Football365

Premier League giants Manchester United have made an ‘approach’ to sign Arsenal-linked Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports.

Gyokeres is expected to leave the Portuguese champions after scoring a ridiculous 54 goals in 52 appearances in 2024/25.

He is no flat-track bully either, netting six times in eight Champions League matches, including a hat-trick against Manchester City.

Following Ruben Amorim’s move from Sporting to become Man United head coach in November, several stories linked the Swedish international with a reunion at Old Trafford.

A January transfer never materialised, and Gyokeres went on to win a league and cup double, while the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League with 18 defeats and no trophies, losing in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite missing out on Champions League football — and around £100million in revenue — Amorim’s side are planning an ambitious summer transfer window.

MORE: Transfer rumour power ranking: Man Utd used by CL winner but forward offers boost

Player sales will be crucial, but they remain favourites to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo and are in contention for several strikers, including Gyokeres.

They have already agreed a deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves for a reported £62.5m as Amorim looks to bolster his attack.

Cunha and Mbeumo are not out-and-out centre-forwards, which United desperately need after Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined for just seven goals in 64 Premier League appearances and 17 in 101 across all competitions.

Gyokeres may be overlooked by some because he plays in Portugal, but both Arsenal and United are keen, with the latter making an ‘initial approach’ to sign him, according to Sky Sports.

The Red Devils’ approach came ‘through intermediaries’ as the club ‘explore the conditions of a potential deal’.

Unsurprisingly, Amorim is described as a ‘big admirer’ of the player he managed at Sporting, with United said to be ‘in the market regardless of Hojlund’s future’.

The Danish international has been linked with a move to Inter but has expressed his desire to stay at Old Trafford, as United ‘look at a number of players in his position’.

Sky Sports also report that United will ‘return with an improved bid’ for Brentford’s Mbeumo, who scored 20 Premier League goals this season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s side had a £55m offer rejected by the Bees last Wednesday.

Sky reporter Dharmesh Sheth said:

Manchester United are expected to go back in with an improved offer for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo after having their first bid rejected and remain optimistic a deal can be struck.

There are reports suggesting Thomas Frank will try and tempt Mbeumo to go to Tottenham, if he takes over as their new head coach.

However, it’s understood the player wants to join United.

Meanwhile, United have confirmed the departures of several players following the expiry of their contracts.

Most notably, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans will leave, while 39-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton is in talks over a new deal.

Also leaving the club are Hubert Graczyk, Jack Kingdon, Sam Murray, Tom Myles, James Nolan and Tom Wooster.

Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of Brentford boss Thomas Frank with his first job to repair a frustrated Spurs dressing room.

Spurs chose to sack Ange Postecoglou on Friday despite the Australian helping Tottenham end their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League last month.

Ultimately, it was Postecoglou’s side’s performances and results in the Premier League that cost him his job with Spurs finishing 17th with just 38 points from 38 matches.

A statement from Tottenham read: “We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club.

“Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

“However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place.”

READ: Thomas Frank sack incoming as Spurs and football are stupid, mate

And now Brentford boss Frank is on the verge of joining as Postecoglou’s replacement with The Athletic‘s David Ornstein revealing that Tottenham ‘have made contact’ with the Bees and Spurs ‘hope to reach an agreement in the next 48 hours’.

It is understood that ‘terms with the Dane are in place’ and that ‘negotiations will centre on the cost of releasing Frank, plus the backroom staff who will join him, which is expected to be in the region of £10m.’

Football Insider claim that ‘there are now a number of unhappy players in the dressing room at Tottenham’ after they were left angry following the departure of Postecoglou.

And now former Tottenham scout Mick Brown – who is still well-connected to the club – has revealed how Frank is likely to be received by the Spurs players.

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Brown told Football Insider: “Every manager faces issues when going in to a new team. The players there obviously have negative feelings about Postecoglou being sacked, and so they should because I hear he had very strong relationships with them.

“They’re responsible for where they were, so in part they are to blame, but by all accounts they’ve been left frustrated by the decision. Now, they’ll be looking at Frank and asking what has he got that Postecoglou didn’t.

“Frank is going in there, and he’s going to have to deal with that issue immediately. He’s got to get the players on his side, build those relationships especially with some of the more influential players, and prove he’s the right man.

“It’s difficult coming in as the new boss when the old one was so loved by the players. But, having said that, they’re professionals and they’ll have to get on with it.”

Man Utd are set to beat Tottenham to the signing of Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo “soon” with a deal “advancing”, according to reports.

The Red Devils have already tied up a deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Premier League rivals Wolves for a £62.5m fee and now they are keen to add Mbeumo too.

