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The next permanent Tottenham manager – which looks like it will come from a two-man shortlist – could be placed in a dire situation from day one, with multiple reports talking up the triple sale of three guaranteed starters.

Tottenham sacked Thomas Frank on Wednesday, with the Dane paying the price for a horrific run of results that have seen Spurs dragged into a relegation scrap. Not aiding Frank’s cause are stunning revelations he had a bizarre obsession with Arsenal. Of all the clubs to admire while serving as Spurs boss, Arsenal should be bottom of the list.

Tottenham are still weighing up whether to appoint an interim manager or move for a permanent boss straight away.

However, it’s quickly becoming clear there are two main candidates in the frame to take the reins on a permanent basis whenever that may be – Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi.

But according to a collection of reports, either Pochettino or De Zerbi could find themselves taking over a squad that’s about to sell their starting goalkeeper and regular centre-back pairing.

Firstly, trusted Argentine reporter, Gaston Edul, recently declared it’s game over for Cristian Romero at Tottenham.

Edul is highly reliable when it comes to reporting on Argentine players and declared Romero “is going to leave Tottenham in the next June transfer window.”

Interest from LaLiga is particularly strong, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all showing degrees of interest.

Micky van de Ven could also depart, with our insider, Dean Jones, confirming as much back on February 5.

Liverpool have already signed Jeremy Jacquet for the summer, but if Ibrahima Konate leaves, they’ll need another big-money buy at the back. Van de Ven features high on their shortlist, and he’s also strongly admired at Real Madrid too.

The Daily Mail are another to report on Van de Ven and in late-January, they declared the Dutchman is ‘keen to move on from Spurs’.

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Finally, Guglielmo Vicario could also be sold, with a return to Italy seemingly gathering pace.

Talk of Vicario heading back to Serie A, potentially to Inter Milan, has been rampant over the past few months.

The latest from Calciomercato on Wednesday stated that it’s not only Inter who want Vicario, but Juventus too.

They stated: ‘It’s always Inter-Juventus: from the pitch to the transfer market, the challenge is total.

‘There are three days to go until the Derby d’Italia, on Valentine’s Day, San Siro lights up again for the new appointment with a historic rivalry and a shadow looms over the Meazza: that of Guglielmo Vicario.’

Inter are moving on from Yann Sommer in the summer, while Juve are seeking an upgrade on the unconvincing Michele Di Gregorio.

Inter are believed to be frontrunners of the two, though from Tottenham’s perspective, a potential bidding war would at least drive up the price.

Thomas Frank kept committing the ultimate sin that contributed to his dismissal at Tottenham, and the race to become the next Spurs manager appears to be narrowing down to two candidates.

Frank was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, and leaves Tottenham staring down the barrel of a scrap to avoid relegation over the coming months.

There is sympathy for Frank in some quarters, primarily due to the mind-boggling amount of injuries he had to deal with.

Arguably Spurs’ two best attackers, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, have missed almost the entire season so far. They are just the tip of the iceberg in the treatment room right now.

Yet Spurs believed the time was right to remove Frank from power, with on-field results – including an appalling run of two wins in 17 Premier League matches – too poor to ignore.

And according to a report from The Telegraph, there’s another factor that contributed to Frank’s sack – his bizarre obsession with Arsenal.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out a Spurs boss should tread carefully when praising Tottenham’s north London rivals.

Yet per the report, Frank practically had an obsession with The Gunners and put simply, wouldn’t stop banging on about how great they are.

The Telegraph quoted a source as saying: “He was constantly going on to the players about Arsenal and they quickly got sick of it.

“Even before and after the game at the Emirates, he was telling them how good Arsenal were. The feeling among some was very much ‘just shut up about Arsenal’.”

Frank namechecked Arsenal in his first press conference as Spurs boss, and although he was clearly stitched up, being pictured drinking from an Arsenal-branded cup earlier in 2026 didn’t help his cause.

