One Tottenham player has not made a good first impression on Thomas Frank

The atmosphere around a football club during a transfer window can often feel like a tense waiting game, especially for a player who finds himself on the outside looking in.

For Yves Bissouma at Tottenham Hotspur, that feeling has defined his summer. Despite the window having closed for Premier League clubs, his future remains uncertain, with his standing under new manager Thomas Frank appearing increasingly precarious.

According to reports from journalist Pete O’Rourke, the Mali international has failed to make a positive first impression on Frank since the manager’s arrival from Brentford.

This assessment comes after a period where the club has been openly trying to find a new home for the midfielder.

A proposed move to Galatasaray collapsed recently due to concerns over his fitness, and now, with the Turkish window still open for a short while longer, time is running out for him to secure an exit.

The situation has become even more complicated with the arrival of Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese international was signed to add steel and experience to the center of the park, and his presence has pushed Bissouma even further down the pecking order.

As O’Rourke noted, breaking into the midfield now looks like a formidable challenge for the former Brighton man, making the prospect of regular football elsewhere increasingly attractive.

This leaves Bissouma with a critical and uncomfortable decision to make. The transfer window in Turkey and Saudi Arabia remains open, offering potential lifelines.

However, interest from Fenerbahce is reported to have cooled, narrowing his options. A move to the Saudi Pro League could provide a lucrative long-term contract and guaranteed playing time, but it would also mean leaving one of Europe’s top leagues at what many would consider the peak of his career.

The alternative is to stay and fight for his place at Tottenham, a prospect that looks difficult given the current circumstances.

Warming the bench until the January window reopens could harm his chances of securing a move later and would mean spending several months without competitive action.

For Tottenham, the preference seems clear. They would be willing to listen to a suitable offer, viewing his departure as a way to free up space and resources within the squad.

For Bissouma, the choice is between embracing a new challenge in a different league or embarking on a patient—and likely frustrating—battle to change his manager’s mind. His next move will define the next chapter of his career.