Football365

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…

👉 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

‘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.’

Brentford have scored more goals than Man Utd and conceded fewer than Spurs since promotion to the Premier League; it’s why he may replace Ange Postecoglou.

It is weird how Brentford becoming such an established Premier League force has been normalised because this is by any conceivable measure one of the division’s greatest success stories since football was invented in 1992.

Spurs seem to agree as Frank has been identified as the leading candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou after the Australian was sacked two weeks after winning the Europa League.

Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola are among the other contenders, with Spurs executives seeming to favour Premier League experience to build on the foundations which will take them into the Champions League next season.

There may be reservations over Frank as a result as he has limited experience managing in continental competition, taking Brondby into a couple of Europa League qualifying campaigns almost a decade ago but never any further.

Yet few coaches have ever overperformed as consistently in the Premier League on a comparatively meagre budget as Frank, which might inevitably appeal to Levy and friends.

Here are some of the ludicrous statistics which sum up a brilliant Premier League union Spurs wish to break up.

* Brentford have beaten every opponent they have faced in the Premier League at least once.

* Brentford are one of eight clubs never to be relegated from the Premier League, alongside Arsenal, Brighton, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs.

* Brentford have never ended a single Premier League matchday in a position lower than 16th, so obviously the team which just finished 17th want to appoint him.

* Brentford have the second-lowest wage bill of any club in the Premier League.

* Brentford are one of only ten clubs with a positive goal difference in an all-time Premier League table – alongside Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs, Newcastle, Blackburn and Leeds – and the only club with a positive goal difference from Fulham in 15th all the way down to Luton in 51st.

* Brentford are 41st in an all-time Premier League table, but 12th in an all-time Premier League table based on points-per-game, in which the Bees (1.32) would be higher than, among many others, West Ham (1.25) Brighton (1.25), Leicester (1.22), Stoke (1.20), Bolton (1.16), Crystal Palace (1.15) and Wolves (1.14).

* Brentford are 10th in a Premier League table since their promotion, ahead of West Ham, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Everton of all ever-presents in that time.

* Brentford have scored more Premier League goals (228) than Man Utd (216) – and have an identical goal difference (both +4) – since their promotion in summer 2021.

* Brentford have conceded fewer Premier League goals (224) than Spurs (229) since their promotion in summer 2021.

* Brentford were top of the Premier League table more recently than Everton and Aston Villa.

* Only ten clubs have reached 50 Premier League wins quicker than Brentford; no team has since 1995.

* Thomas Frank is the third longest-serving manager in the Premier League and Football League.

* Thomas Frank has managed Brentford for longer than Rafael Benitez managed Liverpool, and will have overtaken Harry Redknapp at West Ham by the start of next season if he remains in the post after telling Spurs to sod off, with Tony Pulis at Stoke following soon after that.

* Thomas Frank has a better points-per-game record in the Premier League than Sam Allardyce, Alan Pardew, Roy Hodgson, Glenn Hoddle, Frank Lampard, Marcelo Bielsa and Roberto Martinez.

* Brentford are one of only five clubs to have one manager throughout their existence as a Premier League club, alongside Barnsley (Danny Wilson), Blackpool (Ian Holloway), Luton (Rob Edwards) and Oldham (Joe Royle). The first three were relegated at the end of their only season in the division.

* Brentford won five consecutive away games in a top-flight season for the first time in their history in 2024/25.

* Brentford were the only club with two players in the top eight goalscorers of the 2024/25 Premier League season, and the only club with three to score at least 11 goals.

* Brentford were the only club other than Arsenal and Liverpool not to lose a single Premier League game in 2024/25 by more than two goals.

* Brentford made their record sale when Al-Ahli signed striker Ivan Toney for £40m in the summer of 2024; they spent £30m of that on the most expensive signing in their history in Igor Thiago, who played 169 minutes of 2024/25 due to injury, yet the Bees enjoyed their best goal return in a single top-flight season post-Second World War in 2024/25.