Man Utd have already had two bids turned down for the Cameroon international with reports claiming that Brentford want a similar fee to the one that the Red Devils paid Wolves for Cunha.

That seemed to have led to a bit of a hold up over the deal and that has seen Tottenham reportedly enter the race to sign Mbeumo after Thomas Frank agreed to become the new Spurs head coach.

It has been claimed that Tottenham are ‘trying to hijack’ the deal for Mbeumo with Frank their secret weapon as he knows the forward very well from their time together at Brentford.

A report from Caught Offside claims that Spurs have now ‘held talks’ over a potential transfer for Mbeumo but journalist Rudy Galetti insists discussions with Man Utd are also ‘still ongoing’.

READ: Transfer rumour power ranking: Man Utd striker boost as Arsenal targets climb

Galetti wrote on X: ‘#ManUTD-#Brentford talks for #Mbeumo still ongoing. #BFC are trying to secure a few million more than the last figure discussed – slightly above £60m – raising the fee closer to £65m with bonuses. Anyway, the won’t stand in the way of Bryan’s desire to join #MUFC.’

And former Man Utd and Tottenham scout Mick Brown – who is still well-connected at both clubs – expects the Red Devils to seal a deal for Mbeumo “soon”.

Brown told Football Insider: “Man United are advancing towards signing Bryan Mbeumo. The player has made it clear he wants to join United, that’s the move he wants.

“They’ve made two offers for him now and they’re getting closer to reaching the asking price. So it’s a deal I expect to happen and one I expect to happen soon.

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“There’s no way he now stays at Brentford, and both parties know that, so it’s in everybody’s interest to get the deal over the line.

“Ruben Amorim is a fan of his and he sees him as somebody who will improve his team. Personally I’d have a few questions if the talk about him demanding five times his wages are true, but I don’t think it’s going to disrupt the deal.

“He’s a very good player, he’s strong and quick and I think he’d be a good fit.”

Spurs will have to part with £10m to secure first-choice Ange Postecoglou replacement Thomas Frank and challenge Chelsea’s manager compensation monopoly.

While Spurs have ‘agreed a deal’ with Frank, the small matter remains of striking an arrangement with the Dane’s current employers Brentford to poach their head coach of almost seven years.

The Bees are expected to hold out for the full £10m payout in Frank’s contract, which runs until 2027.

While that figure would put the 51-year-old about 56th in a list of the club’s most expensive transfers ever – they once spent more on Clinton N’Jie – the usual reluctance from a club to countenance dropping such sums on a manager means talks may now slow down somewhat.

Even in an age when transfer fees continue to escalate, it is rare for Premier League clubs to put much money aside to acquire the manager they feel best equipped to pull it all together. These are the most expensive coaches in English top-flight history.

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Brendan Rodgers – £6m

Swansea felt £5m was “suitable compensation” for “such a talented, young British manager” and three members of his backroom staff when Liverpool came calling in 2012.

Seven years later, Chris Davies and Glen Driscoll again jumped ship with Rodgers for Leicester, but the addition of first-team coach Kolo Toure understandably brought the overall package closer to £10m for a frustrated Celtic.

The appointment of Rodgers alone cost the Foxes £6m as they quickly identified and secured their main target to replace the sacked Claude Puel in February 2019. It immediately felt like a potentially bounteous union and for a long while proved as such.

Rodgers extended his contract before the year was out, with his first two full seasons culminating in almighty bottlings of Champions League qualification after vague threats of title challenges.

There was silverware in the form of the FA Cup and consecutive European campaigns only look more impressive the further Leicester in their current guise spiral out of control.

But it ultimately ended in relegation heartbreak, with Rodgers sacked shortly before a drop into the Championship. The manager was due a pay-off of around £10m but is thought to have foregone some of that payment. Being replaced by Dean Smith does that to a man.

Ruben Amorim – £9.25m

There was a similar sense with Amorim that Manchester United might have found a perfect match; that feeling lasted about a fortnight.

Amorim had been on the Old Trafford radar for months, including through the hilariously bungled backing and sacking of Erik ten Hag, but it was decided that one final summer transfer window of recruiting at great expense more players specifically wanted by the Dutchman and entirely incompatible with his eventual successor was the best and indeed only possible course of action for a club which believes free lunches, charity work and employing non-footballers to be the problem.

Sporting paid about £8m to release Amorim from his Braga contract after just 13 games in charge in March 2020 and it was a masterstroke: he transformed the Lisbon club to the extent that they won two Primeira Liga crowns after an almost two-decade drought, while putting them on course for a third before his departure.

Manchester United wasted £21.4m on replacing Ten Hag with Amorim in November 2024 after threatening/promising the Portuguese that the opportunity to manage them would not come around again.

