understanding of movement, pressing and link-up play is something Spurs could immediately benefit from.
Semenyo, on the other hand, started the season in electric form but has gone cold since early October. His last Premier League goal involvement dates back to October 3rd, which makes Tottenham reasonably cautious about paying the £65m Bournemouth want.
Add in Richarlison’s inconsistency, Dominic Solanke’s injury problems and the club’s need for a dependable focal point, and suddenly Toney looks like the more reliable option.
England midfielder Declan Rice once described Toney as “like Harry Kane” because of his ability to finish and combine with teammates. That comparison is not made lightly. Toney can drop deeper, create space, play teammates in behind and still dominate inside the box.
He is not just a poacher he is a leader in attack, someone who brings out the best in those around him. Frank once praised him for having “the mindset of a lion,” the kind of mentality Spurs desperately need as they push to reach the levels they believe they can hit.
Below are Toney’s Premier League stats by season, showing his consistency before leaving England:
Ivan Toney: Premier League Career by Season
| Season | Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/24 | Brentford | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| 22/23 | Brentford | 33 | 20 | 4 |
| 21/22 | Brentford | 33 | 12 | 5 |
| 15/16 | Newcastle United | 2 | 0 | 0 |
These numbers make a strong argument. Spurs need someone who is proven, someone who knows the league, and someone who can slot into Frank’s structure without a long adjustment period.
Toney fits all of that. He is experienced, hungry and still at a level where he can transform a frontline. Semenyo is talented, but Toney is ready-made and Tottenham need ready-made quality right now.
If Spurs want to push back into the top tier of English football, they must start adding players who are already at that level, not just those who could get there one day.
A striker who is “like Kane,” as Rice said, would be a major step toward achieving that. And with the squad showing signs of revival, the timing could not be better for a signing with Toney’s pedigree.
With the right move, Tottenham could finally find the finishing piece they’ve been missing—and their winter plans may be pointing in that direction.