* Brentford have the lowest estimated transfer debt – future fee instalments owed to other clubs for players they have already signed – in the Premier League at around £26m, with Crystal Palace (£42m) next.

* While the figures are inevitably only a rough estimate, the transfer debt of Chelsea (£491m), Man Utd (£414m) and Spurs (£307m) are all higher than Brentford’s total spend on transfers in their entire history (around £292m).

According to reports, two ‘major reasons’ were behind Tottenham Hotspur’s unsurprising decision to sack head coach Ange Postecoglou.

It was announced on Friday evening that the Premier League side has parted ways with Postecoglou.

The former Celtic boss was under immense pressure during most of the 2024/25 campaign as Tottenham‘s performances fell off a cliff after they finished fifth in the Premier League last season.

Injuries contributed to their downfall, but most of their Premier League performances were far from good enough as they lost 22 of their games and finished 17th.

Spurs also failed in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but their run in the Europa League was a saving grace as they saved their best displays for this competition.

During the run-in, Spurs sacrificed the Premier League to prioritise the Europa League and this paid off as they beat Manchester United in the final to end their trophy drought, secure Champions League football and a huge injection of cash.

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

Ahead of the final, it was revealed that Postecoglou would be sacked ‘regardless’ of the Europa League outcome and he was put out of his misery on Friday.

Now, a report from reporter Fraser Fletcher for our pals at TEAMtalk claims two ‘major reasons’ were behind Tottenham’s decision to sack Postecoglou.

It is claimed that the ‘decision driven by Daniel Levy stemmed from concerns over the team’s Premier League form and the unsustainable nature of Postecoglou’s high-intensity system, which has led to a string of injuries’.

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‘Sources inside Tottenham’ have also indicated that his ideology contributed to their injury crisis, with his ‘resistance to adapting his coaching methods a significant factor in his dismissal’.

The report adds:

‘The Australian’s training sessions, heavily focused on small-sided games, failed to prepare players — particularly defenders — for the physical demands of their high-line tactics.

‘Sources also explained that the lack of training for long sprints left players vulnerable to muscle injuries, especially hamstrings, as their bodies were unprepared for the “massive loads” during matches.’

Spurs already appear to be making progress in their search for a new head coach, with a report from Football Insider claiming they are ‘closing in’ on Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

A recent report claimed several factors have made Spurs ‘convinced’ about Frank and Football Insider say they are ‘willing to pay’ his £10m release clause.

‘Preliminary talks have taken place over a deal as Tottenham plan to have a new manager in place in the next week.

‘The north London club are confident Frank is keen to join them and believe he can develop and improve a squad that just ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought.’

Spurs have already been ‘rejected’ in their search for a new manager, and ‘everything suggests’ the cheaper of two Premier League bosses will be appointed.

Ange Postecoglou was finally sacked by Spurs little over two weeks after ending their 17-year trophy drought with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

It felt as though that win and the Champions League qualification it guaranteed along with it might have counter-balanced a disastrous Premier League campaign in the eyes of the boardroom, but Daniel Levy and fellow executives deemed a change necessary.

The club described it as ‘one of the toughest decisions we have had to make’ on their official website, and ‘not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude’.

‘Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,’ it was added.

The search is thus on for Postecoglou’s successor and the favourites for the role have been named.

Among them are two Premier League managers: Thomas Frank of Brentford and Fulham’s Marco Silva.

Frank is considered the leading contender in most circles and is already thought to have met Levy ‘multiple times’ to discuss taking over.

But Brentford will point to a £10m release clause in the Dane’s contract which could prove prohibitive. The i Paper reports that while the Bees expect an approach to be made at some point, they had not heard from Spurs as of Friday evening.

They also point out that Frank ‘benefits from working in an exceptional structure’ at Brentford, which would not be the case at Spurs due to upheaval behind the scenes.

