The Mirror

Tottenham plot Eberechi Eze transfer as Man Utd and Liverpool impact three-man shortlist

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is ready to turn to Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze as Manchester United battle for Bryan Mbeumo's signature while Liverpool could thwart a move for Antoine Semenyo

Tottenham could explore a move for Eberechi Eze as they look to strengthen their forward line.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has prioritised a wide player in the transfer market and the club have made a £65m-plus bid for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and made enquiries on Bournemouth ’s Antoine Semenyo. They have also got Crystal Palace star Eze on their list of potential targets and are long-time admirers of the England international.

It has been widely reported that Eze has a £68m buy-out clause in his contract which would be seen as great value in the current market. Palace will be desperate to keep 26-year-old Eze who has just enjoyed the best season of his career by helping them win the FA Cup and potentially get a place in Europe.

Tottenham weighed up a move last summer but ultimately Palace chairman Steve Parish said he was surprised they did not receive any firm bids. But after enjoying such an impressive season, Eze is likely to attract firm interest again this summer and Spurs are in the market for a wide player.

Tottenham remain keen on Mbeumo but face major competition from Manchester United who have made a £55m bid for the Brentford forward. Frank has a strong link with Mbeumo from Brentford and will be keen to bring him in but the forward has been keen on going to United. That deal is still a possibility for Spurs but they remain determined to strengthen.

Tottenham have made enquiries on Semenyo but Bournemouth do not want to sell after losing Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid while Liverpool are closing in on left-back Milos Kerkez. Bournemouth will demand around £70m for Semenyo and Spurs are now exploring options as they look to bolster their squad for the new manager and also ahead of a season back in the Champions League.

They have made Mathys Tel’s move permanent but could sell captain Son Heung-min before the end of the window with strong interest from the Saudi Pro League in the Tottenham captain.

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Former Denmark international defender Martin Albrechtsen played under Thomas Frank at Brondby and has now shed light on his compatriot's first ever managerial role at club level following his appointment at Tottenham

Tottenham's players are going to have a ball in pre-season - once they've navigated Thomas Frank's 1km time trial. The aim of the maximal aerobic speed test previously implemented by Frank's coaches at Brentford is to run 10 lengths of the pitch in around three minutes and 15 seconds.

However, that should prove a breeze in comparison to Antonio Conte's energy-sapping 'death runs' three years ago in Seoul when the Italian ordered his Spurs stars to complete 42 pitch-long sprints at the end of a gruelling two-hour training session in 30-degree heat.

Jet-lagged Harry Kane paused to vomit while Son Heung-min was among those to collapse to his knees in exhaustion. Providing he stays put, the Europa League-lifting captain can breathe a sigh of relief this summer because preparations for the 2025-26 season will not be so regimented.

Ex-West Bromwich Albion defender Martin Albrechtsen, who played for Frank at Brondby, insists pre-season training under his compatriot was a far cry from what he experienced during his time in the Premier League.

He explained: "I've had a taste of both worlds, the totally crazy pre-season regimes and also managers that think differently.

"With Thomas, his coaches and physios organise the sessions but he's mindful of the bigger picture, it's not just about running 20km, there was a clear plan and he knew how to schedule things.

"He thought about recovery and that if we're training tomorrow, we don't want injuries. His mindset was not about short-term gain and smashing people to their absolute limit, it was more about improving our conditioning and sharpness."

Former Denmark international Albrechtsen, who retired last summer, spent four years at The Hawthorns between 2004 and 2008 and his recollections of pre-season still haunt him to this very day.

The 45-year-old continued: "Life under Gary Megson was a bit special. We had this coach that would make us run in this park in Sutton Coldfield, it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my career. I lost around 5kg, I wasn't very big back then anyway so it was a real culture shock.

"I don't know any player that would enjoy running in a forest for two hours non-stop, they thought we were in good shape but we were not ready to play football because our bodies were so fatigued. Thomas likes to involve the ball a lot, there were still interval runs but you were getting a feel for the ball which goes a long way."

