Thomas Frank insists Tottenham Will not look for quick fixes over long-term suitability when it comes to signing players and says the transfer window is “not like a football manager”.

Spurs’ hopes of moving away from the bottom of the Premier League’s reach have been hampered by a lengthening injury list, but the Dane will look to bring in a player before the window closes on Monday if he believes it will benefit the team for years to come.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Manchester CityFrank said: “We can’t be too obsessed with a short-term fix that doesn’t help in the long-term, because if we do that, the hard work we put in can be limited for the future. And it’s not like we (don’t) want short-term success too badly.”

Tottenham was for Semenyo

Frank admitted that Spurs were for Antoine Semenyo before moving to City, adding: “It’s clear the club wanted to sign Semenyo. They did everything.

“I think it’s a clear sign that the Lewis family is very committed. It’s a big signing with the financials and all that. So it’s aligned with that. That’s the quality of player we’re looking for to improve the team. And if we don’t get that, it’s definitely better to make the right decision.

“And I’m sure if, for whatever reason, we’re not able to bring in another player or players in this window, for the summer, it’s a big summer, and I’m sure we’ll see big improvements there.”

Frank has come in for heavy criticism from Spurs fans this season but he hopes they will understand the club’s attitude.

“The fans want the best for the club as do I, the owners and everyone at the club,” he said. “Although it is fair to say that the transfer window is not like Football Manager. It would probably be more boring if there was less to talk about.”

We had hoped for more than 14th

Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek saw them automatically qualify for the Champions League round of 16 but domestically it has been less straightforward and They start the weekend in 14th place in the Premier League.

Frank said: “As always for Tottenham we are very ambitious, but this is a transitional season where we need to be very ambitious and do as well as we can in every competition.

“I was certainly expecting and hoping and believing that we would be up, but I also think it’s fair to say that if some of the margins had been different we could easily have got six points more and it would have been a completely different story.

“Unfortunately we haven’t and it is what it is and we carry on.”

Central defender Micky van de Ven is “touch and go” for Sunday’s clash with City.