Having spent the first eight months of his reign explaining in unnecessarily public and painstaking detail precisely how incompetent he believes himself, his players and the club which has helped torch his burgeoning reputation to be, it is easy to imagine he might regret not calling their bluff.

All manner of low bars were dragged towards the centre of the Earth in an atrocious season which concluded with an embarrassing Europa League final no-show. The manager who so thoroughly out-coached his rival to procure the trophy and Champions League qualification with it was obviously ruthlessly dispensed with soon after; Sunk-Cost Fallacy FC doubled down on failure and rewarded Amorim with a £62.5m signing 11 days later.

Arne Slot – £9.4m

“Everybody understands Feyenoord will want to receive as much money as they can get, but I get the feeling that they will not begrudge me this move,” said Slot when it became clear that, through the noise surrounding Amorim and Xabi Alonso, he would be handed the Jurgen Klopp dynasty.

The Eredivisie runners-up were perfectly satisfied with a £7.7m fee and £1.7m in add-ons which might well have been triggered over the course of a Premier League-winning debut season. Liverpool, too, were content with a succession plan which convinced few outside the club.

Among those might well have been Spurs, on whom the joke is contractually bound to always be. They considered the credentials of Slot in The Great Managerial Search of summer 2023, although when it was reported that Feyenoord wanted £15m or so in restitution, it does not requite a vivid imagination to envision Daniel Levy’s non-response.

Slot parlayed that interest into a contract extension after playing Spurs like a fiddle. When it was an upwardly mobile Liverpool on the end of the phone less than a year later, negotiations inevitably went far smoother.

Enzo Maresca – £10m

Leicester were ‘disappointed’ when Maresca ‘decided at this stage that he no longer wants to be part of our vision,’ but they cannot possibly have been surprised.

The Italian recognised that his stock was high after winning the Championship title; he understandably chose to cash in when Chelsea made an approach for a coach they felt would be more malleable to their unique operations and machinations.

A £10m bill delivered not only Maresca but six members of his Leicester staff to Stamford Bridge, which seemed like remarkably shrewd recruitment when the Blues marched to second in the Premier League table around Christmas.

The wheels on the bandwagon felt loose for months after but Maresca and his team managed to stabilise themselves, qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa Conference.

Nothing can be ruled out with Clearlake but the Italian seems likely to be the first manager of their stewardship to finish one season and start the next, making Maresca one of the biggest success stories in sporting history.

Andre Villas-Boas – £13.3m

With Carlo Ancelotti handed one of the harsher sackings in Premier League history, Chelsea felt it necessary to conduct an absurdly expensive experiment to deduce whether lightning could indeed strike twice.

The hypothesis was fair. The club’s greatest era was triggered in no small part by the prodigious brilliance of a young Portuguese manager who had just won the Treble with Porto. Jose Mourinho himself once referred to Villas-Boas as “my eyes and ears” so when the 33-year-old won the Primeira Liga, Europa League and Portuguese Cup, the comparison became unavoidably intoxicating.

Roman Abramovich certainly agreed, sanctioning what was a world-record compensation package for a manager he would spend about as much to sack within eight months, at least partly because he tried to make John Terry sit in economy.

‘Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job,’ the Blues said when appointing him. By the time he was dispensed with there was ‘disappointment that the relationship has ended so early’ – and presumably so expensively.

Graham Potter – £21.5m

It was presumed that Chelsea’s financially incontinent revolving door managerial policy would end with Abramovich’s ownership, but Clearlake ensured to honour that proud history with their first appointment.

Thomas Tuchel was soon shown the door Potter would be invited through thanks to his work at Brighton. As ever, the Seagulls were fully prepared for such an eventuality and guaranteed they would be reimbursed for their troubles.

Roberto De Zerbi was already in place as Potter’s replacement when it was revealed that Chelsea’s latest direct debit payment to Brighton amounted to just over £21m for the manager and five of his backroom team.

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘agreed a deal’ to appoint their preferred replacement for former head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs are in the market for a new manager after it was confirmed that they have parted ways with Postecoglou.

The former Celtic boss was under pressure throughout the 2024/25 campaign as Tottenham fell being being a contender for Champions League qualification to 17th in the Premier League, losing 22 of their 38 games.

Last September, Postecoglou declared the he would end Tottenham’s trophy drought in 2024/25 and he delivered, helping his side beat Manchester United en route to winning the Europa League.

Having failed in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, Spurs put all their focus on the Europa League during the run-in and this paid off as they won the competition to lift a trophy, seal Champions League football and a huge injection of cash.