Silva could thus become a more likely candidate and his representatives ‘have been contacted about the vacancy’, with the Portuguese having ‘long-term admirers’ at Spurs dating back to Antonio Conte’s departure in 2023.

A cheaper release clause of £6m could also appeal and Portuguese paper Record go even further in saying Silva is essentially nailed on to take Postecoglou’s place.

As translated by the excellent Sport Witness, Record say a deal is ‘very close’ and ‘everything suggests’ Silva will take the Spurs job as ‘the chosen one’.

If transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is to be believed then Spurs have already been turned down by former Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi, who ‘rejected’ the north London club and has recently explained how happy he is at Marseille.

“I want to do good things in the right way there,” he said at the end of a season in which Marseille finished distant runners-up to European champions PSG.

“We need to look at what to do for the future, plan it and see where we stand, and talk honestly. Things need to be said. I haven’t started talks with any club,” he added.

But a potentially huge update emanates from Football Insider, who throw Frank’s name back into the mix by saying Brentford ‘are readying a formal move’ for Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna to replace him.

The Bees are ‘expecting’ Spurs to trigger Frank’s release clause and so Brentford will follow their ‘own succession plan’ in trying to entice McKenna from relegated Ipswich as ‘they believe he could be an ideal fit’.

Bruno Fernandes has been eviscerated in the Mailbox but there is plenty of time and space to thank Ange Postecoglou for making Spurs interesting again.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

State of affairs

It’s been interesting reading which players could end up where, and why on 365 (and the Guardian – do I get my credentials badge now?)

And yet in none of the articles do Tottenham feature. Recent Europa League winners and therefore, hilariously, Champions League participants next season, and…..nothing. Not a thing.

Levy is surely the only person on God’s green earth capable of taking all the exuberance of that night, and the bidding farewell of seventeen years of hurt, and turn it into…well, not quite sure really. A club in limbo? A club in purgatory waiting for the final sentencing – Levy growing like the Genie in Aladdin, great swirling dark clouds filled with acid rain, ready to flood the club once again in his mediocrity.

I know, I know – chill out, but we’ve seen this film far too often to think otherwise.

Dan

Farewell to a Spurs legend

I think we all knew it was coming, but the news breaking still hurt:

The Ange era is over at Spurs.

Many fans were sick of him. Many in the media and from other clubs ridiculed him. But I’m very much one of the many Spurs fans who was inspired by Ange Postecoglou, who’s grateful for his time at the club, and who will genuinely miss him as the leader of the team.

Modern football has hooked us all. Most of us caught the bug when we were young, and now we’re eternally afflicted.

But as time has gone by, the clubs are changing – every day the clubs become more like modern commercial franchises, and the players often become more like celebrity megastars, rather than clubmen. This is all very normal, and not necessarily wrong, but sometimes it can make it less magnetic to be so invested in your team, and a group of players.

After Poch, through no conscious choice, I found myself tuning out of Spurs a bit. Nothing major, just reading about them less often, fewer podcasts, watching fewer games. I cared less when we lost. I remember very little from the Mourinho Era, and nothing from Nuno.

Conte piqued my interest, but like many, I was as jaded as he was by the end of his tenure.

And then came Ange.

(Largely) unheralded, ‘unproven’ at the top level. As Daniel Levy even put it “We tried bringing in winners, but now we’ve got Ange.”

But he came with a vision of changing Spurs. He had no interested being a mercenary coming in for a quick buck, and jumping for a bigger job. He wasn’t aloof and above us. This was a man who was excited by the challenge: Taking an iconic club, who’s spent far too long away from success, and rewiring the whole culture and style of the club, to make us an exciting, winning football team again. In the modern world of football, having someone like this with a vision, and a passion – you couldn’t help but be swept up with it.

An absolute breath of fresh air.

