Tottenham injury problems shape January plansTottenham’s January plans are being reshaped not by transfer strategy but by necessity, as a growing injury list has forced Thomas Frank to close ranks a...
Tottenham injury problems shape January plans
Tottenham’s January plans are being reshaped not by transfer strategy but by necessity, as a growing injury list has forced Thomas Frank to close ranks around his squad. With Lucas Bergvall now sidelined, Spurs’ room for manoeuvre has narrowed, placing renewed importance on players previously linked with moves away, including Mathys Tel and Yves Bissouma.
Rather than trimming the group, Frank has made it clear that Tottenham’s immediate priority is retention. Depth, rather than market opportunity, has become the defining theme of the month. The manager’s comments suggest a club operating in survival mode for the short term, focused on simply having enough bodies available to compete across competitions.
Bissouma back in focus for Tottenham
Bissouma’s situation reflects that shift. Once considered a likely departure during the window, the midfielder has instead been pulled back into the picture.
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Frank’s message was direct when asked about the Mali international’s future. “I would say it’s fair to say that we are not (with) that many players! And he’s a good player. He did very well against West Ham and the only thing we’re focusing on is he’s available for Burnley on Saturday.”
For Tottenham, Bissouma now represents continuity and reliability rather than a transfer asset. His reintegration underlines how quickly priorities can change when injuries bite.
Tel opportunities emerge at Tottenham
Mathys Tel has also found his prospects altered by circumstance. Mohammed Kudus’ injury has opened the door for the French attacker.
Speculation around Tel’s future has been persistent, yet Frank strongly indicated that a January exit will not be sanctioned. “The players we have in our squad, we need to keep to have enough players to perform with,” he said.
“In the Dortmund game when we had not many available players, it’s difficult to change the game when you need it or to keep the freshness up.”
Squad depth tests Tottenham flexibility
Frank’s comments also revealed how stretched Tottenham have been in recent matches, forcing tactical improvisation. “We put Jun’ai (Byfield) on, which was lovely and he did fantastic, clearly a player with big potential. And we put Pedro (Porro) into midfield, so you need to be a little bit creative sometimes.”
That creativity has been born out of necessity rather than design. While Frank confirmed that more players will be available for Burnley, the underlying message was clear. “We definitely have more available for Saturday but we need all the players available.”
For Tottenham, January is becoming less about reshaping the squad and more about preserving it. With injuries dictating policy, both Tel and Bissouma now look set to play important roles, not as transfer stories, but as essential components in keeping Spurs competitive.
Category: General Sports