READ: Thomas Frank sack incoming as Spurs and football are stupid, mate

Still, Postecoglou’s position became untenable amid Tottenham’s unforgivable downfall in the Premier League and he was relieved of his duties last week.

Spurs have been linked with Thomas Frank, Oliver Glaser, Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva in recent months, but the Brentford boss was identified as their leading target after Postecoglou’s exit and they are close to appointing the respected Dane.

On Sunday night, a report from The Sun claims Spurs have ‘agreed a deal’ with Frank, who has given the Big Six club the green light to complete terms with Brentford.

Spurs are said to be ‘negotiating compensation’ with Brentford and he is likely to cost £10m due to the release clause in his contract. The report claims he is ‘close to becoming Postecoglou’s replacement following talks over the weekend’.

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It is also claimed that Spurs are attempting a double raid on Brentford as they are ‘trying to hijack’ Man Utd in the race to sign Bryan Mbeumo, who scored 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25.

This operation could cost ‘up to £70m’ overall, ‘with a possible £10m deal for Frank, plus £60m for Mbuemo’s services’.

A report from Caught Offside confirms Tottenham’s interest in Mbuemo, as they have ‘held talks’ over signing the Man Utd forward.

The report adds:

‘The Cameroon international has agreed personal terms with the Red Devils, but the issue remains the two clubs agreeing a fee.

‘Meanwhile, CaughtOffside understands that Tottenham could also get involved, even if Man Utd currently remain Mbeumo’s preference and priority. Spurs’ interest, however, is linked to the fact that they’re making progress on hiring Brentford’s Thomas Frank as their new manager.’

Arsenal are set to make their interest in Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane concrete with a ‘formal offer’ on Monday, according to reports.

The Gunners are looking to bring in a winger and a new centre-forward as their next transfer priorities after reportedly sealing a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, although that deal is not quite over the line.

Arsenal are looking to provide competition to Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the wings with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo among the players linked with a move.

But one player who could save Arsenal a lot of money in the summer transfer window is Bayern Munich winger Sane with the Germany international out of contract at the end of the season.

Arsenal have been linked previously but the possibility of him signing a new contract at Bayern Munich put Sane to the back of their minds.

And back in mid-May, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed that ‘Arsenal are back in the race’ to sign Sane this summer on a free transfer.

READ: Transfer rumour power ranking: Man Utd striker boost as Arsenal targets climb

Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘FC Bayern are sticking to their offer for Leroy #Sané: around €10 million fixed plus €5.5 million in bonuses, as revealed — ideally with no signing fee and a contract running until 2028.

‘Max Eberl wants clarity by or just after the weekend: “Leroy and his agency know what we want and they know the conditions. We hope he decides for us.” Arsenal are back in the race. Other teams from England are also waiting for his decision. … with Bayern also counting on the fact that Sané has publicly stated that he wants to stay.’

There have also been reports that Sane ‘offered himself’ to Tottenham as his ‘desire is to return to the Premier League’ as he continues to struggle to agree new terms with Bayern Munich.

And now Turkish journalist Sami Yen Haber wrote on X on Sunday that the Gunners are set to make a ‘formal offer’ for Sane – who has also been linked with Galatasaray – on Monday.

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Haber wrote: ‘Arsenal will make a formal offer for Leroy Sane tomorrow.’

Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre reckons the Gunners should “be wary” of bringing in another winger this summer unless they sell someone.

Silvestre told Esports Insider last week: “I’d however be wary of bringing in too many wingers like Nico Williams through the door. You need to give Ethan Nwaneri some gametime; they have Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli already.

“I don’t see why they’d want to bring another winger unless one of those players want to leave or if the club are planning to break the bank on a world-class wide player. It would surprise me if the club spent heavily on a striker and a winger in the same window.”

In the end it was like kicking a stray dog that just kept hanging around. Unpleasant, debasing and lacking empathy: words which describe so much of our football media.

The persecution of Ange was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. They kept on and on. Picking at the same scab until it bled. It was horrible to witness his depressed, slumped shoulders and downbeat body language. That big grey coat became like a physical manifestation of his mood.

So to see his delight at winning the Europa League was uplifting. As he embraced his family it was impossible not to feel some joy. He seemed to stand taller.

But beyond the moment, the whole episode revealed much about where we are now. The only criteria for judging a manager’s success or even worth is seemingly not trophies but league position. Only maximising money matters. Glory, history, culture, memories don’t matter, or only as far as they can be monetised.

Is that why you like football? Really? Do you think Spurs fans just shrugged as they won the Europa and said ‘yeah but 17th means we only get £120 million – sack him’. I hope not. But fans are stuck in a kind of legacy thinking. Today, trophies obviously don’t really matter, they don’t bring in as much money. The gap between finishing sixth or 17th is approximately £40million and apparently that’s what counts. That is the governing fiscal reality. Never mind that Ange has 100% more European success than Mikel Arteta and are in the Champions League.