The report concluded by stating Frank’s love affair with Arsenal ‘undoubtedly made life more difficult’ for the Dane that it otherwise would’ve been if he’d kept his mouth shut.

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Who’ll succeed Thomas Frank?

TEAMtalk understands the decision to axe Frank was actually made at half-time of what turned out to be their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday night.

That news was relayed by our insider, Graeme Bailey, who quickly confirmed Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi are among the key contenders to become Spurs’ next permanent boss.

De Zerbi is available right now after parting ways with Marseille over the past 24 hours. Pochettino would have to wait until the summer and after he’s wrapped up his commitments with the USA at the World Cup.

If going for Pochettino, Spurs would appoint an interim manager to see out the season. John Heitinga – one of Frank’s assistants – and Robbie Keane have been mentioned as viable fits for that role.

And per the latest from reporter Ben Jacobs, the race to become Tottenham’s next manager is narrowing down to the two candidates Bailey zeroed in on – Pochettino and De Zerbi.

Taking to X, Jacobs wrote: “Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino two leading names under consideration to replace Thomas Frank.

“Robbie Keane and Francesco Farioli also discussed. De Zerbi and Pochettino both understood to have unfinished business in the EPL.”

Tottenham parted ways with Thomas Frank after a dramatic decision was taken at half‑time of their bruising defeat to Newcastle United, and TEAMtalk can confirm seven Spurs targets to replace him permanently, with a left-field candidate among them.

We revealed on Wednesday that the situation inside Spurs had turned “toxic,” with senior figures increasingly concerned that the project had lost direction. And just hours after those revelations, Frank’s departure was confirmed – but the truth is the decision was effectively made before the final whistle on Tuesday.

We are told the decisive push came from CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who held lengthy discussions with executive chairman Peter Charrington as the first half unfolded.

With tensions already running high behind the scenes, the dismal showing against Newcastle served as the final trigger. The Lewis family were contacted overnight and wasted little time endorsing the decision to remove Frank.

And we also understand that some changes within the club’s hierarchy could be on the way, with several roles and reporting lines expected to be reviewed as part of a wider reset following Frank’s dismissal.

A host of names have already been floated in immediate internal conversations, but we can confirm that Mauricio Pochettino remains highly regarded by Tottenham’s hierarchy, as we exclusively revealed on January 13.

There is genuine belief at senior level that a return for the Argentine is very much in the club’s thinking. Some in Spurs’ hierarchy believe he could restore identity, energy and unity at a time when all three are in desperately short supply. His return is considered a real possibility and has significant support internally.

Another major contender is Roberto De Zerbi, as we also exclusively revealed, back on January 7. Tottenham’s admiration for the Italian is genuine, and sources close to him have confirmed he would welcome the opportunity to speak to Spurs if an official approach is made. His bold attacking style and proven ability to elevate young talent make him an appealing fit for the club’s vision going forward.

Tottenham are insisting privately that they will undertake a thorough and disciplined process. Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner have both been discussed as tactical fits who align with the club’s preferred profile, particularly with their structured, high‑energy approaches. Both men are regarded as credible candidates should talks with the more high‑profile names prove complex or unsuccessful, though another shock contender has emerged…

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Gareth Southgate emerges as shock contender for Tottenham job

In a surprising development, we can reveal that Sir Gareth Southgate has admirers within the Spurs structure. Some senior figures believe the former England manager’s leadership, calmness and player‑management skills could steady a fractious dressing room.

Whether Southgate would be open to the role remains uncertain, but his name has been raised in internal conversations.

Two heavyweight figures have also been mentioned: Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, both preparing for the upcoming World Cup finals with Germany and England respectively.

While admired for their tactical pedigree and elite‑level experience, landing either is considered highly ambitious at this stage, with a lack of Champions League football on-offer to try and entice them.

Wednesday’s dramatic events underline just how unstable this era has become at Tottenham. Frank arrived as a figure intended to bring long‑term clarity and calm, yet his tenure unravelled rapidly amid poor results and internal tension.

