Tottenham are not close to spending £100m on a single player in the way Arsenal have, according to head coach Frank Thomas.
Spurs have undergone major changes since Daniel Levy was removed as chair in September, with the Lewis family installing a new leadership team as part of wider plans to grow the club and improve on-pitch success. However, Frank believes Tottenham are still some distance from matching Arsenal’s spending power, pointing to the Gunners’ £105m signing of Declan Rice in 2023. Tottenham’s current record signing remains the £60m move for Richarlison in 2022.
Frank questioned earlier suggestions from former manager Ange Postecoglou that Spurs would never spend £100m on a player, stating that such a move could be possible in the long term. In the short term, however, he was clear: “I don’t think we are close to spending £100m, put it that way.”
Rather than relying on blockbuster signings, Frank stressed the importance of developing existing players and investing smartly in talent with high potential. He cited Liverpool and Manchester City as examples of clubs that reached the top through player development alongside strategic recruitment, using Declan Rice’s age profile as an example of a well-judged investment.
Tottenham recently received a £100m cash injection from the Lewis family, with further funding expected. Frank said he was confident the board would back him, adding that the owners had committed to long-term involvement and delivering success at the club.
