Spurs open talks to sign £80m star who could be their new Dembele

It’s safe to say that the pressure is mounting on Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank.

After the departure of Ange Postecoglou, who was relieved of his duties after finishing 17th, the feeling was that it couldn’t get much worse.

Well, Frank’s side may not be in danger of getting relegated but at least Ange Ball engineered a European trophy last term. Now, with a new regime, a trophyless season beckons.

Spurs have only won one of their last seven games and there is a sense among supporters that a new manager should be sourced. January was meant to be about welcoming new players into the squad but it may actually see a new coaching staff arrive.

But, let’s put any thoughts of a new manager arriving on hold for a moment. Perhaps some new recruits could take Frank’s men to new heights.

Spurs looking at Premier League midfielder

Teenage left-back Souza looks set to arrive from Santos this January. The defender is highly-rated and a deal is all but confirmed for the young Brazilian to move to English football.

While he is unlikely to walk straight into the XI, it continues a theme of Spurs signing exceptional young talents. Frank already has the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall at his disposal.

On top of that, there must be a realisation that first-team-ready players must be brought in. In attack, a replacement for Brennan Johnson should be found, particularly after Mohammed Kudus picked up an injury.

Johnson headed for Crystal Palace and the Lilywhites could head back into negotiations with the Eagles in 2026.

Indeed, according to a report from TEAMtalk, club-to-club talks have already begun over the potential signing of England international Adam Wharton.

The young Palace midfielder is highly sought-after but it’s Spurs who have been making what is described as ‘discreet enquiries’ to understand the situation surrounding a possible deal in the future.

That being said, they may well have to pay a fortune. Previous reports suggest he has been valued as high as £100m. Other reports actually suggest it could be around the £80m mark, meaning a club-record fee is likely to be needed.

Why Adam Wharton is the new Mousa Dembele in waiting

“Dembele was probably the best player I’ve ever seen play football,” Kyle Walker once remarked. Another former teammate in Eric Dier simply said he was “a freak of nature”.

Yeah, not a bad midfielder on his day, was he? It’s why Spurs have struggled to replace his qualities in recent years.

They have tried and ultimately failed to do so with Tanguy Ndombele, the most notable name to grace the midfield since the Belgium international departed.

Spurs’ former club-record signing is one of the most technically gifted players we’ve seen in north London during recent years but he is ultimately remembered as a flop. Jose Mourinho summarised things rather aptly back in 2020, saying: “A player with his potential has to give us more than he is giving us.”

Players like Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur have been brought to the club since and while Joao Palhinha has shored things up after signing last summer, there is still a Dembele-shaped hole in the middle of the park.

That is where Wharton comes into the equation. While the 21-year-old may not possess the ability to be quite as progressive as Dembele, breaking forward with the ball at his feet like a Declan Rice may do, they do share some similar qualities.

Dembele was one of the most composed players in the game during his time in the Premier League. He could evade the press exceptionally, he could pass well and he could break things up.

Well, Wharton certainly possesses those same traits. Speaking in May 2024, Palace boss Oliver Glasner commented: “His decision-making, his pre-orientation, his solutions with one or two touches are amazing.”

Furthermore, the head of Blackburn Rovers’ academy, Stuart Jones, previously stated: “In terms of his attributes, he was always an outstanding footballer, intelligence, his ability on the football. His football intelligence and game understanding, he sees things that possibly other players don’t see and he’s always shown that from a young age.”

That all sounds rather Dembele, doesn’t it? The Belgian was never a rampant threat in the final third but as far as midfielders go, there were not many with a better football brain or many better at retaining possession.

While the former Spurs man was more physical, the technical elegance the two players possess are incredibly striking. Former Fulham manager, Mark Hughes, said of their time together: “The players used to call him ‘the doctor’ because every time you give Mousa [Dembele] the ball he makes things better.”

Also both boasting wonderful left feet, it’s safe to say that Wharton could finally be the long-awaited Dembele replacement that Spurs have been craving for all these years.

He’s wise beyond his years, possesses the same spark and composure Dembele used to and is a player you simply want to give the ball to as much as possible. This could well be the arrival of a new midfield maestro in the Tottenham Hotspur engine room.

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