Daniel Levy recently declared Frank's ability to develop young talent speaks for itself. But now, he'll also be dealing with big-name characters at Spurs and Albrechtsen recalls he was notably "soft" throughout his time at Brondby.

He continued: "I think he was maybe just a bit too soft. We were a group of older players that were used to a harder, tougher mentality so we were missing that direct, rougher managerial approach at times. That said, it was around 10 years ago now and I'd expect he's changed given his success."

Ange Postecoglou was unable to appease Levy despite ending Spurs' 17-year wait for silverware and if you thought the circumstances surrounding the Aussie's exit were bizarre, Frank can go one better.

He resigned as Brondby boss in 2016 after it emerged the club's chairman, Jan Bech Andersen, had been scrutinising Frank via an anonymous profile on a fans' forum site.

Albrechtsen revealed: "Yes, it's true. It was a tough few years with financial struggles and we were nearly relegated so we were used to noise and stories, in a way, it just felt like another day at the office!

"Still, it was really strange but perhaps it was a good thing because we weren't performing well and if we carried on, Thomas may have been sacked."

Manchester United and Tottenham are both admirers of Antoine Semenyo but it seems as though neither club will be making a move for the Bournemouth star after discovering his price tag

Tottenham and Manchester United are both said to have cooled their interest in Antoine Semenyo after learning that the sought-after Bournemouth forward would command a transfer fee in excess of £70million.

There has been talk of Semenyo, 25, joining one of the Premier League's top clubs after a stellar season for the Cherries which saw him chalk up 20 goal contributions in all competitions. And it has now emerged that Spurs have followed United in making an enquiry for the Ghana star.

Tottenham want to bolster their frontline ahead of the new campaign and are also interested in Bryan Mbeumo, though the Brentford talisman is understood to favour a move to Old Trafford.

But neither Spurs or United are planning to press ahead with a move for Semenyo as it stands after discovering the forward's price tag.

That's according to The Athletic, who believe that Bournemouth's £70m valuation has 'deterred interest' from Semenyo's suitors after Spurs enquired about the player.

Semenyo would be keen on exploring a move to north London, the report adds, with the club able to offer Champions League football after their triumph in the Europa League final.

While it remains to be seen if Manchester United or Tottenham rekindle talks over a deal for Semenyo in the coming weeks, Bournemouth are in a strong bargaining position when it comes to the forward, who signed a new five-year deal last summer.

They are also under no pressure to raise funds after selling Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50m with Milos Kerkez also poised to join Liverpool for £40m.

Join the debate! Should Man Utd or Spurs try and sign Semenyo this summer? Let us know here

With United and Spurs set to consider other attacking targets as a result of Bournemouth's valuation of Semenyo, both clubs are waiting to see if an agreement can be struck with Brentford for Mbeumo.

The Cameroon star is understood to have his heart set on a move to Old Trafford but a move to Tottenham would present him with an opportunity to continue working with Thomas Frank, who was appointed as Ange Postecoglou's successor last week.

Brentford want at least £60m for their star forward, who broke the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time last season.

Bryan Mbeumo told next move is a no-brainer as Man Utd and Spurs fight to sign him

Bryan Mbeumo is wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham, with former Old Trafford winger Lee Sharpe telling the forward there is only one club he must join this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been told it is a no-brainer choosing a move to Manchester United over Tottenham.

United have already failed with a £55million bid for Mbeumo, with Spurs hopeful the appointment of Thomas Frank as boss can help convince the striker to make the same switch from Brentford.

The two Premier League clubs are fighting it out for Mbeumo, but former United winger Lee Sharpe said he must choose the Red Devils over Spurs – despite the lack of European football.

United lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Spurs last month, meaning Old Trafford will not play host to European football for only the second time in 35 years.

Despite that, Sharpe has told 26-year-old Mbeumo he must choose United, despite the fact he will be turning his back on the Champions League and the chance to link up with his former boss.

“It will be a really tough decision for Mbeumo,” Sharpe told Aceodds.com. “To go to Tottenham, playing in the Champions League with the manager you have been playing under and trusts you, knows your game and personality which makes the transition a lot easier.