You can say the position of 17th isn’t good enough for Spurs, but that is to take an irrational belief and think it’s reality. Is it so very bad? You didn’t get relegated and you won a tournament. Aw, are the big boys laughing at you Daniel, because you’ve shat yourself again? You should be allowed to fail at least once, otherwise you end up with a procession of two-year managers on an endless loop of reinvention.

His sacking is wholly an example of Daniel Levy or the club in general not trusting their own judgement. Understandably perhaps, as their mistakes are legion. Regardless if you disagree or not with the sacking, it’s just another rinse and repeat. They are constitutionally incapable of sticking to a decision. Sack someone for being defensive and not playing ‘the Spurs way’, play attacking football and sack them for not being defensive enough. When you’ve sacked disciplinarians for being too strict, laissez-faire managers for not being strict enough, you’ve nowhere left to go. Have the bloody courage of your convictions for once, accept things sometimes go against you in the league, temper your frustration at that with a European trophy. Is that so bad? Evidently, yes.

Maybe Ange isn’t good enough, but Spurs appointed him. Stick by your choice. It’s not like he’s not won anything. He did what you asked. Can’t you get anything right? You’ve sacked managers for not winning and sacked managers for actually winning. Stupid. Sacking all those managers because you’ve not got the balls to ride out a difficult period clearly doesn’t work, as evidenced by results. So why keep doing it? All you’re doing is cursing each new man with your own insecurities. Constantly dumping your girlfriend for not being attractive enough.

If you appoint Thomas Frank and he finishes between 7th and 9th, is that the future already written? Sacked. What do Spurs actually want? Do they even know?

Ange was just a realist; Spurs, even in the best light, would never have won the title or close. Giving up on the league is just sensible for any club that is in the latter stages of any cup. Or it would be for anybody not completely money orientated. But that’s not good enough for the voraciously greedy for whom 17th and a cup is worse than 6th and no cup. After all, aside from pathetic ego, there’s no real difference between 6th and 17th except a few million. You clearly think little of the Europa League because you sacked a manager who won it.

As is usual in football, successful businessmen make terrible business choices. Sacking someone for, effectively, not making the club £20 million more with a top-six finish is stupid. This season, rolling all their earnings together, they were about one reserve midfielder’s cost behind what they could realistically expect to garner. Success is failure, seen through this lens. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Welcome to the modern world.

Of course, it is obvious to everyone who doesn’t own a football club that winning a trophy promotes the club far more than a higher league position and can be monetised far more easily. They clearly don’t realise this.

If it was reversed and they finished sixth and got knocked out of the Europa League early, he’d still be in a job. That’s where we are. Only money and perhaps delusional ego matters. It has corrupted the values of the game completely. It’s no longer a sport about the glory of victory.

Wasn’t Ange appointed to win something? But as soon as he did, he was sacked. Did he not win in the manner you wanted? Objectively, that’s mad, but it makes perfect sense if you accept only money matters. And yet perversely they are so profligate with the money. Frittering it away on badly researched transfers, overpaying transfer fees and paying obscenely big wages. It’s like they’re saying ‘we’ll sack you if you don’t earn us enough money for us to waste’.

Is this sustainable or just a sick blip? When we are nakedly disregarding winning but are just craving more money instead, where is the sporting element of football? Do we only cheer when another 10 million has been earned? If you’d rather a top-half finish than the joy of victory, we are through the looking glass and we have to ask what are we even playing for anymore? It asks basic, existential questions of football when you are punished for winning a trophy. It’s f*cking stupid, mate.

Tottenham have weighed up an ‘unlikely move’ to replace Ange Postecoglou with Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe, according to reports.

Spurs revealed on Friday that they had sacked Postecoglou despite the Australian winning the club’s first silverware in 17 years.

Postecoglou has given the new manager a perfect start with their Europa League glory last month providing Tottenham with Champions League football next season.

But their terrible form in the Premier League this season could not be ignored with Tottenham finishing 17th in the table with just 38 points from 38 matches.

A statement from Tottenham read: “We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club.

“Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

READ: Five next move options for Ange Postecoglou post-Tottenham sack include Leeds United, Everton

“However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place.”

The latest reports claim that Brentford boss Thomas Frank is out in front as Tottenham look at different options to replace Postecoglou.

BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel has revealed that Newcastle boss Howe has been under ‘consideration’ at Tottenham, while a return for Mauricio Pochettino looks tricky.