The club now stands at a crucial crossroads. With fan frustration rising and Spurs drifting in both identity and results, this next appointment will define the club’s direction for years to come.

What is clear is that Tottenham are moving fast, speaking to agents, analysing profiles and debating strategy behind the scenes. The powerbrokers – Vinai Venkatesham and the Lewis family – are under intense scrutiny, with supporters eager for decisive leadership and a manager capable of re‑energising the entire club.

Latest Tottenham news: De Zerbi ready to join / Robbie Keane tipped

Meanwhile, reports have backed up our information that De Zerbi is ready to become Tottenham’s new manager, with the Italian open to taking the role now that Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici have left the club.

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has reported that Tottenham are keen on De Zerbi, and believes that it wasn’t a coincidence he left Marseille overnight.

In other news, Michael Dawson has urged Spurs to bring in ex-Tottenham striker Robbie Keane as their interim manager until the end of the season.

And in that same report, we not how another former Tottenham centre-back, Ramon Vega, has called for Spurs CEO Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange to be relieved of their duties.

Michael Dawson has named the manager that Tottenham Hotspur should hire following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, as Ramon Vega wants two of the senior members of the Spurs board to go.

Tottenham have sacked Frank as the manager despite appointing him to the role only in the summer of 2025. The north London club made the decision following the defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday evening, which left the team just five points above the Premier League table.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that Roberto De Zerbi is one of the main candidates to take over as the Tottenham manager.

Our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, first exclusively broke the news about Tottenham’s interest in De Zerbi back on January 7.

De Zerbi is without a managerial role at the moment, having parted company with Marseille on Tuesday.

We understand that Mauricio Pochettino is also in the frame to return to Tottenham and become the next manager.

The former Spurs boss is now the USA manager, but sources have told us that he would be willing to return to the north London club after the 2026 World Cup finals this summer.

Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, though, believes that Robbie Keane would be the perfect candidate to become the new Spurs boss.

The 45-year-old former Republic of Ireland international striker had two spells at Tottenham as a player and is in charge of Hungarian club Ferencvaros at the moment.

Keane guided Ferencvaros to Nemzeti Bajnokság I success in the 2024/25 campaign and also led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli Premier League title in the 2023/24 campaign.

Dawson said on Sky Sports News: “I hear everyone is talking about interim. We don’t know. We don’t know if it’s going to be an interim.

“If that happens, then I think there is only one manager that is waiting for, and it has to be Pochettino in the summer.

“Or do they go out and get someone now? People say who will that be.

“Well, for me, there’s someone there in the making, someone who knows the football club, someone who has got the passion, played for the club, loves it, will galvanise everyone and bring everyone in the right direction, and that’s moving forward, and that is Robbie Keane for me.”

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ENIC urged to sack Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange

Keane recently spoke about his managerial ambition and made it clear that he is happy in Hungary.

The former striker told Hungarian newspaper Nemzeti Sport this week: “I never dream about it. After playing there the most, people back home expect me to work in England.

“It doesn’t work that way for me. Am I looking for the opportunity to sign for England? No.

“Would I like to be the manager of Liverpool? No. If they want me to be one, we can talk about it.

“I feel great at Ferencvaros, I couldn’t be in a better place right now.

“I am lucky because I don’t need money, I earned a living when I was a player, I don’t do it to get money at the end of the month, I am motivated by something completely different.”

Another former Tottenham centre-back, Ramon Vega, has given his take on the situation at Spurs.

The former Switzerland international wants Tottenham owners ENIC to sack the club’s CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Vega wrote on X at 11:05am on February 11: “If Vinai and Lange are not sacked then we have a big problem fundamentally at the Club.

@SpursOfficial it’s a good time now before it’s too late.

“Not when we are relegated NOW it needs to be done.

“They have massively missed on all angles of their mandate by the Club!

“This can’t continue like that.