“But there's only one Manchester United and the opportunity to play for United doesn’t come along many times in your career - maybe even not at all.

“I understand that Tottenham are playing in Europe, and might seem like a better option to him, with a manager he knows. But I think that if he can be a part of this rebuild and do well, he will never look back.”

Sharpe, who spent eight years at United, making 263 appearances and scoring 36 goals, also questioned whether Jadon Sancho is good enough to play in the Premier League.

United winger Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea and is facing an uncertain future, with the London club having paid the Red Devils a £5m fee not to make the move permanent.

Against that backdrop, Sharpe questioned whether Sancho is cut out for the Premier League and suggested a move back to Germany – where he played for Borussia Dortmund – may better suit him.

“It’s been a shame with Sancho, because he’s one of the players I would pay an entrance fee to go and watch,” said Sharpe. “His footwork and ability to take people on is great.

“As a kid, I would have wanted his name in the back of my shirt. I want to watch him dribble and beat players. On his day he’s awesome.

“He just doesn't seem to be able to do in the Premier League and the pace the league is at. I think he's quick enough, but I don’t know if likes dealing with the physicality. He can go past people like they're not even there and at times he just seems to take the easy option and pass it square.

“With his ability, he should be taking players on at every opportunity and I don’t think he does it enough. He’s unbelievably talented but doesn’t do it enough. Maybe Germany suits him more, where teams don’t sit in as much and he has more time and space to beat players.”

Lee Sharpe was speaking to Aceodds. The full interview can be found here Aceodds.com

Harry Kane has made his mark since joining Bayern Munich, but he had plenty of options for his next transfer after leaving Tottenham Hotspur before he decided on the move to Germany

In the end, the allure of trophies is what swayed Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. Throughout his time at Tottenham, Kane was renowned as one the continent's top strikers and was on the radar of every top European club.

In 2021, Kane did everything he could to try and force a move to Manchester City, including publicly stating his desire to leave Spurs during a round of golf with Gary Neville. However, he waited two more years before Bayern forked out £100m to bring him to Bavaria from North London.

While Bayern won the race, Manchester United had been working on a move for the England captain for some time. When Erik ten Hag first took up the reins at United, it was exclusively revealed by the Mirror that he wanted Kane to be one of his first transfer signings. However, it was not the right time for Kane, as he was determined to become Spurs' record goalscorer.

Moreover, if the England skipper was to leave, it would have been for a club that was immediately ready to challenge for the big trophies and not one that was building or in transition.

After overtaking Sir Jimmy Greaves' Spurs tally the following February, United thought they had the perfect opportunity to sign Kane. Spurs finished outside the top four, during a campaign which saw Antonio Conte be sacked by the club, while United had just won the League Cup, reached the FA Cup final and finished third.

Kane had also publicly said that he wanted to overtake Alan Shearer's record of scoring 260 Premier League goals, seemingly ruling out a move abroad. With City enjoying Erling Haaland's services and Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo at the time, a move to United appeared to be the only realistic Premier League move.

It was a more promising situation than 12 months before when Kane was reluctant to move to Old Trafford after United's struggles under Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The Red Devils finished sixth with their worst points tally for 32 years and had also endured their fifth consecutive campaign without a trophy.

Kane's motivation to leave Tottenham was driven by his desire to win a major trophy. At the time, the North Londoners were seemingly in a better position to win a title than United.

The England frontman had decided that he would only leave Tottenham for a side that's ready to compete for big trophies immediately and not one that was in transition. Kane was impressive in his final campaign at Spurs, but their 8th placed finish meant the writing was on the wall in regard to his future.

Initially, it was reported that Kane's representatives had a "secret meeting" with Paris Saint-Germain, who were interested in a move. PSG transfer chief Luis Campos held an "informal conversation" over Kane's future, according to Foot Mercato.

