Spurs Boss Thomas Frank On Eberechi Eze Snub: 'If They Don't Want To Come...'

Last Updated:August 22, 2025, 20:52 IST

Thomas Frank says Spurs want committed players after Eze picked Arsenal. Richarlison stays; Udogie, Bissouma injured; Kulusevski's return uncertain.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank (AP)

Tottenham Hotspur only want players who are eager to play for them, manager Thomas Frank stated on Friday in response to Eberechi Eze’s apparent rejection of the Premier League club.

Crystal Palace forward Eze had been on the verge of joining Spurs but now seems set to sign for North London rivals Arsenal, his boyhood club.

“You know of course I don’t speak about specific players unless they are at our fantastic club," Frank told reporters ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Manchester City on Saturday.

“To be very, very clear, I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here. That’s very clear, and I imagine the fans feel exactly the same. That’s a key message," he added.

Media reported a deal on Wednesday between Spurs and Palace for the England international, but it was derailed hours later.

Frank said Tottenham were working hard to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes on September 1, and he believed something would happen.

“We need to do everything we can to be as competitive as possible. I am confident we will sign a player before the end of the window," Frank added.

Striker Yoane Wissa, who played for Frank at Brentford, has been mentioned as a possible target.

Is Richarlison On His Way Out Of Tottenham?

The Dane said Richarlison, who scored two goals in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over promoted Burnley last weekend, remained his starting number nine.

“Richy wants to stay, I want to keep him, there have been no talks about anything else," he said of the Brazilian, who was reported earlier in the week to have been offered to Palace as part of the deal for Eze.

Frank said fullback Destiny Udogie, who injured his knee in a pre-season friendly last month, was training with the team and looking positive, but the City game was still too early for his return.

Injured midfielder Yves Bissouma will also miss the game.

Frank was reluctant to put a timeline on the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who had knee surgery in May and was not involved in pre-season.

Tottenham are already set to be without injured midfielder James Maddison for most of the season.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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First Published:

August 22, 2025, 20:45 IST

News sports Spurs Boss Thomas Frank On Eberechi Eze Snub: 'If They Don't Want To Come...'

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