Mokbel wrote: ‘It is understood consideration was given to the prospect of making an unlikely move for Eddie Howe, but Newcastle’s qualification for the Champions League would, you imagine, nip that in the bud.

MORE TOTTENHAM COVERAGE ON F365…

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‘A return for Mauricio Pochettino would have significant support from fans but is a move that comes with a number of obstacles.

‘Pochettino is managing the United States, who will co-host next year’s World Cup, and it would take a compensation package described to BBC Sport as one of the “biggest in football history” to release him.’

Mokbel also revealed that Tottenham sources have told him that club’s terrible injury record this season ‘has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season’ with everyone playing the ‘blame game’.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson reckons Brentford boss Frank would deserve a move to a bigger club after spending years in west London.

Robinson told Football Insider: “I’d like Thomas Frank. I think he’s an outstanding character.

“I think he deserves an opportunity at the top level. I think he’s loyal to Brentford. The things you hear about him, the two times that I’ve met him in a media capacity, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with him, the way that he handles himself.

“And when you listen to what the Brentford players say about him personally, knowing them individually, knowing their families, and the relationship that he has with his players, I think he would be a good fit.”

England fans were so unimpressed by the drab win over Andorra that only two people bothered to write in about it — more were interested in defending Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

Send your views to theeditor@football365.com…

Andorra 0 England 1 and Gareth Southgate

Andorra 0 England 1. Well a win is a win but by God that was awful to watch.

People complained that Gareth Southgate didn’t play attacking football but we did score hatfuls of goals against the likes of Andorra.

Today under Thomas Tuchel we struggled to score 1 goal against Andorra and never looked like getting any more. So where’s this attacking football under Tuchel that we were promised?

Dan, London

Gash England

Good job we had Jordan Henderson on the field to bring us all that leadership experience. And I suppose at least we found out that lad Harry Kane can score goals. I loved Tommy T’s touchline and post match “WTF lads?”, but if you’re gonna pick the geriatric money grubbing water carrier, and start Kane in games like this, then my patience has already run out. It’s all academic anyway though, since France and/or Spain will absolutely ruin us even if every player manages to miraculously give a 10/10 performance for every game of a tournament.

Oh, and can someone tell Bellingham to wind his fecking neck in and shut his gob too please? We know you’re at Madrid Jude, but it doesn’t mean you’re supposed to spend the entire game giving the ref grief instead of beating An-f**king-dorra.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TRY TAKING YOUR MAN ON LADS. They looked like Arsenal fannying about in Arteta’s devastating ‘horseshoe of impotence’ formation, cunningly keeping possession on the perimeter of their box.

RHT/TS

Why the Bruno Hate?

I get that fans of other clubs don’t like Bruno. You didn’t like Beckham, Rooney, Ronaldo, or Keane either. It’s not a popularity contest. You’re welcome to think of him as ugly, whiny, or a weakling – fair play to you and the rest of the PFM gang. Maybe you’ve confused football with Vogue or Men’s Health Magazine.

But to Derrick who wrote in to say ‘No united striker will score with Bruno in the team, he is supposed to be the creator but it’s something he simply can’t do…’ – would this be the same Bruno who last year was the 3rd highest chance creator in the top 5 leagues (and the #1 in the Premier League) according to Planet Football, and the #1 chance creator in the Premier League in the last 5 years?

Don’t let the fog of hate block the pathways of understanding, my friend.

Ved Sen MUFC

Maybe it’s the ugly thing

There seems a high correlation between pithy Bruno-bashing emails and the ability to write articulate, coherent sentences. Not sure what one can infer from that.

There are many reasons to think that Bruno leaving for a huge fee makes sense for United, particularly given the financial constraints. I was firmly in the camp that given his age and the lack of clear role in the system that it probably was the right time. But he stays, that’s fine too.

What I’ll not have is this irrational bashing of a player based on perception rather than reality. The reality is, over the last 5 seasons he is not just the outright greatest chance creator in all of Europe (source: statmuse) he leads second place by almost 30% more chances. He is 13th in goals + assists and is the only non striker/winger in the top 25. No one in Europe is more productive than Bruno at creating chances.

Even in a season without a striker worthy of the title in a fully dysfunctional United team when compared to midfielders he is in the 97-99th percentile in Shots, Assists, Exp Goals, Exp Assists and Shot Creating Actions. 98th in progressive passses. His defensive actions are far more in line with a decent central midfielder than one tasked with creating. He runs more than almost anyone else. He has more tackles and blocks than plenty of defensive midfielders.

He is terrible at running with the ball, can’t fend off strong challenges when he receives it in dangerous positions and is probably the last person who should be receiving a pass in traffic but he does a whole lot of football a whole lot better than just about every other player in the world.

