After Tottenham Hotspur finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season, new boss Thomas Frank was always going to have a huge task on his hands – especially without the help of Bryan Mbeumo.
During his time at Brentford, the Dane was able to rely upon the attacker to produce the goods in the final third, which undoubtedly contributed to his impressive tenure across the capital.
The Cameroonian international netted 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25 – the best return of his career to date – highlighting how impressive the 26-year-old was under Frank’s guidance.
Such form led to the 51-year-old trying to sign him after taking over as Lilywhites boss, but the forward decided in favour of a £71m transfer to join Manchester United instead.
There’s no denying that missing out on his signature would have been a bitter blow to Frank, but instead he was able to delve into the market to land another one of his summer targets.
Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs
In a move that somewhat caused controversy, Spurs landed the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham United during Frank’s first transfer window.
The deal was worth in the region of £55m excluding potential add-ons, with real hope that the Ghanaian would improve the options currently available within the final third.
It may be only early days into his career in North London, but the 25-year-old has wasted no time in impressing the fanbase and looking to be worth every penny of his big-money transfer fee.
Kudus has failed to score to date, but he has been a constant creative threat, often causing the opposition backline no end of problems – whether that be in Europe or domestically.
He’s laid on four assists for his teammates in his nine appearances across all competitions, with his cameo against Bodo Glimt on Tuesday further showcasing his talents with the ball at his feet.
Despite featuring for just half an hour off the bench, Kudus posted a total of five successful dribbles – a tally that was higher than any other player on the pitch.
There’s no disputing that the winger has taken no time in impressing for the Lilywhites, but there’s another player on the books that could be Frank’s next Mbeumo in North London.
The Spurs player who’s Frank’s next Mbeumo
As previously mentioned, Frank was able to get the best out of Mbeumo, subsequently transforming him into an elite-level talent after joining the Bees from French side Troyes back in the summer of 2019.
The duo’s partnership really was something to fear, leading to the Cameroonian ending last year as one of only five players in the division to bag 20 goals or more.
Delving into the market at the first opportunity showcased his desire for new additions to help emulate the talent he had at his disposal at the GTEC.
However, he may already have his next Mbeumo in the form of Brennan Johnson, with the Welshman a player who’s previously been of huge admiration to the boss.
During his time with the Bees, the Dane tried to land the winger on numerous occasions, even placing multiple bids for his services when he was at Nottingham Forest.
Evidently, his attempts to secure his signature were unsuccessful, leading to Johnson moving to Spurs in a £47.5m deal from the Reds back in the summer of 2023.
Whilst he’s come under fire in recent times, there’s no denying the player has been worth the huge money spent on his services, with the attacker often popping up in key moments.
Johnson, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, registered 18 goals in all competitions last season – the highest of any player in the squad – even netting the winner in the Europa League final.
Such a tally showcases the clinical nature he possesses when in front of goal, similar to that of Mbeumo, with the Welshman having the tools to be the manager’s next version of the forward.
1. Brennan Johnson
11
2. James Maddison
9
= Dominic Solanke
9
3. Dejan Kulusevski
7
= Heung-min Son
7
4. Richarlison
4
5. Pape Sarr
3
The comparison is also evident given their similar roles, with both players able to operate off the right-hand side, or even in central areas – something which is less seen with the Lilywhites star.
Both have also had a knack for often being ineffective before popping up with key goals at crucial moments, as seen by the Spurs star’s performance against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.
The addition of Kudus has reduced the game time of the 24-year-old in recent months, which could result in fewer minutes and make it harder to replicate his form from the European-winning campaign.
However, given the manager’s previous attempts to sign him, there’s no doubt he has faith in the attacker to be a success during his tenure in charge of the Lilywhites.
Johnson is a player who hugely relies on confidence to thrive, with the manager desperately needing to put his arm around him and back him if he is to match the heights of Mbeumo in the years ahead.