“The Lewis family also needs to look in the mirror seriously and think about selling ASAP!”

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Latest Tottenham transfer news: Serbia ace wanted, Real Madrid enquiry

Meanwhile, Fraser Fletcher, has reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur in signing a Serbian star, who is available for a free transfer in the summer of 2026.

A Tottenham star is reportedly ‘very keen’ on joining Real Madrid, with the Spanish and European giants on the hunt for a new centre-back.

Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager following the sacking of Thomas Frank have soared, TEAMtalk understands, with another source revealing the Italian manager did not want to work with Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici and is now ‘more open’.

Tottenham have announced the dismissal of Frank as the manager following the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday. The result leaves Spurs just five points above the Premier League bottom three, and the north London club’s board had no choice but to sack the Dane, despite appointing him in the role only in the summer of 2025.

Our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reported back on January 7 that Tottenham had their eyes on Roberto De Zerbi.

Sources told us at the time that the former Brighton and Hove Albion manager was a ‘top target’ for Tottenham, who were compiling a shortlist of candidates.

We understand that De Zerbi was flattered to learn that Tottenham were keeping an eye on him.

De Zerbi was in charge of Marseille at the time, but the Italian manager has decided to leave his role at the French club.

On Tuesday, Marseille announced on their official website that the club and De Zerbi have decided to go their separate ways ‘by mutual agreement’.

The decision came in the aftermath of Marseille getting hammered 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 last Sunday, leaving them fourth in the table with 39 points from 21 matches.

With De Zerbi now without a managerial role, the chances of Tottenham hiring the 46-year-old have soared, with Fletcher informed on Tuesday night that his exit at OM has been very much noted by the Spurs decision-makers.

The Italian tactician is now even money to be the next Tottenham manager with bookmakers.

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Roberto De Zerbi ‘more open’ to Tottenham role now

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has also reported that Tottenham are keen on De Zerbi.

Crook has noted that Tottenham wanted De Zerbi before they hired Ange Postecoglou in 2023.

De Zerbi was the manager of Brighton at the time, and he did not want to work with Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

Levy was working as the Tottenham chairman during that period, while Fabio Paratici was involved with the north London club in a senior role.

Crook said on talkSPORT at 10:14am on February 11, 2026: “I don’t think it is necessarily a coincidence that Roberto De Zerbi has left Marseille overnight.

“He was someone that Spurs were keen to appoint before bringing in even Ange Postecoglou.

“At the time, I am told he wasn’t necessarily up for working with Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici, the former sporting director.

“Both of those are no longer part of the day-to-day running of the football club.

“I am told De Zerbi would potentially be more open to taking the Tottenham job.”

De Zerbi, though, is not the only manager that Tottenham are considering following the sacking of Frank.

Sources have told us that former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is also a genuine candidate for the role at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pochettino is in charge of the USA at the moment, but we understand that the Argentine would be ready to take charge of Spurs after the 2026 World Cup finals in the summer.

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Latest Tottenham transfer news: Striker chase, Real Madrid raid

Meanwhile, our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, has reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur in signing a Serbia international striker, who will become a free agent at the end of the season.

A Tottenham star is said to be ‘very keen’ on joining Real Madrid, who have already ‘enquired’ about the transfer fee needed to sign him.

Tottenham Hotspur have wasted little time after Tuesday’s demoralising defeat to Newcastle United by sacking Thomas Frank, with the defeat leaving the club just five points clear of the relegation zone – and with TEAMtalk sources revealing both the club’s long and short-term plans over a successor.

The Dane was brought in over the summer as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou but failed to inspire Tottenham Hotspur to any sort of improvement and the 2-1 defeat to the Magpies on Tuesday evening has proved the final straw. Frank departs the club with just 13 wins from 38 matches to his name – a win percentage record of just 34.21%.

We revealed on Wednesday morning how the club were meeting to discuss Frank’s future and with his dismissal a growing possibility after they slipped to 16th in the table.

