Igor Thiago will not leave Brentford in January to join Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham have received a clear message from Premier League rivals Brentford regarding their pursuit of prolific striker Igor Thiago. Thomas Frank is reportedly keen on reuniting with Thiago at Spurs, but Brentford are unlikely to entertain any offers for their star striker.
After Dominic Solanke picked up an injury at the start of the season, Tottenham signed Randal Kolo Muani for a season-long loan from PSG on the transfer deadline day. Richarlison has been available to lead the attack, but the Brazilian has struggled to find his form. According to sources, Thomas Frank believes that an attacker like Thiago would fit perfectly in his squad.
Brentford acquired Thiago in 2024 from Club Brugge to replace Ivan Toney. After his arrival in England, Thiago instantly became a vital player for the Bees. The Brazilian started the season strong, scoring 6 goals in 10 Premier League matches. His most recent league goal was a spot kick in the memorable 3-2 victory against Liverpool last month. With key players like BRyan Mbuemo and Wissa departing the club in the summer, Brentford wants to hold onto the Brazilian striker, who is currently in red-hot form.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews addressed the media ahead of their game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, where he discussed the possibility of Thiago leaving the club in the near future. Andrews stated (h/t The Mirror):
“I’ve said over the past few weeks, I was really happy when the last transfer window closed. We’re not even in November, so I’m not going to talk about a transfer window that is two months away, that will inevitably come closer to the time. Thiago is going absolutely nowhere, absolutely nowhere, he’s a pivotal part of this football club, he doesn’t want to go anywhere, that won’t be happening.”
Other Premier League clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle have also expressed interest in Thiago. However, Brentford’s stance on his sale remains firm.
Thiago: A Determined and Versatile Force
Thiago is a highly technical attacker with a versatile playing style. He showcases impressive movement during attacks and has a knack for getting to the end of long balls. His intelligence on the ball, combined with lethal finishing ability, makes him a nightmare for opponent defenders to deal with.
When Thiago was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month for October, manager Kieth Andrews lauded his performance when he was asked whether he could match Ryan Mbeumo and reach the landmark of 20 goals in a season. Andrews believes that Thiago can surpass the 20-goal mark, as he stated:
“I think he wants more, that’s what I’m hearing! He’s clearly in a very good place, great rhythm in his game, playing with confidence, enjoying life. He’s been a critical part of what we’ve done. It’s nice to hear that he’s been nominated, because he deserves it. He’s already shown he can be a top performer in the Premier League. He gives the opposition a headache, the way he plays the game. I’m not sure many players will relish playing against him.”
“He’s very demanding of himself. Some players you have to push and some players you have to rein in – he’s definitely the latter. He’s in a great place and we want to keep him there. He’s very, very determined to achieve things; as a team, first and foremost, but, by doing that, he will also achieve things as an individual.”
“It’s the selfless way he approaches games, you see how hard he works for the team, and then, from that, his goals, different types of goals. He’s really settled into a groove and his team-mates are loving playing with him. It’s just been about getting him into that rhythm and building those relationships, which I constantly speak about. We’ve been seeing that a lot more often in recent weeks.”
The January window offers Tottenham a bright opportunity to salvage their season and push on for a strong finish to the current campaign. With the Brentford stars unlikely to move, it remains to be seen if Spurs look at other targets or wait until the summer to make a renewed transfer push.
