Thomas Frank hints Tottenham could launch transfer swoop for 'exceptional' Bodo/Glimt star after Champions League draw

Tottenham suffered a huge scare but snatched a late 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in their Champions League encounter. The match, played on the artificial turf of Aspmyra Stadium inside the Arctic Circle, saw Spurs come back from a two-goal deficit. The hosts dominated the first half and should have taken the lead sooner. Kasper Hogh missed a golden opportunity in the 35th minute, firing a penalty kick over the bar after Rodrigo Bentancur was penalised for a rash challenge. Bodo finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute through a curled effort by Hauge, who then doubled his tally in the 66th minute, capitalising on a defensive error to beat Guglielmo Vicario with a powerful shot. Tottenham quickly responded, with Micky van de Ven heading home from a Pedro Porro cross just two minutes later. Spurs pressed for an equaliser, and their efforts were rewarded in the 89th minute when Archie Gray's shot was saved and deflected off Bodo substitute Jostein Gundersen into the net.

Following the match in Norway, Frank was asked about his previous connection with Hauge, and the Spurs boss said: "He was fantastic. I actually tried to sign him for Brentford a long time ago, it was good to see him again. I knew he was good and today he was exceptional. You never know what the future holds."

Hauge, meanwhile, revealed he held a video call with Frank some years ago. He said: "I had a Zoom meeting with him. We were close a few years ago. We had a good talk out on the field. He’s a fantastic coach, who has done incredibly well. It was close once, but it never quite worked out."

Hauge began his career at his hometown club Bodo/Glimt, and made his professional debut at just 16. He enjoyed a highly impressive 2020 season, where he scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in 18 league games, which propelled him into the spotlight. But his standout performance against AC Milan in a Europa League qualifier led to a five-year contract with the Italian giants back in October 2020. While at Milan, Hauge had promising moments, including goals in the Europa League and Serie A. However, after just one season, he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, a deal which was made permanent in 2022. He was part of the Frankfurt squad that won the Europa League in 2022, though he struggled for consistent playing time. Following a loan spell to Gent in Belgium, and finding it difficult to replicate his explosive early form, Hauge returned to Bodo/Glimt earlier this year.

Tottenham have invested in attacking midfield talent this summer, most notably Xavi Simons who joined from RB Leipzig for £51 million ($69m) just before the transfer window closed, which means a move for Hauge in the new year is unlikely. With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski scheduled to return in the coming weeks and months, there would very little space for Hauge, plus there's the contract he's signed with his hometown club, which runs until December 2028 and would be a major stumbling block.