You could see from the beginning, not only the fans loved ‘Angeball’ – the players loved it too. No longer were they told that they were ‘just Tottenham’. It was now “We’re Spurs, mate!” And the player played with a pride and vigour I hadn’t seen in years.

After a beautiful first 10 games, what followed was 19 months of lunacy. A scattering of brief, glorious highs amidst a torrent of abject awful defeats. Crazy injuries, suspensions, shapeless formations, batterings. Following Spurs under Ange for 2 years probably aged me 10.

But even still, it was exciting. Exciting to see a manager who trusted his vision, and a group of players who trusted that manager.

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Now let’s be fair: Ange wasn’t perfect. In January this year, many would say he should’ve been sacked with Spurs floundering in the league. Ange knew the writing on the wall, and he had to make a choice: If he pulled up his socks, and bet the house on recovering in the league, he probably could have got Spurs to a somewhat respectable 9th or 10th (remember, they could’ve finished as high as 14th on the final day). But Ange knew that would achieve nothing: He’d lose his job anyway, and more importantly, he’d have left no impact on Spurs – just another grey, forgettable season.

So he went full rogue, threw the Premier League out the window and bet the house on doing the one thing that could change the entire mentality (and modern history) of Tottenham: Winning the Europa League.

Ange gave Spurs fans and players one of the greatest experiences they’ll have in a lifetime of football. Arsenal fans can whinge about second tier trophies or whatever, but it doesn’t matter. Those players remember the feeling on the pitch, and those fans remember the parade, the confetti, the noise in Bilbao. Incredible.

Ange leaves now with his head held high. He leaves with promises kept (He always wins things in his second season, mate) and have no doubt, he’ll rightly lap up all the credit for years to come on being the man who conquered the Spurs curse.

Is it the right decision to move on? As an Ange fan, I have to say no. I think getting rid of Ange will send negative ripples through the team – he’s a leader to those players and they love him. He’s brought them the success he promised. It’s a huge challenge for whoever comes next.

But what does the logical Spurs fan say? Maybe it is time. Maybe it’s even best for Ange – it might never have got better than this. Leave now as a hero, don’t wait and become the Villain.

So who knows what lies ahead under Thomas Frank or whoever. I just hope my Spurs interest doesn’t wane again. It will take a serious contender to bring back the kind of excitement that Postecoglou did.

Farewell Big Ange. Thanks for everything, mate!

Andy, Spurs, Eire

Relief

As an Arsenal fan from Australia I can finally go back to thoroughly disliking Sp*rs.

What a relief!

Andrew

Crying wolf

I don’t write in often but that mail from Badwolf left a bad taste in my mouth.

A lot of this is a repeat from my comment so apologies for that but…

Is Badwolf really just the Utd version of Stewie? So Bruno doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia and waste his life playing meaningless football in a joke league (look at how many goals Ronaldo is still scoring). Everyone else gets slated for moving there but god forbid Bruno doesn’t. I say fair play for not selling his soul.

We don’t need the money – if you actually look how Utd finances work Big Jim was vastly overstating our position and, for now, can still afford to keep him. Especially if we sell some of the redundant homegrown players but even if not.

Rashford had one good season. He was possibly the most selfish player in the league, and one worldie pass doesn’t change that. He isn’t wanted because he just isn’t that good, and his attitude stinks.

As for Mount…how do you replace a player who is there week in, week out with a player who is never actually fit? Maybe BW wants us to play with 10 men and a permacrocked waste of money.

Bruno has been, without question, our best player since he joined. He might be a moaner, but so was Keane. I get opposition fans railing on him, as we do to their players, but maybe actually stand by the team and stick up for our players?

Whether he should be captain is a different question, but his numbers in a shambles of a team have been, year in and year out, world class, and if you want to state otherwise provide actual proof to the contrary instead of just moaning.

I, as always, will go into the new season with my usual optimism and allow it to be drained over the course of the year.

