Thomas Frank is poised to become the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, and he's thought to have his eyes on some transfer targets already.
Tottenham closing in on Thomas Frank appointment after talks
Respected journalist Fabrizio Romano says Frank to Tottenham is already a done deal, with the Lilywhites set to trigger his £10 million release clause and secure Ange Postecoglou's replacement in quick fashion.
Following chairman Daniel Levy's tough decision to axe a manager who ended the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy, whilst securing qualification for next season's Champions League, Spurs have wasted no time in getting his successor through the door.
Postecoglou was a popular figurehead among the squad, with James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pedro Porro all speaking publicly in defence of the Australian before his dismissal, so Frank has big shoes to fill.
The Dane's experience of overperforming on a very limited transfer budget, not to mention his work under a data-driven recruitment model similar to Tottenham's, makes him a solid candidate to replace Postecoglou.
The downsides of this prospective appointment lie with Frank's inexperience managing an elite-level side or competing in the Champions League, and the 51-year-old has no major honours to boast of heading into the biggest job of his career.
Frank will need plenty of backing this summer from Levy and technical director Johan Lange, who he already knows very well from their time together working in Denmark, and they've been familiar with one another for many years.
Tottenham are set for a significant financial boost due to their confirmed place in the Champions League next season, and they'll no longer have to adopt a sell-to-buy policy this summer as a result (Michael Bridge).
Reports suggest Frank has already identified transfer targets ahead of his arrival at Spurs, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly in his thinking (GiveMeSport).
Tottenham consider "bold" move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
As per TEAMtalk, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is another player admired by Frank.
The 22-year-old has been a star mainstay of the Toffees backline since returning to Merseyside from a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/2023 season, and England fans were left shocked when Gareth Southgate omitted Branthwaite from his Three Lions squad for Euro 2024.
Branthwaite is attracting interest from across the Premier League, and Tottenham are certainly in the mix for his services, despite Everton slapping a £70 million price tag on his head.
That is according to TT, who also claim that Frank sees Branthwaite as the ideal Spurs signing to prepare for Champions League football, with Tottenham considering a "bold" move to bring him down south.
A move to N17 is also described as "appealing" to Branthwaite, considering their state-of-the-art set-up and place in Europe's most prestigious competition, but remaining at Everton is also tempting for him given their new stadium and promise shown under David Moyes.
The Toffees will apparently fight tooth and nail to keep hold of him for next season, so a lot will hinder on how high Tottenham are ready to bid.