Bottom line: if you think Bruno is your problem, then you should probably think about other things.

Ryan, Bermuda

More on Bruno…

Jamo, I can sort of see what you mean about Bruno not being liked because he’s not “handsome”, but you lost all credibility when you used Cole Palmer as a counter example! I mean Cole Palmer?? God bless him, he’s very good at football, but he’s a British version of Cletus from Simpsons!

Personally I’ll never forgive Fernandes for winning a penalty by standing on Konsa’s ankle, nothing to do with his admittedly rat-like face.

Oli, AVFC

On Ange…

The contrast between ManU’s mistaken retention of Erik Ten Hag and Spurs’ sacking of Ange Postecoglou is obvious, but I don’t think it’s apt.

Manchester United is used to winning cups (indeed, they’d won the Carabao and FA Cups in the seasons before his sacking). Spurs, on the other hand, hadn’t won anything is almost two decades; that Europa League win was far, far more impactful than United’s FA Cup and a far better justification for retaining Big Ange. In short, ManU made the wrong call after the FA Cup, but it doesn’t follow that Spurs made the right one.

I’m not positive that Spurs have made a mistake. That will depend on the replacement they secure and the reactions along the squad, some of which seem negative indeed. But it sure would have been interesting to watch Ange and Spurs next season. I’ll miss that weirdo.

Also, I’m still troubled by the quiet transfer front at NUFC. I’d expected us to have at least Mbeumo wrapped up by now. And while the club is no doubt wise to protect its wage structure, he would’ve been prefect for us. 18 year-old Antonio Cordero looks promising, but isn’t yet a first-team contributor, and that transfer has probably been quietly agreed weeks or months ago. It’s already starting to feel like last summer.

Chris C, Toon Army DC

That settles that…

Turns out Levy also thought Spurs season was less successful than Arsenal’s. Thanks for moving so swiftly to shut up that nonsense Danny boy!

Trophies are great, but we need to stop trying to pretend that winning ones that Arsenal have played too well over consecutive seasons to compete for should be seen as a greater level of success! A few lucky games to win a trophy don’t mask a season of underperforming – it’s like nobody learnt anything from Man Utd and Ten Hag.

James (Gooner exiled in the North East)

Spurs can’t win, except they did

As soon as spurs won the Europa I realised this was a dream for football editors and rival fans.

Keep Ange and we’re a banter club, accepting mediocrity and a manager out of his depth because we beat a bunch of pub teams to win a second tier trophy. Sack Ange, and we’re a banter club who wins a major trophy and immediately sacks the manager. Perfect.

But here’s the thing – I don’t care. We did win a major trophy, we are in the champions league, we do have a young squad that can compete with some sensible additions and a more tactically astute manager, and we avoided the ETH trap of keeping the wrong guy for (understandable) emotional reasons. Sonny came out and said that Ange ‘changed the trajectory of the club’ and by winning something that may well be true, and he’ll always be remembered fondly but this really is the best of both worlds.

Now of course Daniel Levy is fully capable of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory by signing a another bunch of 18 year olds, but if we buy a proper 6 and at least one top notch forward plus a couple of depth pieces this really is an attractive squad to work with over the next few years. If I was Frank or Poch I’d jump at the chance.

Phil, London

…Ange was a good coach for Tottenham who sacrificed the league for a cup win(you know deep down arsenal fans wish arteta could do this). Tottenham did not lose those games because they were inferior to their opponents,you could see they gave up on the league and were focusing on their cup performance. There was little interest in playing in the league.

It was probably painful for their fans to experience such defeats in the league but most fans would prefer an actual cup rather than a perennial 2nd place finish whose only reward is the repugnant feeling of what would have been if things were different.

Even though there were legitimate reasons for Tottenham’s actions, they have lost a good coach and they will only realize this when they appoint their next coach who doesn’t win them trophies (of any kind).

Jamo

A-Team

Manuel Almunia

Trentsfer AA – Toby Alderweireld Azpilicueta – Marcos Alonso

Arshavin – Xabi Alonso Marcos Asencio

Julian Alvarez – Arguero – Nic Anelka –

Pretty tasty team, albeit brazil in nature lol (more attack than defence)

Gab YNWA (PS my toenails grew another 2 mm, which is more progress than can be said for lfc’s transfer dealings)

An M-XI that makes you go mmm…

Mamardashvili

Maicon, Marquinhos, Murillo, Maldini

Modric, Mac Allister, Matthaus

Maradona, Messi, Mbapp

Jo (I’d have had Gabriel Magalhaes but there are too many pedants here) Kent

Z-Team

Here’s my Z team, I’m playing 442 but with a controversial ‘one half per keeper’ approach. (Just cause I couldn’t leave one of them out.)