And breaking the news on his X account, the ultra-reliable David Ornstein has now confirmed the decision to axe the 52-year-old has been made.

Ornstein wrote: ‘Thomas Frank sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach. #THFC working through various possible contingency plans to replace 52yo Dane as club sit 14th in Premier League – 5 points above relegation zone after 2 wins from 17 matches.’

Shortly afterwards, in a short statement on the club’s website: Tottenham confirmed Frank had been relieved of his duties: “The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.

“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.

“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.

“Throughout his time at the Club, Thomas has conducted himself with unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the Club forward. We would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.”

Next Tottenham manager: De Zerbi in frame; Pochettino wanted

We revealed last week that, of those contingency plans, the club will look to appoint an interim coach through to the end of the season and with the recently-appointed first-team coach, Johnny Heitinga a strong candidate to steer the ship through the remainder of what has now become a battle for survival in the Premier League.

Former caretaker boss, Ryan Mason – who recently left West Brom after a failed stint at The Hawthorns – would also willingly return to the club, even in an interim capacity, should the club take up that option.

However, we also understand that Roberto De Zerbi, who on Tuesday night, by coincidence, also left his role as Marseille manager, could also now come into the equation.

We revealed back on January 7 that De Zerbi was a genuine candidate for the job this summer when sources confirmed his plans to leave the French side and return to the Premier League. Now his departure has been confirmed, albeit earlier than expected, the Italian is likely to be very much in their thinking, though it remains to be seen whether he would jump immediately back into another role or would prefer to assess his options come the summer.

If Spurs are to wait, however, our correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, revealed last week that Mauricio Pochettino would unequivocally accept a return to Spurs if offered the role.

However, there is a caveat on when the Argentine would consider taking charge, as our exclusive report revealed.

If they do decide to wait for the 54-year-old’s return, though, it would make sense for an interim to take charge of the club in the short-term and with the brief of ensuring the club avoid the unthinkable: relegation to the Championship.

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Thomas Frank had made plea to keep Tottenham job

Despite all that, Frank, speaking in the wake of Tuesday’s loss to Newcastle, insisted he remained the right man to steer the club through their crisis and has urged the board not to lose their heads and fire him.

“I’m 1000 per cent sure [I will stay],” he told the media after the 2-1 defeat. “I am also 1000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing, but I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.

“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me, and that is the fans.

“We’ve got to get through this!”

Frank also insisted he will remain in charge for Spurs’ next Premier League game, at home to Arsenal on Sunday, 22 February.

“I’m convinced I will still be in charge [for the Arsenal game],” he continued. “I understand the question, and I understand it’s easy to point at me, but I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff. It’s everyone.

“If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course, we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows, directors, ownership, and myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better.”

Real Madrid are stepping up their pursuit of a Tottenham Hotspur star, with a report claiming that Los Blancos have enquired about a possible deal, as TEAMtalk reveals how much the Spanish club would have to pay Thomas Frank’s side.

It is dire times at Tottenham at the moment, with the north London club just five points above the Premier League relegation zone. The 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening has increased pressure on manager Thomas Frank, who is facing the sack.

Tottenham’s situation has been further aggravated by a senior player publicly criticising the club for not making enough signings in the winter transfer window to address the injury problems.

Cristian Romero went public with his disgruntlement towards the Tottenham board last week, and since then, it has emerged that the defender is willing to leave last season’s Europa League winners in the summer of 2026.

Real Madrid are on the hunt for a new centre-back, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba out of contract at Estadio Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Romero has now come onto Madrid’s radar, with reputable Argentine publication TyC Sports claiming that the Argentina international is ‘one of the names being closely followed’ by the Spanish and European giants.

Sports Boom has also reported Real Madrid’s interest in the 27-year-old World Cup winner with Argentina.

Fichajes has added that Madrid have made ‘initial enquiries’ for Romero to ‘determine’ his price.

