Danish tactician ready to bring Bryan Mbeumo with him as Levy backs new man with major transfer war chest
Tottenham Hotspur have reached a full agreement with Brentford boss Thomas Frank to become their new head coach following Ange Postecoglou’s shock departure last week.
The 51-year-old will cost the North London club around £10million to buy out of his current contract at the Bees, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal with his trademark “Here we go!”
“Thomas Frank will become new Spurs head coach, here we go! Agreement done with the manager on contract terms and staff, Brentford set to release Frank for fee in the region of £10m. He’s the replacement for Ange Postecoglou,” Romano posted on X.
The appointment comes just days after Tottenham ruthlessly sacked Postecoglou despite the Australian delivering their first major trophy in 17 years with Europa League glory.
POSTECOGLOU’S BITTER END
In a shocking turn of events, Ange Postecoglou was shown the door on Friday evening despite fulfilling his famous promise of winning a trophy in his second season.
The Australian’s tenure came to an abrupt end after Spurs finished a disastrous 17th in the Premier League – their worst finish in decades – with a record 22 defeats.
Three of Postecoglou’s coaching team have also been shown the door in north London, while Tottenham’s players have come out in unanimous support of their former boss after his sacking.
Sources revealed that three players in particular were left “devastated” by Daniel Levy’s decision, with reports even suggesting a potential player revolt could be looming.
FRANK’S RAPID RISE
Thomas Frank has emerged from a shortlist that included Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, but the Danish coach was always Levy’s number one target.
Sky Sports News reported immediately after Ange Postecoglou’s sacking on Friday that Frank is the frontrunner to succeed him. Spurs have no second or third choice options.
The Brentford boss has earned widespread acclaim for guiding the Bees to Premier League stability since their promotion in 2021, establishing a reputation for tactical acumen and progressive football.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has previously praised Frank by calling him “one of the best” – high praise indeed from arguably football’s greatest tactical mind.
MBEUMO BOMBSHELL
In a move that could excite Spurs fans, Frank is reportedly keen to raid his former club for star man Bryan Mbeumo as his first signing.
We also understand Frank would keen to sign Bryan Mbeumo for Tottenham if and when he takes over, though the club has also stepped up interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
The potential double swoop would represent a significant statement of intent from the new regime as Tottenham look to bounce back from their worst league campaign in living memory.
BACKROOM REVOLUTION
Frank won’t be coming alone – he’s set to bring several key members of his Brentford backroom staff with him to North London.
Those are understood to include Justin Cochrane, who is also part of England’s coaching staff under Thomas Tuchel – a significant coup for Spurs.
The compensation package is expected to settle somewhere in the region of £10million when all staff moves are factored in.
LANGE CONNECTION
Interestingly, Frank has previously worked with Tottenham’s sporting director Johan Lange at Danish side Lyngby – a connection that could smooth their collaboration at Spurs.
The pair’s existing relationship was believed to be a key factor in Levy’s decision to pursue Frank ahead of other candidates.
TACTICAL REVOLUTION
What makes Frank particularly attractive to Tottenham is his tactical flexibility – a stark contrast to Postecoglou’s stubborn adherence to his high-line philosophy.
“What is really attractive about him is the fact that he is tactically flexible. He’s not stubborn, he’s not wedded to just one way of playing, and he’s done a fabulous job at Brentford,” Sky Sports‘ Kaveh Solhekol revealed.
Frank’s data-driven approach and knack for fostering team cohesion align with Tottenham’s ambitions to rebuild following their disastrous campaign.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE
The only concern about Frank is that he hasn’t managed a club as big as Tottenham and lacks Champions League experience.
However, he’ll get an immediate chance to prove himself on the biggest stage – one of his first games could be the UEFA Super Cup against PSG in August.
He will be a Champions League manager if Spurs decide to appoint him. And one of his first games would be the UEFA Super Cup – so he could bring in a trophy in early August,” noted one insider.
FANS DIVIDED
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust expressed concern about yet another change in direction at the club.
We can only hope that the right decision has been made and that the new manager is fully supported by the board and everyone at the club to build on the cup success that Ange has lain,” they said in a statement.
“He will need the finances to build a strong squad that can challenge simultaneously on many fronts. Spurs fans have had a taste of glory and we don’t want to wait another 17 years for more.
BRENTFORD’S LOSS
For Brentford, losing Frank represents the end of an era after his remarkable six-year stint at the club.
Since taking charge in October 2018, he guided them to Premier League promotion in 2021 and established them as a stable top-flight club, finishing 13th, 9th, 16th and currently sitting 10th.
His release clause – reported to be around £10million – means the Bees were powerless to prevent his departure once Spurs came calling.
THE PRESSURE IS ON
Frank now faces the enormous challenge of reviving a Tottenham side that somehow managed to win European glory while finishing 17th domestically.
With Levy notorious for his quick trigger finger when it comes to managers, the affable Dane will need to hit the ground running.
But if his track record at Brentford is anything to go by, Spurs fans might finally have reason for optimism after years of false dawns.
