Tottenham Hotspur are set to appoint Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglouâs successor, three weeks removed from the clubâs glorious night in Bilbao.
Daniel Levyâs mind had already been made up as the result of a historically bad Premier League campaign, but the chairman handed Ange the chance to guide his team to Europa League glory. Spursâ subsequent triumph left Levy with the boldest of calls to make.
There was no immediate decision, with both the chairman and the manager opting for post-season getaways. Levy allowed the emotion of San Mames to dwindle somewhat before sticking the knife in.
Ange departed with a heavy heart last Friday, and the club moved with relative swiftness to appoint his replacement. There was one rogue report suggesting Marco Silva was the guy, but, in truth, it was always going to be Thomas Frank.
The Dane was bullish on taking on the job after nine years at Brentford, and Spurs, convinced by Frankâs capacity to lead the next painful rebuild that Mauricio Pochettino foreshadowed all those years ago, will send Brentford £10m to buy him out of his contract.
Thomas Frank is set to become new Tottenham manager
Fabrizio Romano has dished out his âHere we go!â, and confirmation of Frankâs appointment is expected at the end of the week.
The delay leaves Spurs with plenty of ground to make up in the transfer market, with rivals making progress on deals at the start of a mammoth summer window.
Johan Lange will have his collection of targets, and he wouldâve had some idea that Frank was the intended next man up. Itâs a manager he knows well, and Frank, who enjoyed such stable relationships at Brentford, must be keen to work with Lange again having coached together at Lyngby in the Danish Superliga. Thereâs scope for the pair to develop a strong shared vision which will aid Spurs on the recruitment front, although Fabio Paraticiâs return could throw a spanner into the works.
Spurs ideally wouldâve had a clear idea for the future the morning after our return to glory, but Iâm willing to sacrifice a couple of weeks of indecisiveness for what we all experienced on May 21. The higher-ups had long decided Ange was not the guy for the long haul, and thereâs reason to be mightily excited over Frank: a charismatic operator boasting the tactical flexibility to ensure the Lilywhites are not only watchable but a nightmare to play against.
However, like those who have fallen before him, Frank, too, must be aided. Spursâ are in a far better position than they were two years ago in terms of playing personnel, but the addition of experienced/approaching prime stars in positions of need must be acquired to ensure Frank is set up for success from the outset.
All aboard Thomas the Frank engine!