The Spanish media outlet, which is often speculative, has reported that Madrid president Florentino Perez is ‘determined to make a significant investment’ to bring the Tottenham star to Estadio Bernabeu in the summer of 2026.

The report has gone on to claim that Romero himself ‘would be very keen to wear the Real Madrid jersey and compete for the most important titles in Europe’.

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How much Tottenham want for Cristian Romero – sources

It was only in August 2025 that Romero signed a new contract with Tottenham.

The defender is now under contract at the north London club until the summer of 2029.

We understand that Romero is Tottenham’s highest-paid player and earns £200,000 per week.

Our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, has reported that Romero is ready to leave Tottenham, with the defender getting increasingly frustrated with the situation at the club.

Sources have told us that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid want to sign Romero from Spurs.

However, Tottenham have reassured the defender about their ambition and have informed him that they will make major signings when the window reopens in January.

Spurs are not going to be willing to sell Romero on the cheap. Sources have intimated to us that Tottenham will demand £70-£80 million (up to €92.7m, $109.5m) for their captain.

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Latest Real Madrid and Tottenham transfer news

Meanwhile, a Real Madrid star is ‘very upset’ with manager Alvaro Arbeloa after he was snubbed yet again against Valencia in LaLiga last weekend.

Endrick’s agent has responded to rumours that the striker could leave Real Madrid for good in the summer of 2026, with the Brazil international currently on loan at Lyon for the rest of the season.

Sources have told our transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, that Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign a Real Madrid defender.

News that Tottenham Hotspur are considering sacking Thomas Frank and are exploring contingencies until the end of the season and beyond has brought a mixed reaction from furious supporters, who are growing increasingly exasperated by the club’s slide towards the relegation zone.

The north London side appointed Frank as a successor to Ange Postecoglou over the summer, but has been unable to see an improvement on last season’s woeful Premier League form that saw Tottenham finish 17th. And after another head-scratching home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday evening, Spurs are now just five points clear of the relegation zone, sitting in 16th.

With Frank and his players leaving the pitch at half-time and full-time to a chorus of boos and with ‘sacked in the morning’ ringing out throughout, it seems there is little the Dane can now do to prevent the chop.

Indeed, our reporter Graeme Bailey revealed on Wednesday morning that Spurs bosses are to hold crunch talks over the manager’s future and his sacking as manager before the north London derby clash on Sunday week has not been ruled out.

That report has been backed up by the BBC’s chief football reporter Sami Mokbel, who has confirmed that Spurs’ overlords, ENIC, are now ‘considering contingencies’.

In light of that, supporters have reacted to the news – and it is clear now that the vast majority are desperate to see the Dane, who has a woeful 34.21 win percentage record, removed from his job.

‘I [swear word] despise this [swear word], if that hasn’t woken the owners up, I don’t know what will,’ one fan raged on X.

Another agreed, adding: ‘This is the worst it’s ever been, an utter disgrace; genuinely not seen this club at a lower point in my lifetime.’

A third agreed, commenting: ‘I can’t watch this horror show anymore! I can’t even comprehend this utter stupidity!’

A fourth turned their anger towards the owners, accusing them of being too slow to react: ‘Say one thing about [Daniel] Levy, at least he would have sacked the useless [swear word] by now…’

A fifth agreed, adding: ‘This club are so [swear word] spineless.’

A sixth chimed in: ‘Nepo babies ruining the club because they’re all too scared to make a big decision.’

A seventh added: ‘Wth is going on? The DOF and CEO have to be sacked now. I’ve always publicly detested Levy, but I can tell you for certain, he wouldn’t have stood by and watched this fool continually fail his way into the Championship.’

Another fan commented: ‘It needed to happen months ago. There haven’t been any improvements. Why delay the inevitable?’

A ninth added: ‘This board of pen pushers have doomed us.. Levy he would have had the balls to sack him.’

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Next Tottenham manager: Fans suggest three names

With regards the next manager, fans shared a difference of opinion on who should be the next man in charge.