At the time, PSG were embarking on a fresh approach to transfers and were in the process of moving Lionel Messi and Neymar on, so they could build a younger and fresher team. A move to the French capital did not suffice and with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy being reluctant to sell to a Premier League rival, Bayern Munich were in the right place at the right time.

When the rumours about a move to Germany were ongoing, ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy urged Kane to move to Bayern and plunder as many goals and trophies as possible. In his column for Daily Mail, Murphy said: "If Bayern Munich come calling this summer, he should go. It would be hugely sad if a player of his quality finished [his career] without winning a trophy. It's something he himself would regret after retirement."

He added: "Going abroad might cost him Alan Shearer's Premier League goals record but, in the grand scheme of things, that shouldn't put him off. In five years, we could be talking about Harry Kane, Champions League winner with multiple Bundesliga titles and cup medals.

"I'm sure Kane will get other offers. Manchester United have been mentioned, but he hasn't got time to be part of a team that is building. If he was going to leave, it would be primarily to win trophies from the get-go, which would make Bayern his best option."

Kane would go on to snub any other interest from United to secure his £100m move to Bayern. After a disappointing first season saw Bayern fail to win a trophy for the first time in a decade, Kane won the Bundesliga under Vincent Kompany, helping himself to 38 goals and 13 assists in 47 matches along the way.

Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach Thomas Frank is promising a team that will take risks in words that echo the sentiments shared by his predecessor Ange Postecoglou

Thomas Frank will urge Tottenham to gamble in attack because that is what the club demands.

New boss Frank last week replaced gung-ho Ange Postecoglou after he paid the price for a 17th-place league finish. But Postecoglou also won the club’s first piece of silverware for 17 years by winning the Europa League – meaning Frank will not just inherit a squad full of players that excite him but have an immediate chance to impress in the Champions League.

And in his first interview since leaving Brentford, who received £10m in compensation, Frank made similar noises to his predecessor when it comes to describing his desired style.

“The intention is to play aggressive, front-footed football. I know the ethos and the history of the club is it’s massive on attacking football,” he said.

“There’s so much attacking talent in the squad. I’m very excited by that. They’ve clearly shown over the last two seasons that the ability to score goals is fantastic.

“I’m very, very in on that. I love a team that scores goals. We just want to build on that attacking football we already have.

“I’m a big believer in if you don’t take risks, you also take a risk. It’s important we take risks. If we play man-to-man in some situations, the risk is you need to play forward. If you don’t risk, you can’t create anything.

“The players need to be brave and trust themselves. I’ll do my best to instil that trust. If they lose the ball by trying, that’s never a problem. Of course I can react, that’s natural, but they need to do that.

“If they don’t work hard, I struggle more with that. That’s my non-negotiable. If you don’t take risks, it’s impossible to achieve something big.”

Frank added that if the club is to realise his vision there needs to be joined-up thinking with the hierarchy - beginning with chairman Daniel Levy.

The Dane is Levy’s 13th permanent managerial hire in 24 years as chairman and he added: “I think alignment is key from top to bottom. It starts from Daniel, Vinai (Venkatesham, chief executive) and Johan (Lange, technical director).

“The more the four of us can be aligned, like an unbreakable unit, the stronger we’ll be. There will be ups and downs but right now it’s a fairytale. It’s fantastic.”

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has spoken publicly for the first time since deciding to let Ange Postecoglou go after delivering club's first trophy in 17 years before appointing Thomas Frank as his replacement

Daniel Levy has said it was the correct call but “emotionally difficult” to sack Ange Postecoglou two weeks after he led Tottenham to a first trophy in 17 years. Spurs chairman Levy has moved quickly to appoint Thomas Frank, last week paying Brentford £10m to release the Dane from his contract.

And he says the club's "collective decision" to bid farewell to Postecoglou was made because the club needs to compete on all fronts. Last month’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United came at the tail end of a campaign in which Spurs finished 17th in the league.

And Levy, speaking publicly for the first time since hiring Frank, said: “I’m very grateful to Ange, I don’t regret appointing Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in our second season we were over the moon to win a trophy. But we need to compete in all competitions and we felt that we needed a change.

