Thomas Frank’s success at Brentford over a seven-year period undoubtedly led to his appointment at Tottenham Hotspur, often relying on one player during his time with the Bees.
Bryan Mbeumo was often the Dane’s star man across London, with his final season working with his former manager undoubtedly the best of his professional career.
The Cameroonian international netted 20 times last campaign, helping the side secure a top-half finish in Frank’s final campaign at the helm in West London.
After his appointment with the Lilywhites, the 51-year-old attempted to land the 26-year-old attacker, but he had his heart set on a transfer to Manchester United.
Missing out on the £71m star would have been a bitter blow to the manager, but he delved into the market to land another big-money Premier League star to provide the quality he hunted for.
Mohammed Kudus’ time at Spurs so far
During the summer transfer window, Spurs splashed £55m on the signature of Mohammed Kudus, with the Ghanaian winger the player Frank chose in his hunt for success.
Such a deal was part of the Lilywhites’ over £100m spending spree, already nailing down the right-wing role in the manager’s 4-3-3 system in North London.
The 25-year-old has wasted no time in impressing the fanbase, with his subsequent transfer fee now looking like an excellent piece of business by the hierarchy.
Whilst he’s yet to open his account for his new club, Kudus has already registered two assists, with both coming on the opening day in the 3-0 triumph over Burnley.
His recent showing against Villarreal in the Champions League also highlighted his immediate impact – completing four dribbles, the most of any player within the encounter.
However, despite his recent impressive displays, it appears as though the manager has found his new Mbeumo at Spurs, but in an unlikely source that not many fans would expect.
The Spurs star who’s becoming Frank’s next Mbeumo
In the last three years, Spurs have spent over £400m on new additions, highlighting the hierarchy’s ambitions to take the club to the next level.
Their Europa League triumph is evidence that their investment has been worthwhile, allowing a generation of supporters to experience a once-in-a-lifetime European success.
Brennan Johnson, who joined in a £47.5m deal from Nottingham Forest in 2023, scored the winner in such a game, further reflecting the impact of their big-spending in the transfer market.
However, centre-back Micky van de Ven has also showcased his excellent form since his own move, making himself a household name on the teamsheet – just like Kudus has in recent weeks.
The Dutchman joined the Lilywhites in a £40m deal from Wolfsburg in the same summer as Johnson, subsequently going on to make over 50 appearances in England.
He’s built an unbreakable partnership at the heart of the defence alongside club-captain Cristian Romero – with the duo keeping a clean sheet during the Europa League final triumph.
Van de Ven has taken his performance levels to new heights since Frank’s arrival, arguably being the Dane’s most important player in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 24-year-old has been a part of the backline which has kept four clean sheets in the first five competitive outings, helping the side secure the win in the opening Champions League clash last night.
The Dutchman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has shown glimpses of being the manager’s own Mbeumo, following a similar pattern of moving to England from Europe at a young age.
Games played
13
Goals & assists
2
Pass accuracy
91%
Dribble success
50%
Tackles won
60%
Aerials won
1.7
Interceptions made
1.1
Recoveries made
5.6
While he operates in a hugely different position, he’s still managed to star at both ends of the pitch, even netting a goal in the recent Premier League victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
His rise in market value is also similar to that of the Cameroonian international, subsequently being valued at £58.3m by FootballTransfers – an increase of £18.3m on the fee paid for his signature.
It’s clear that Frank wants to build a defensive foundation for any future success, as seen by their incredible record of just one goal conceded in 2025/26 across all competitions.
Whilst Kudus has the star qualities in attack to provide added ammunition, the presence of Van de Ven at the back is arguably just as important – further highlighting why he’s rapidly developing into the manager’s most important player at present.
