Tottenham star who Harry Kane called ‘an animal’ is Thomas Frank’s best signing
Tottenham had a busy summer transfer window with eight signings joining the ranks in N17.
Thomas Frank was keen to overhaul the options at his disposal after taking the reins, and there have already been plenty of positive signs from his new-look side.
Tottenham cruised past West Ham with a 3-0 victory on Saturday, as they notched their third clean sheet from their opening four outings in the Premier League.
The Lilywhites find themselves sitting second in the early league table, and one new signing has already established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Joao Palhinha is the best new signing at Tottenham
Joao Palhinha’s arrival at Tottenham prompted plenty of excitement from fans, and he has certainly lived up to expectations so far.
The Bayern Munich loanee was previously referred to as “an animal” by Spurs legend Harry Kane during their time together last term, and it’s clear to see why.
The former Fulham star is energetic and combative in the middle of the park, and his robustness in the challenge will be a nightmare for opposition players to go up against.
Palhinha combines superb reading of the game with a calm and understated quality on the ball. He will never do anything particularly eye-catching, but there is an inevitability about the way that he goes about his business.
| Stats | Palhinha Total | Game Rank |
| Touches | 79 | 2nd |
| Accurate Passes | 58 (91%) | 2nd |
| Accurate Forward Zone Passes | 36 | 1st |
| Tackles Won | 3 | 1st |
| Duels Won | 11 | 1st |
He hardly ever misplaces a pass, and that was evident during the win over West Ham.
The 30-year-old covered every blade of grass at the London Stadium, and made keeping possession looking effortless at times.
His presence in the midfield has played a large part in Spurs looking like a much more steely proposition this term, as opponents simply never have an easy ride in the middle of the park anymore.
The likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were certainly more spectacular signings in the summer, but no one has had the same level of impact on the team as Palhinha.
Permanent Joao Palhinha deal is a no-brainer for Tottenham
Tottenham have the option to buy Palhinha for £27million at the end of the season, and it is surely a no-brainer of a decision for them to trigger that clause.
He may be turning 31 next summer, but £27m is hardly an excessive fee in the context of the current market, and he is certainly fit enough to manage at least another two or three seasons in his prime.
While the clause doesn’t come into play until the end of the campaign, Spurs should do everything they can to make it abundantly clear to Bayern that they intend to take up that opportunity.
This will be especially important given the uncertainty surrounding Rodrigo Bentancur’s future, as the Uruguayan could potentially leave for free at the end of the season.
The North Londoners know that they will have the first opportunity to land him permanently, and they absolutely cannot afford to pass that up.
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