Former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is the favourite to replace Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, who is on the verge of being sacked. The Eagles have plenty of problems to solve, and a January reunion with some of the Dane’s former players in north London could be on the cards.
Frank was dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur in February after spending less than eight months in charge and the 53-year-old has yet to return to management.
However, another managerial opportunity could soon come his way, with multiple reports suggesting he is the leading candidate to take over at Crystal Palace if the club decide to part ways with Sage.
The Frenchman has endured a miserable start to life at Selhurst Park. Palace have dropped to the bottom of the Premier League table after 10 games, and Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool marked their fourth consecutive league loss.
A potential return to management would also come at an interesting time, with the January transfer window less than two months away. Palace are in desperate need of reinforcements if they are to avoid being dragged further into the relegation battle.
Should Frank take charge, he could look towards his former club for some familiar faces. Here are five Tottenham players who could attract his attention.
Conor Gallagher was brought to Tottenham by Thomas Frank in a £35 million deal from Atletico Madrid in January. The Dane’s ‘phone call’ was apparently the decisive factor, convincing the midfielder to choose Spurs over Aston Villa, who had initially been leading the race for his signature.
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Gallagher later admitted that the decision was ‘very easy’ for him, while Frank was equally enthusiastic about the signing, later saying:
“His character is unbelievable. He is a player who can build a top culture going forward. His work-rate and how he can carry the team on his back, more or less, though it’s not only about one player.”
Unfortunately, Frank was sacked less than a month after Gallagher’s arrival, having managed the England international for just five games.
The 26-year-old has since struggled to establish himself under Roberto De Zerbi, making only three Premier League starts this season and largely featuring as an impact substitute.
A move back to Selhurst Park could be possible. Gallagher was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year during his loan spell in 2021/22, scoring eight goals in 34 appearances. Frank clearly knows what he can offer, and a reunion could give the midfielder an opportunity to get his career moving again.
Crystal Palace have been desperately short of goals this season. Their strikers, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jorgen Strand-Larsen, have managed just one league goal between them in 11 games, while Mateta is also heavily tipped to leave in January. Finding a reliable centre-forward could therefore become one of Frank’s biggest priorities.
He could turn towards the player who scored more goals for him than anyone else during his time at Tottenham: Richarlison.
The Brazilian is currently at odds with Spurs after De Zerbi decided not to register him in Tottenham’s Premier League squad. His proposed moves to Everton and Turkey both fell through during the summer, leaving him with little choice but to wait until January for another opportunity to find a new club and return to competitive football.
Palace could offer exactly that. Frank knows Richarlison well, and the forward’s experience in the Premier League would make him an interesting option for a side struggling to find the net.
There has been very little noise surrounding a potential departure for Rodrigo Bentancur since he joined Tottenham in 2022, but there is no guarantee that will remain the case in the upcoming transfer windows.
The Uruguayan is contracted until the summer of 2029, although the number of options Tottenham have in midfield could make a move elsewhere worth discussing.
Interestingly, it was under Frank that Bentancur signed his contract extension last year. The former Spurs boss rated the midfielder highly, and he was even considered a candidate for the captaincy following Heung-min Son’s departure last season.
Wilson Odobert was one of the very few Tottenham players who impressed under Frank last season. The Frenchman made 33 appearances in all competitions – although only starting 18 of them – and recorded two goals and four assists before suffering an ACL injury during the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in February. That also happened to be Frank’s final game in charge.
The Dane had always spoken highly of the winger, saying:
“Wilson (Odobert), I’ve said it many times, is a very promising player that I believe a lot in.”
Odobert has still not returned from that injury, although there is hope he could be back around the new year.
The 21-year-old is a very talented winger who can operate comfortably on either flank, and Tottenham already have a shortage of options in those positions. Letting him leave would therefore be difficult to justify, unless Spurs bring in another winger during the January window.
Lucas Bergvall was heavily tipped to leave Tottenham during the summer, having even submitted a well-documented transfer request.
However, he began receiving more opportunities under De Zerbi during pre-season, eventually changed his mind and decided to stay. He also signed a new contract just two months ago.
The Swedish midfielder remains a promising talent, but opportunities have been difficult to come by this season because of the competition for places. He has started just two Premier League games, which could leave Tottenham considering a temporary departure to ensure his development does not stall.
A loan move to Palace would give him the opportunity to play more regularly, although there is one obvious complication. Frank struggled to use Bergvall effectively in midfield last season, deploying him in a role that did not suit his strengths. That was one of the major reasons the youngster wanted to leave in the summer.
So, while a reunion is possible, it might not be the most appealing option for Bergvall himself.