Andrew, a true MUFC fan

The ‘crying little weakling’

I know that I’m late to the subject on Bruno but I would just like to say this…the reason why people (football fans) don’t like Bruno and see him as an arm waving, selfish, whiny baby despite his great effort on the pitch, his consistency (compare availability with similar attacking midfielder like Odegard who seems to be injured all the time or Palmer who is talented but volatile), leadership skills- he does organize Man Utd’s play, defensive skills and clear motivation towards achieving victory for his team(his stats tell it all-he is truly world class) is simple.

He is not handsome(appealing) enough to tempt most football fans.He does not appeal to football fans the way they would with other players in the same position, he displays a guilty face whenever he misses a chance or when he makes a mistake.

He parades himself as the one responsible for any failure on the pitch that leads to defeat and seems almost about to cry (for contrast-compare Vieira/Keane reaction to a mistake,they were either angry or keen on making amends-which is highly appealing to fans).

Bruno is not stoic, he displays his feelings and weaknesses for everyone to see(compare this with other players-even Martin “amateur photographer” Odegard doesn’t display himself that much). This ultimately opens him to criticism,with fans seeing only a weak, guilty, whiny face.

This coupled with inability to achieve victory for his team makes him a very ripe target because as much as we(football fans) may like to deny it, it is inescapable to admit that football is a cosmetic sport-we like the tough guy displays(Vieira, Keane-their manly fights), the electrifying displays(both Ronaldos, Henry-that goal against Liverpool, Hazard, Ribery), the man against all odds display(Wayne Rooney-that overhead kick, Vardy, Fabio cannavaro-a dwarf who rose above giants to claim victory), the stoic display(Tony Adams,Paolo Maldini and to a lesser extent Virgil).

Bruno is ugly because he presents himself as a crying little weakling who is seeking our pity for his losses.

Jamo, Nairobi.

I think he is a really bad player and a bully. He has bad technique gives the ball away more than any other midfielder in the league. He controls the game to make himself look good. He is a crybaby, cheats a lot with fouls.

He is the reason united have done so badly. I thought he was a fake from the first day he arrived at united, he has really dragged them into the gutter. 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 he might get lucky once in a while but it’s all luck.

United please sell him. Compare him to any player in his position and you will find he is the worst , hang on what is Bruno’s position

Derrick

I am happy they keeping Ferendes because he will not improve the team. He will score a few penalties and they will say he his world class.

They are going to struggle for another season. Ha ha keep it up MU.

Mohan

Totally agree. Should have been sold to Saudi league. He is stopping any youth development at Utd

Gordon

Nem and shame

For a change of subject, I see in my news feed that Nemanja Matic is facing a 2 match ban in France for covering anti-homophobia messages on his shirt.

And it turns out not only was he not alone, but others have previously done it too.

I’d love to say it was only in France, but while I’m sure it happens elsewhere (in particular Spain) it also happens in our own fair country. Mazraoui (I’m sure he wasn’t the only player in the country) refused to wear Pride-supporting clothing on more than one occasion while at United and as a result the whole side didn’t either, presumably “in solidarity”. What about solidarity with people being abused for existing?!?

I am fully accepting of people having the right to not wear something; tolerating other people’s beliefs is important. But why should a community be shunned rather than supported because one member has beliefs that don’t align with the general accepted view. At least in France it was those players that stood alone and will be punished alone.

If you don’t want to stand against x or y behaviour that is widely accepted as bad, then don’t play that match (and frankly, what are clubs doing giving these guys money if they’re pro-homophobia or anti equal rights). It doesn’t correspond to your personal beliefs? Ok, your choice, but they should be the ones out of step with the rest, not the rest align *with* them.

You can question whether these items of clothing and messages actually make any difference, and that’s fair, but it’s surely the duty of the society to stand up for what we believe.

Should we forget about challenging racism because some racists don’t agree? How about domestic and sexual abusers? Where do you draw the line?