‘Just take De Zerbi, he was one of the candidates alongside Frank, so pretty much he should be a coach they like,’ one fan argued.

‘Bring Harry in until the end of the season. We may still go down to the Championship, but at least we’ll have a laugh!

Speaking of the Championship, one fan argued: ‘At this point, we might as well stick with Thomas Frank. I’m not joking. At least he knows the Championship and knows how to get out of it!’

While TEAMtalk sources exclusively confirmed last month that De Zerbi was a genuine candidate for the job this summer – and those chances have significantly risen after the Italian’s departure from Marseille on Tuesday evening – he is now no longer the leading candidate for the job.

That’s after our correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, revealed last week that Mauricio Pochettino would unequivocally accept a return to Spurs if offered the role. However, there is a caveat on when Pochettino would consider taking charge, as our exclusive report revealed.

Frank sack? Spurs manager insists he’s still the right man

Despite all that, Frank insists he remains the right man to steer the club through their crisis and has urged the board not to lose their heads and fire him.

“I’m 1000 per cent sure [I will stay]. I am also 1000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing, but I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.

“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me, and that is the fans.

“We’ve got to get through this!”

Frank is also adamant he will remain in charge for Spurs’ next Premier League game, at home to Arsenal on Sunday, 22 February.

“I’m convinced I will still be in charge [for the Arsenal game],” he continued. “I understand the question, and I understand it’s easy to point at me, but I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff. It’s everyone.

“If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course, we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows, directors, ownership, and myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better.

On the transfer front, a second source has backed up our exclusive reveal on Tottenham moving for a German international midfielder, with the new report insisting a €60m / £52m bid will ‘probably’ see the deal completed.

Elsewhere, reputed transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed the summer target that Tottenham Hotspur are ‘dreaming’ of signing, though the club will have to completely obliterate their current transfer record to seal a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur sources have refused to rule out Thomas Frank leaving the club before next Sunday’s North London derby with Arsenal, we can reveal.

Tottenham placed huge trust in Frank when they appointed him last summer as Ange Postecoglou’s successor, but the Dane is now under severe pressure after a disastrous run of form. Since taking charge, Spurs have won just two of their 13 home games, a record that has alarmed senior figures and left the fanbase increasingly hostile.

The atmosphere reached breaking point on Tuesday night as Spurs were booed off at half‑time and full‑time during a 2–1 defeat to a badly out‑of‑sorts Newcastle United.

One club source present at the game told us: “Things are not good, it was toxic tonight. The club do not want to make the change, they really don’t, but you can’t rule it out at this point.”

Spurs sit only five points above the drop zone, and while insiders insist they do not consider themselves part of a relegation fight, they admit the current situation cannot continue.

As previously revealed by us, CEO Vinai Venkatesham has been Frank’s strongest defender, repeatedly pushing back against calls from elsewhere in the hierarchy to make a change. But even his support is being tested as results worsen and pressure intensifies.

We can now confirm that talks are scheduled before the derby with Arsenal. A change is not expected at this stage, but sources stressed that Frank’s removal cannot be ruled out, especially if discussions reveal a lack of confidence in his ability to steady the team.

The next few days will be critical. Spurs do not want upheaval before facing their fiercest rivals but the situation has deteriorated to the point where every option is now on the table.

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Thomas Frank responds to sack talk

When asked after the Newcastle game if he will stay in charge, Frank responded: “1000 per cent sure. I am also 1000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing, but I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.

“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me, and that is the fans.

“We’ve got to get through this!”

My colleague, Fraser Fletcher, revealed on Monday that the situation has hit ‘breaking point’. If Frank is sacked, assistant boss Johnny Heitinga is a candidate to take over until the end of the season while Spurs search for a permanent replacement.

Sources confirmed to Fletcher last week that Mauricio Pochettino has greenlit a spectacular return to the club.

