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Who will be Frank's number 10?

Who will be Frank's number 10?

BBC News25-07-2025
One of Thomas Frank's most reliable performers last season at Brentford was his elegant playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard.The 25-year-old was largely deployed as a number 10 in Frank's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and contributed 10 assists in 34 top-flight starts.But the Dane's work-rate - something Frank demands from his creative players - also caught the eye and he won possession 35 times in the final third last term, more than any other Premier League midfielder.So can anybody replicate Damsgaard's output for Frank in this Tottenham team?The obvious choice is James Maddison, who possesses the necessary creativity and passing ability - he scored nine goals and provided seven assists for Spurs in the league in 20024-25. However, he ran an average of 10.7km per game, which is the lowest of any of Tottenham's recognised midfielders.Dejan Kulusevski was used centrally by Ange Postecoglou and is one of the side's most imaginative and industrious midfielders. The Sweden international chipped in with seven goals and four assists and covered an average of 12.4km per 90 minutes - only compatriot Lucas Bergvall ran further in a Spurs shirt last season.Another option is Mohammed Kudus, who played alongside Damsgaard at FC Nordsjaelland in 2019-20. The Ghana international mostly featured on the right at West Ham but has repeatedly said his preferred position is through the middle. He is a superb dribbler but created an average of just one chance per game from open play in 2024-25.
Kulusevski is nursing a knee injury and had surgery in May, meaning it is likely to be a straight shootout between Kudus and Maddison - who has just recovered from his own knee problem – to fulfil that role in the short to medium term.Alternatively, Tottenham could still sign Nottingham Forest's number 10 and creator-in-chief Morgan Gibbs-White, who they made an approach for earlier this month.Of course, Spurs could always try to sign Damsgaard to join his former manager and play the role himself, but he did only extend his contract with the Bees until 2030 in January.Sign up for news alerts on your Premier League team
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Mum wins £4M mansion in celebrity neighbourhood but thinks they've won sausages

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Mum wins £4M mansion in celebrity neighbourhood but thinks they've won sausages

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Man Utd transfer news: Amorim's role in Sesko deal as rivals provide Baleba competition
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Daily Mirror

time8 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Man Utd transfer news: Amorim's role in Sesko deal as rivals provide Baleba competition

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Sportshour  The fight back
Sportshour  The fight back

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