
Tottenham’s attacking shortcomings continue to hinder their progress under Thomas Frank, even as they aim to compete on all four fronts this season. The Lilywhites have enjoyed a bright start to the new campaign, but the absence of a natural left-winger could become a major concern for the Danish tactician as the season wears on. Sooner or later, Spurs’ attacking vulnerabilities are likely to be exposed by stronger opposition.
Despite prioritizing attacking reinforcements in the summer transfer window, Tottenham did not treat finding a long-term replacement for Heung-Min Son as a key objective. The club successfully strengthened the right flank by signing Mohammed Kudus and added depth up front with Randal Kolo Muani. However, failing to recruit a new left-winger might come back to haunt them in the coming weeks.
At present, Frank has been relying on Brennan Johnson — naturally a right-winger — and Wilson Odobert to fill the void on the left. Both players have worked hard to offer a different dimension in the final third, but their inability to consistently pose a threat down the left channel remains an issue that Tottenham must address sooner rather than later.
Recent reports suggest Tottenham are interested in signing Kevin Schade from Brentford in the coming months. The Germany international has made some huge strides in the Premier League in recent seasons, and Thomas Frank is keen to reunite with him as the Lilywhites look to bring in a new left-winger. As of now, the Bees have no intentions of losing Schade, but an offer worth €25-30m might tempt them to part ways with the 23-year-old.
To add to this, Thomas Frank is now pushing Spurs to sign the versatile attacker in the winter. According to Mick Brown (via Football Insider),
“Kevin Schade is somebody the manager knows inside out. He’s had him before and worked with him closely, so he will know what his strengths and limitations are and how he would fit into this Tottenham team. So, if he thinks he’s the type of player who would improve them, he’ll be pushing for the club to go out and sign him in January.”
The ex-scout added,
“It seems to me that Spurs are quite well-stocked out wide, I wouldn’t expect it to be a priority for them. But you never know, they’re always looking to add more depth and build on what they’ve got. If the manager thinks bringing him in would help them be successful and compete at the right end of the table, then it could be one they look to do.”
Having worked with Schade at Brentford, Thomas Frank knows what the youngster can bring to N17. And that is exactly why the Danish tactician is pushing Tottenham to land the 23-year-old as he can operate across the frontline. However, Mick Brown suggests that the Lilywhites are not making his signing a priority as they have enough players that could operate in the wide areas.
That said, it is always good to have depth in the squad. If Frank can once again unlock the best version of Schade, the move could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business. The 23-year-old excels in wide areas, making clever overlapping and underlapping runs while carrying the ball with confidence. His ability to take on defenders, coupled with strong close control and dribbling skills, makes him particularly effective against low-block defences. For a Tottenham side looking to add more dynamism and creativity in attack, Schade’s profile fits the bill perfectly.
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