Badwolf

The baited hook

I see the bait was taken including Eric Bailly in my B Team (over Beckenbauer of course)

JDB

The N Team

Neuer

Nesta

Nasarri

Neville, P

Neville, G

Neeskens

Netzer

Nedved

Neymar

Nordahl

Look, Phil Neville is in the team so you know that was a tough one! If I was to stick to my originally planned 4-3-3, I’d have had to have gone with Nasri, therefore in comes Netzer as an extra midfielder. Not bad but perhaps the Crystal palace of an fantasy alphabetty Premier league. Good luck to the Q team!

Nick

The T Team

I’d written an M team but had McTominay ahead of Makelele, so I’ll have another go with a T team.

I have to have watched them play.

Toldo

Thuram (L), Terry, Tchouameni, Toure (K),

Thiago, Toure (Y), Totti

Toni, Torres, Trezeguet

Spurs face a ‘player revolt’ and ‘significant dressing-room unrest’ over the Ange Postecoglou sacking, with a Mauricio Pochettino ‘approach’ claim made.

Postecoglou was sacked two weeks after delivering Europa League glory to Spurs and ending their 17-year trophy drought to return them to the Champions League.

That was not enough to offset the worst season in the club’s Premier League history as Spurs finished 17th on 38 points, suffering the most defeats ever of a non-relegated side in a single campaign.

Spurs cited those domestic struggles in the announcement of Postecoglou’s exit – although at no stage was Daniel Levy or indeed any other executive specifically quoted – with an article on their official website explaining:

‘Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.’

But the decision has inevitably attracted the fury of the Spurs squad, who have voiced their public backing of the manager all season and only ramped up their support in the aftermath of that evening in Bilbao when Postecoglou out-coached Ruben Amorim and Manchester United.

The Daily Telegraph report that Levy ‘is facing the threat’ of a ‘player revolt’ as the call ‘has angered a number’ of the squad, leading to ‘significant dressing-room unrest’.

The favourites to replace Postecoglou in north London have been named but it is expected that his successor ‘will face a huge task to repair the dressing-room damage’ after the Australian was ‘left in the dark’ for so long, with a source adding:

“The players are so angry about what has happened and how it has been handled. The next manager is going to inherit a difficult situation.”

Thomas Frank is thought to be the leading contender, although a reported £10m release clause in his Brentford contract could prove prohibitive.

Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola of Fulham and Bournemouth respectively are also in the running, as well as former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. But ‘it is understood that no approach had been made’ for the United States national team head coach as of Friday evening.

The decision on Postecoglou’s replacement could ultimately be heavily influenced by former managing director Fabio Paratici, who ‘could return to Spurs in a full-time capacity and has remained a consultant to Levy’.

Whomever is chosen to take up the reins from Postecoglou, they will inherit a difficult situation. Heung-min Son ‘left some team-mates and staff with the impression that he could leave’ this summer and Cristian Romero, ‘another player who was close to Postecoglou,’ has attracted long-standing interest from Atletico Madrid.

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Pedro Porro was among the first to react to Postecoglou’s sacking, posting on social media: ‘Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch. I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows.

‘Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss.’

Richarlison offered his gratitude to the manager ‘for helping me out and believing in me during one of the trickiest periods of my career and my life,’ while Dominic Solanke said he ‘won’t ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream!’.

Guglielmo Vicario wrote a lengthy tribute, writing: ‘Boss, I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of us.

‘From that very first call, right from the beginning, you always showed so much belief in me. Giving me the opportunity to be part of the leadership group… those moments, and many others, will stay with me forever.

‘You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I’ll always look up to. What we achieved TOGETHER will stay in the history books.

‘Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more. Thank you, Boss. Forever grateful, Vic.’

Son rounded off the tributes, saying: ‘Gaffer. You’ve changed the trajectory of this club. You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.

‘You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.

‘You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close. I am a better player and a better person because of you.

‘Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.’