Tottenham scout reveals major transfer change from Ange Postecoglou to Thomas Frank | OneFootball

Spurs clearly altered approach to signing players during eventful summer window

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Tottenham's head of scouting Rob Mackenzie has explained the club’s shift in transfer policy under Thomas Frank.

After winning the Europa League last season to earn their place in the Champions League, Spurs strengthened this summer by bringing in players with experience of Europe's top competition.

That in itself had been a deliberate plan under Ange Postecoglou. In the summer of 2024, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert were signed as Spurs looked to the future in overhauling their squad.

"There were a whole host of things from a strategic perspective that would enhance our ability to be successful moving forward,” Mackenzie told the TGG Podcast of those transfer windows under Postecoglou.

“So how do you regenerate a squad from an energy perspective, an enthusiasm perspective, a strategic perspective? Within that summer and in January, we signed players who would assist with our mid to long-term sustainability as a football club.”

Hitting the ground running: Mohammed Kudus has made an excellent start to life at Tottenham

Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

It was felt that approach needed to shift in the most recent transfer window to give new head coach Frank a squad capable of competing now, rather than in a couple of years’ time.

Mackenzie revealed that in future windows there will be more of a "balance" between the two strategies at Tottenham.

“It’s about getting a balance and complementing what you already have,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to have signed those young talents who not only can contribute now but also in the future.

“Then it felt natural [to] say, ‘Well. if we’ve hopefully done a solid role in recruiting some of the most exciting talents across Europe and beyond, then actually from a short-term competitiveness perspective… it felt natural to enhance the 11 in as many ways as possible and give Thomas Frank and his staff different options across different areas of the pitch.

Kudus and Palhinha have arguably been Spurs' two best players this season, with Frank benefitting from the shift to signing players ready to improve the starting lineup immediately.

However, Simons has yet to hit top form and questions were raised over the decision to sign Mathys Tel on a permanent deal when he was then left out of the club's squad for the league phase of the Champions League.

Despite that, Mackenzie has seen enough on the pitch this season to convince him that it was a job well done in the summer.

“Very objectively, I think we had a successful transfer window in the summer and we’ve brought in players capable of influencing our 11 and enhancing our performance in the Premier League,” he said.

“In the players that we agreed to sign – as a collective and obviously led by Thomas – they are all playing regularly and contributing to our 11. For me, that is the best indicator that there is agreement and alignment.”