Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to hand Thomas Frank exactly what he wants this January by moving for two powerful attacking talents who could change the face of their season.
The club is ready to go all in for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, a double deal that would cost an eye-watering £145million but one that Spurs believe could transform their frontline and terrify opposition defences for years to come.
According to insiders, both players have been personally identified by Frank as the kind of explosive, direct and ruthless forwards he needs to lift the team to a higher level.
After arriving in the summer of 2025, Frank oversaw a huge rebuild at Tottenham. The club backed him heavily with major signings such as Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Kota Takai, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani.
The loans for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso were also made permanent, and Luka Vuskovic finally arrived before immediately heading out to Hamburg on loan. Spurs’ strategy was clear: overhaul the squad, raise the technical level and build a side capable of competing for major honours. But so far this season, things have not unfolded the way Frank hoped.
A humbling 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby pushed Spurs down to ninth place, leaving them three points outside the Champions League spots. It has been an inconsistent league campaign, even though they have collected eight points from four matches in the new Champions League league stage.
Tottenham still feel close to being a dangerous side, but Frank believes something significant is missing in the final third. That missing spark is why Spurs are preparing one of the biggest January pushes in their history.
Sources close to the club say Frank wants to reshape the attack with players who offer raw pace, aggression, unpredictability and the ability to punish teams instantly. That is why Semenyo and Aghehowa sit at the top of his list.
Both players fit the modern, vertical style Frank wants Spurs to play in the second half of the season. The club is determined to finish inside the top four and qualify for the Champions League again, and they feel these additions will give them the edge in what is shaping up to be a tight race.
The deals will not come cheap. Semenyo is tied to a release clause of £60million, with an additional £5m in bonuses. Liverpool are also monitoring him closely, meaning Spurs will have to act decisively to win that race.
Porto, meanwhile, have made it clear they will not entertain any offer below £80million for Aghehowa. The 21-year-old is considered one of Europe’s most promising young forwards and has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with nine goals and an assist in just 15 appearances. Porto would prefer to wait until summer, but a bid at the release-clause level would leave them with little choice.
Despite the cost, Tottenham’s board is ready to deliver. Insiders insist this is not just a luxury project it is a necessity for the football Frank wants to play. One source close to the club captured the manager’s mindset perfectly, saying Frank has been very direct with his message: Tottenham need attackers who strike fear into opponents, players who can break defensive lines on their own and bring energy and ruthlessness into the final third.
Semenyo offers exactly that. His mix of power, speed and one-v-one ability has caused problems for Premier League defenders all season, and his six goals and three assists highlight how productive he has become.
The Ghana international feels ready to take a major step in his career, and Tottenham believe they can unlock even more from him with stronger teammates and greater tactical structure. With Bournemouth sitting comfortably in mid-table, the timing could be right for him to move on.
Aghehowa, on the other hand, is all about potential and finishing instinct. His sharp movement, clean striking technique and ability to stay composed in tight areas remind many scouts of strikers who have gone on to become world-class.
Porto signed him from Atletico Madrid for £17.6million, and his value has skyrocketed in less than two seasons. Tottenham see him as a long-term investment but also someone who can make an impact immediately, especially with the service provided by the likes of Simons, Kudus and Kolo Muani.
If Tottenham can secure both signings, the picture changes dramatically. Semenyo would bring Premier League-ready explosiveness on the wing, while Aghehowa would give Spurs a cold, clinical finisher capable of punishing even the smallest mistakes. Together, they would add pace, strength, energy and unpredictability everything Frank feels is currently lacking.
For a manager who built a reputation at Brentford for turning smart signings into elite performers, this double deal would also be a statement. It would show that Tottenham are not satisfied being competitive they want to be contenders.
They want to push deep in Europe again, and they want to re-establish themselves as a club that consistently finishes in the Champions League.
As January approaches, anticipation is growing around north London. The feeling inside the club is that this is not just another transfer window.
This is a moment to reset, refocus and build a frontline capable of leading a new era under Thomas Frank. Tottenham are not just looking for attackers they are searching for game-changers, and Semenyo and Aghehowa may be exactly the pair to deliver that future.
