The Thomas Frank era at Tottenham Hotspur began with a gut-wrenching twist on Wednesday night, as his new side were edged out by Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout in the UEFA Super Cup. Yet, for all the heartbreak, there was plenty to admire from an energetic and largely disciplined Spurs performance against one of Europe’s most fearsome attacking machines.
Spurs had more than matched the Champions League holders for much of the evening, showcasing the tactical organisation and counter-attacking intent Frank is known for. But the evening was overshadowed by a deeper concern — the absence of creative talisman James Maddison, whose injury threatens to derail some of the optimism surrounding Tottenham’s season.
Maddison’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time. The England playmaker, integral to both Spurs’ attacking rhythm and Gareth Southgate’s plans for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, faces a period on the sidelines that will leave a sizeable creative void. Dejan Kulusevski is still in recovery from a patella issue, while Tottenham’s failed and controversial pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White now looks even more costly in hindsight.
Compounding the situation is the summer departure of captain and club legend Heung-min Son, who completed a £20m switch to MLS side LAFC. His move leaves Spurs not only light on experience but short of an attacker who can both create and score. Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the Maddison-shaped hole, with advanced talks ongoing. Yet the PSG clash made one thing abundantly clear — Spurs require more than just a Maddison replacement if they are to compete with Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League elite.
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Savinho: Tottenham’s £67m Brazilian Target
One name firmly on Tottenham’s radar is Savinho, the 21-year-old Brazilian winger currently on Manchester City’s books. Signed from French side Troyes last summer for around £31m, Savinho’s debut season in Europe saw him contribute 13 assists and three goals in 48 appearances. While not prolific, his pace, creativity, and ability to stretch defences have drawn comparisons to some of Brazil’s most exciting modern attackers.
Savinho is a two-footed wide player capable of operating on either flank, making him a versatile weapon for Frank’s high-energy, wide-forward system. His game is defined less by raw finishing numbers and more by his relentless running, clever off-the-ball movement, and capacity to break lines with direct dribbles. City, however, are reluctant sellers. With Pep Guardiola eyeing a move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, the Premier League champions are holding out for a hefty £67m fee — nearly double what they paid just 12 months ago.
While Spurs have opened preliminary talks, Daniel Levy is wary of committing such a figure for a winger who scored just once in the league last season, especially given the club’s other transfer priorities. That financial hesitation has led Tottenham to explore an alternative — one who could cost significantly less while offering a similar attacking profile.
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The Kubo Option: A Rising Star Ready for a Bigger Stage
Enter Takefusa Kubo. The Japanese international, currently starring for Real Sociedad, has quietly been one of La Liga’s most technically gifted young wingers. Still just 23, Kubo’s career has long been shadowed by the weight of expectation, having been labelled a “special talent” in his teenage years. Now, with Sociedad unable to match his ambitions, he appears ready for a move to a club competing regularly in the Champions League.
Tottenham’s opening offer of €40m (£34m) was swiftly rejected, with the Basque club pointing to Kubo’s €60m (£51m) release clause. Spurs are not alone in the chase — Bournemouth, Everton, West Ham, and AC Milan are all keeping tabs — but their ability to offer European nights under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could prove decisive.
Kubo, like Savinho, can operate across the frontline, though he is most comfortable cutting in from the right. His 2023/24 season saw him become a focal point for Sociedad’s attack, even as the team underperformed collectively. Despite failing to register a single assist in La Liga — a statistic that raised eyebrows — his underlying metrics tell a different story, with his chance creation numbers ranking among the league’s most promising.
His main shortcoming is an over-reliance on hugging the touchline rather than drifting into more dangerous central spaces. Still, Kubo offers a more clinical edge than Savinho, with sharper decision-making in the final third and a knack for finding pockets of space when attacking transitions develop quickly.
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Who Should Spurs Choose?
The decision ultimately comes down to Tottenham’s appetite for risk versus their desire for proven adaptability. Savinho is younger, more physical, and arguably has the higher long-term ceiling, but his end product remains a work in progress — and at £67m, he represents a significant gamble. Kubo, meanwhile, is further along in his development, has Champions League ambitions, and possesses a refined technical base that could make him a more immediate fit for Frank’s system.
Frank’s track record of nurturing wingers into elite-level performers — turning raw pace into polished product — means either player could flourish under his guidance. But given City’s hard stance on Savinho’s price tag, Tottenham may find Kubo the more attainable, and possibly smarter, investment in the short term.
If Levy can close the deal swiftly, Tottenham could have their Son Heung-min successor in place before the window closes — and in doing so, give Frank the firepower needed to turn near misses, like Wednesday’s PSG defeat, into memorable victories.
