Frank tempers transfer expectations, reveals Spurs wanted Semenyo

Thomas Frank has warned Tottenham's supporters not to expect a "Football Manager" approach to the transfer market, while revealing they were in talks to sign Antoine Semenyo earlier this month. 

Frank's first campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not gone to plan, with Spurs sitting 14th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester City.

Tottenham did advance directly to the round of 16 in the Champions League, but their dire domestic results – including a 2-1 home defeat to West Ham and a 2-2 draw at Burnley – have led some fans to call for Frank's dismissal.

Spurs are winless in five Premier League matches (D3 L2), their fourth run of five or more games without a victory in the last two seasons.

Spurs have also been quiet on the transfer front, and though Frank wants reinforcements, he says they will not adopt a video-game approach before Monday's deadline. 

He did acknowledge, however, that Semenyo was a major target, before City beat them to the punch by agreeing a £65m deal with Bournemouth earlier this month.

"The fans just want the best for the club," Frank said. "Just like I want the best, the owners, the staff, the players, everyone wants the best for the club. But I also think it's fair to say that the transfer window is not Football Manager, unfortunately. It is not.

"I can promise that the Lewis family is super committed to this project. They want to do everything and it's clear that the club wanted to sign Semenyo. They did everything. I think that's a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed.

"That's a big signing with finances and all that, so it's aligned with that. That's the quality players we are looking for to improve the squad."

On Sunday, Semenyo could become only the third player to score against Spurs for two different teams in the same Premier League season, after Eric Cantona in 1992-93 (Leeds United and Manchester United) and Benito Carbone in 1999-00 (Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa).

It looked as though Frank may have overseen his final game when West Ham left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with three points a fortnight ago, thanks to Callum Wilson's 93rd-minute winner.

But when asked if he thought his time was up, the Spurs boss said: "No. I would say it's not about me, but I understand how football works. It's easier to blame the head coach.

"Of course, it's been windy and stormy weather when we're not hitting what we want to, but I think we need to get better results, no doubt about that. 

"But all the underlying things behind the scenes... we're going the right way. Hopefully, all that work will materialise in consistently good performances and wins.

"The whole stand at Burnley was singing: 'You're getting sacked in the morning', from 12-year-old kids to 25-year-olds to 70-year-olds! But that's the way it is. I understand that."