GK: Zoff/ Zubizaretta.

DEF: Zanetti, Ze Roberto, Ze Maria, Zambrotta.

MID: Zico, Zubimendi, Zinedine Zidane.

FWD: Zaha, Zola.

Hartley MCFC Somerset

V-Team

If I can get away with another. The V team.

Van der Sar,

Van Bronkhorst/ Van Dyjk/ Vidic/ Van der Ven.

Viera/ Valderrama/ Vidal (Ernesto).

Van Basten/ Van Nistelrooy/ Vardy.

Hartley MCFC Somerset

The only real asterisk in football

Totally agree with Badwolfs comments on Saturday.

The only real asterisk in football is after the phrase “zero tolerance of discrimination”.

Football quite gladly welcomes gender inequality, homophobia, racism, transphobia and others. Statistically every starting 11 should have 1 gay player. Maybe it does, but no one feels safe enough to admit it.

You don’t want to support British values, you can take a suspension. It should be a condition of professional registration.

Alex, South London

Thomas Frank is demanding that Tottenham rival Man Utd for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo in the transfer market, according to reports.

Spurs announced on Friday that they had sacked Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian leading them to their first trophy in 17 years in May.

The Europa League victory could not make up for their awful performances and results in the Premier League, which saw them lose 22 of their 38 matches and finish 17th in the table.

A statement from Tottenham read: “We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club.

“Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

“However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place.”

READ: Five next move options for Ange Postecoglou post-Tottenham sack include Leeds United, Everton

Postecoglou has left a good opportunity for another coach to take over with their Europa League win securing them a place in next season’s Champions League and the riches that go with that.

Brentford boss Frank was immediately put as favourite with the bookmakers to take over from Postecoglou ahead of next campaign.

The Guardian reported on Friday that Tottenham ‘have met with intermediaries to discuss a move for Frank’ with Spurs also ‘admiring’ the work that Marco Silva has done at Fulham.

The newspaper claimed that Frank now ‘appears to be the No 1. target’ and now Tottenham ‘must decide whether to pay the £10m’ that it will take to prise the Dane away from Brentford.

And now talkSPORT claim that Frank ‘has informed Brentford that he wants to join Tottenham’ and his team ‘have already held talks over terms with the Brentford boss the clear first choice to replace’ Postecoglou.

TalkSPORT‘s chief football correspondent Alex Crook said: “My understanding is several conversations have taken place between the Tottenham hierarchy and Thomas Frank’s camp.

“There is a hefty release clause in his Brentford contract, I’m told that is in the region of £8m-£9m, and Postecoglou got himself a bonus for winning the Europa League trophy, while the club will obviously have to now pay up the rest of his contract, which has two years left to run.

“So this is a big financial undertaking from Tottenham, but ultimately despite the fact he delivered silverware that league form, finishing just one place above the relegation places, Daniel Levy has clearly looked at that and said, ‘Thanks for the trophy, Ange, but we have to go in a different direction’.

MORE TOTTENHAM COVERAGE ON F365…

👉 Spurs tempted by these ridiculous records of Thomas Frank and Brentford

👉 Tottenham: Two ‘reasons’ behind Postecoglou sack decision as Spurs ‘close in’ on £10m replacement

👉 Spurs face ‘player revolt’ over Ange sack as ‘so angry’ stars seek exit in aftermath of brutal decision

“I’ll be fascinated to see how this goes down in the Spurs dressing room, because quite a few players since the win over Man United in Bilbao have publicly backed Postecoglou, so this is a decision Levy has to get right.

“His record for hiring and firming managers hasn’t been particularly successful, but I know he’s an admirer of Marco Silva as well, there was talk at one stage of Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth taking over, but it looks like he’s saying on the south coast.

“All roads at this stage I think very much lead to Thomas Frank.”

And the Daily Mirror claim that Frank has already made a transfer ‘demand’ to Tottenham and ‘has told Spurs he wants them to rival Man Utd’ for Mbeumo.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ‘could trump United’s bid with Champions League football’ with Mbeumo facing a ‘decision as to whether to follow his head or his heart’.

After two bids for Mbeumo, Man Utd are yet to agree a deal with Brentford, ‘leaving the door open for Spurs to make their move’ after the Red Devils offered the Cameroon international ‘around £150,000-a-week with add-ons taking the package up to £200,000-a-week’.

On Tottenham potentially taking the lead on Mbeumo, the Daily Mirror added: ‘Spurs would offer Mbeumo around £130,000-a-week and although bonuses would still leave them short of the United package, the north Londoners would still have the pull of Champions League football and Frank – who turned Mbeumo into one of the most feared forwards in the top flight.’