“I’ve got an excellent relationship with him, I’ve told him that he’s always going to be part of our history. Himself and his family are always welcome back.

“It was a collective decision, it wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult, but we believe we’ve made the right decision for the club.”

Levy added that he sees a number of standout qualities in Frank – the 13th permanent hire of his 24 years in charge of the club.

“Whenever you have a new coach, it’s always a fresh start,” Levy said. “You always have different ideas. But we want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season.

“Of the things that stood out to me with Thomas – clearly highly intelligent, great communicator, super human being, plus all the other technical aspects that are obviously important. But they really stood out to me, those three parts.”

Tottenham's new CEO Vinai Venkatesham also opened up on the process behind hiring Frank, explaining he saw off 30 candidates to be named the club's new manager. He added: “We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur

"We analysed in real detail through our technical staff led by [technical director] Johan (Lange), more than 30 candidates. We had a shortlist, we spent a lot of time with the shortlist, and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate. I could not be more excited to have him join the club.

“I agree with everything that Daniel said around his characteristics. Personally, one of the things I’m really excited about is he’s an outstanding developer of young players. I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad that we have here.”

Spurs are currently being linked with a transfer for Frank's former player at Brentford Bryan Mbeumo - though Manchester United are also keen on a player whom the Bees value at £65m.

Son Heung-min has spent 10 years at Tottenham Hotspur but at 32, the club captain is no longer a guaranteed starter and could be allowed to leave - but only after the club's summer tour of his homeland

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min could quit for Saudi Arabia - but only after going on Spurs’ lucrative tour to South Korea. South Korea forward Son, 32, has 12 months left on his current deal and is regarded as a club legend after helping Tottenham win their first trophy in 17 years.

But there is strong interest from the Saudi Pro League and other clubs in the Middle East for one of the Premier League ’s biggest names. However, Son is a huge name in his homeland, is one of the nation’s biggest ever exports and Tottenham are due to play in South Korea this summer.

Therefore, it would take a huge offer to persuade Spurs to allow him to go before they play Arsenal in Hong Kong on July 31 before, crucially, a game against Newcastle in Seoul three days later. Tottenham know the value of Son’s presence in these games and it attracts incredible commercial value and interest.

Son lost his automatic starting place last season and his future is uncertain despite the club opting to extend his contract for another 12 months.

But new boss Thomas Frank is looking at new forward options after making a move to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo - who is also wanted by Manchester United - and Bournemouth ’s Antoine Semenyo. They have also signed Mathys Tel on a permanent deal.

That has only heightened the doubt around Son’s future and this summer could see him move on - but only at the right time and price.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, scoring 173 goals in 454 appearances and is widely recognised as one of their best players of recent times.

Following a career-best season where Bryan Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals, the in-demand Brentford forward admitted he's up to the task of playing under intense pressure

Bryan Mbeumo admitted he has the ability and the mindset to take the next level in his career - as the Brentford attacker is at the centre of a transfer battle between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with the west London club this season, scoring 20 goals and contributing eight assists in the Premier League as they finished 10th.

His stellar individual campaign has seen the Cameroon international attract intense interest from the likes of the two English sides.

Ruben Amorim's side emerged as the favourites to sign Mbeumo after tabling an initial bid worth up to £55million for the winger but was swiftly rejected by Brentford, who value their star player at £60m.

While the Red Devils are said to be preparing another offer for Mbeumo, Thomas Frank's decision to leave the Bees to become Ange Postecoglou's replacement at Spurs has seen the Europa League champions enter the race.

Keen to reunite with his former player, Spurs reportedly made a superior offer than United for Mbeumo's services with the north London side able to boast their Champions League participation next season.

A move to either club would be a big step in Mbeumo's career, having spent the last six years at Brentford as he was questioned by ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel on the The Obi One Podcast on whether he's able to push himself to get to the next level.

"I think this is something we can always do," Mbeumo said last month alongside team-mate Yoane Wissa. "But you need a lot of resilience because you can say, 'I want to be there' but if you don't do [enough] you won't be able to achieve what you really want.

