EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham have decided to sack Ange Postecoglou, with Brentford manager Thomas Frank now emerging as the leading contender to replace the Australian boss
Tottenham will face a staggering bill in excess of £10m to hire Thomas Frank. Brentford boss Frank is the leading contender to replace Ange Postecoglou, after his sacking on Friday, despite leading Tottenham to Europa League glory.
Frank has two years left on his contract and a big buy-out clause was written into the deal when he signed his last deal in December 2022. The Danish boss is one of the most highly-rated managers in the Premier League and Brentford clearly do not want to lose him and the buy-out reflects his value to the club.
There is also a belief that Frank gave a gentleman’s agreement to stay for one more year at Brentford, although that would clearly be tested if anyone meets the buy-out clause which would allow him to go.
Frank would have no shortage of offers not just from the Premier League if he decided to leave Brentford this summer but Tottenham would be a big opportunity. They won the Europa League, are back in the Champions League and have a world class stadium with money to spend.
Tottenham boss Daniel Levy reached a final decision on Postecoglou’s future with the choice to sack him and his staff costing around £5m plus there is also a £2m bonus for the Aussie after he won the Europa League.
The cost is mounting up for Tottenham amid a potentially big summer of change - and would grow even bigger if they decide to go for Frank. That may put off Levy as that would be a huge compensation and also a big “transfer fee” in managerial terms.
Tottenham are believed to have sounded out Frank while Fulham boss Marco Silva is also a candidate while Bournemouth are battling to keep Andoni Iraola. Postecoglou was appointed two years ago.
There is a feeling that Tottenham’s direction has been heavily influenced by his agent group Base. There has already been signs of a shake-up at the club with the departure of Levy’s long term ally and trusted director Donna Cullen.
Former Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham has also started work as Tottenham’s new chief executive and Fabio Paratici looks set to return after serving a ban from a punishment from his time at Juventus.
Last month, Frank appeared to brush off suggestions he could leave Brentford this summer. He said: “Right now, of course, I am committed. I just lost to Fulham, our local rivals, so [I am] fuming in every aspect. So yes, I am committed like I have always been.”
Postecoglou meanwhile had insisted that he was preparing to remain in his post for the start of the new season. He said: "I'll be honest, I've been finding it really weird talking about my future when we've done something unprecedented.
"I've had to answer the questions because no one else at the club is kind of in the position to do so, I guess. But I can't answer that question about me and my future, and part of me is kind of thinking, well, why have I been asked that question? But it is what it is.
"And I've got no doubt, though, that this could be a real sort of defining moment for this club because wherever I've been, I've kind of made an impact where I've brought success to a club that hasn't had for a while."