Roberto De Zerbi is another potential target, especially after his departure from Marseille.

Tottenham news: £52m Germany target; elite star offered

Meanwhile, we revealed in January that Spurs are pursuing Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha, and there has now been an update.

Not only have German newspaper Bild confirmed our reporting, they have also taken the story further.

Thomas Frank is “1000 per cent” sure he remains the right manager for Tottenham in the wake of growing calls for him to be sacked after Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle on Tuesday evening – though TEAMtalk understands the loss to the Magpies could well prove his final game at the helm.

The Dane was brought in over the summer as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou, but has struggled to get a tune out of his squad, who have steadily got worse as the season has progressed. Going into Tuesday’s game, Frank had overseen an alarming record of just one win in 10 Premier League games in form that had seen Tottenham Hotspur dragged towards the relegation zone.

And after Jacob Ramsey scored a 68th-minute goal for Newcastle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home team were booed off at full-time with chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ directed at the 52-year-old’s direction.

While there are mitigating circumstances for the latest defeat – Spurs were without several first-team stars through injury and suspension – the fact that they now sit in 16th place, and only five points clear of the drop zone, is likely to enforce his sacking.

Despite staring down the barrel, Frank is refusing to walk away quietly and is adamant that he remains the right man for the job.

Speaking to the media at full-time on Tuesday night, he insisted: “1000 per cent sure. I am also 1000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing, but I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.

“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me, and that is the fans.

“We’ve got to get through this!”

Frank is also adamant he will remain in charge for Spurs’ next Premier League game, at home to Arsenal on Sunday 22 February.

“I’m convinced I will still be in charge [for the Arsenal game],” he continued. “I understand the question, and I understand it’s easy to point at me, but I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff. It’s everyone.

“If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course, we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows, directors, ownership, and myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better.

“That is what we are working very hard on.”

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Frank can expect Tottenham sack with successor already chosen

Tuesday night really was the game that Frank could not afford to lose.

Going into the match, sources had informed TEAMtalk that a defeat to Newcastle could prove the final straw for their owners, who have been alarmed by their slide down the table over the course of this season.

And with club bosses seemingly at the end of their tether, the pressure on Frank has now reached what well-placed sources describe as “breaking point” with his reign due to come to an end after just 38 games at the helm.

Showing a barren 34.21% win record across those games (just 13 games), insiders suggested going into the game that another poor showing against Eddie Howe’s Magpies could prompt immediate action.

Bookmakers had already listed Frank as the overwhelming favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked, with odds shortened even more dramatically in recent hours.

Should Frank depart, Tottenham are expected to appoint an interim coach — possibly Johnny Heitinga, already part of the backroom staff — to guide the team through to the end of the campaign, buying time for a permanent solution…

Former coach Ryan Mason, recently axed by West Brom after a short spell in charge, is also in the frame.

Down the line, though, the north London side have already earmarked the man they want to take charge in the long run, though such an appointment will have to wait and hence why Spurs, who have wanted Frank to succeed, have stood by his side for now and refused, to this point, to pull the trigger on his reign…

With Spurs bosses already casting their minds towards a successor, we revealed last week how the long-term picture points towards a sensational reunion with Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine, currently leading the United States into their home-hosted 2026 World Cup, has given the green light to return to north London once his international duties conclude this summer.

Tottenham latest: £52m deal on for Dortmund midfielder; Rudiger offer

Meanwhile, a second source has backed up our exclusive reveal on Tottenham moving for a German international midfielder, with the new report insisting a €60m / £52m bid will ‘probably’ see the deal completed.

Elsewhere, reputed transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed the summer target that Tottenham Hotspur are ‘dreaming’ of signing, though the club will have to completely obliterate their current transfer record to seal a deal.

In other news, Antonio Rudiger is open to a return to England this summer, with intermediaries already sounding out Premier League clubs about a potential deal for the Real Madrid defender, and TEAMtalk understands Tottenham are among his potential suitors.