"I think the mental part is to say to yourself when it's getting hard, 'can I go harder, yes' if you say no, you will stay the good player you are, you can't be the best."

Mbeumo insisted that he possesses the mindset to become a player that is consistently on the grandest stage. He was asked by Mikel's co-host Chris McHardy whether he has the mental strength to deal with the pressure that comes with representing a club like Manchester United.

"I always wanted to play the biggest game[s] for the biggest club when I was younger," Mbeumo responded. "It's easy to say that I want to be there but obviously you need to put a lot of demand on yourself and I've shown what I'm capable of.

"I'm really demanding of myself as well because I know I have the abilities [but] we never know what might happen."

Manchester United and Tottenham are in a race to secure Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo this summer, as both sides look to bolster their squad after a dismal 2024/25 Premier League campaign

Bryan Mbeumo looks to be on the move from Brentford this summer, but the burning question is will he arrive at Old Trafford or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 25-year-old winger scored 20 goals and bagged eight assists for the Bees this season, and as a result, a number of their Premier League rivals are linked with him.

Manchester United have been pursuing Mbeumo since the initial summer transfer window opened, with Ruben Amorim looking to bolster his firepower for 2025/26 following a dismal 15th-place finish. The Red Devils saw an initial bid worth up to £55million rejected by Brentford, who value Mbeumo at £60m.

However, it is said that United are currently preparing another offer for the Cameroon international, who has 22 caps for the country. Thomas Frank moving to north London put the cat amongst the pigeons.

The Danish mastermind, who enjoyed seven years at Brentford, was appointed as Spurs' new manager earlier this month in the wake of Ange Postecoglou's sacking, and he will also be hoping to enhance his attacking options as the Lilywhites finished even lower than United in 17th, albeit beating them in the Europa League final.

Frank is keen on a reunion and Spurs made their first offer last week, MORE THAN what has been offered by the powers-that-be at Old Trafford.. As the saga rumbles on, Mirror Football breaks down all the latest developments...

United remain confident

It's claimed United remain confident in their pursuit of Mbeumo despite interest from Spurs. According to the MEN, the forward has told confidants that Old Trafford is his destination of choice, although other sources have claimed that he has not snubbed the possibility of reuniting with Frank at Spurs.

Sources say Spurs are "going hard" for the talisman and are potentially ready to offer a higher salary, but United are still the frontrunners in the race to secure his signature. After already shelling out £62.5m on Matheus Cunha, it's clear Amorim has the backing of the board this summer as he looks to overhaul his inherited squad from Erik ten Hag.

And it is thought that Mbeumo would be perfect for Amorim's patented 3-4-2-1 system as United hope to find an answer for their right-hand flank, given that it has been a problem position at Old Trafford for more than a decade now.

Mbeumo speaks out

Elsewhere, Mbeumo has noted that he "accepts" the speculation surrounding his future. Spurs are said to have held initial talks with Brentford over a deal for the attacker, who finds himself more intrigued by the team now that they have playing under Frank as an added incentive.

And Mbeumo has also spoken out as the transfer saga continues to roll on. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It (the transfer speculation) is a bit new for me I would say. I think it can be the life of a footballer and you need to accept it."

He added: "It's been my best season so far in the Premier League. And even collectively, I think we did play very good games. I think we've been unlucky to chase the Europe spot, but I think it's been a fantastic season."

Despite sources claiming that Mbeumo is more favouring of United this summer, the star has kept his cards incredibly close to his chest since Spurs entered the race for his signature.

Spurs eye a Plan B

Spurs have a back-up in mind should they be unable to sign Mbeumo this summer, with talks having been held with the representatives of Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth. The winger enjoyed somewhat of a breakthrough season with the Cherries in 2024/25, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in the Premier League.

Spurs like his versatility, able to play wide or as a No.9. But Bournemouth have no intention of parting with the Ghanaian, 25, cheaply - refusing to go for anything less than £60m, however, reflecting his importance as a key player.