The Independent

Brentford are in advanced talks with Keith Andrews to replace Thomas Frank as manager.

Frank was appointed as Tottenham Hotspur manager earlier this month, leaving the Bees to search for a new coach and Andrews, who has been working at the club as a set-piece coach since 2024, is now the clear favourite.

The 44-year-old is well-regarded at the club and the Independent understands he is now searching for coaches to fill out a staff to tackle the Premier League next season.

Should Andrews be confirmed as the new manager, it would follow a pattern at the club of promoting from within, with Frank succeeding Dean Smith after operating as his assistant.

Former Brentford first-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane was seen as a front-runner to replace Frank, but he has now followed the Dane to Spurs.

The former Wolves, MK Dons and Blackburn Rovers midfielder thrived as a pundit for Sky Sports on EFL games before opting to work within Frank’s structure at Brentford last season.

Brentford hailed the appointment of Andrews last summer in the specialist role, with director of football Phil Giles stating at the time: “Whilst he has had more wide-ranging coaching roles in the past, focusing on set-pieces as a specialism is something which we think he has the qualities to do extremely well.

“I’m sure that our staff can help him develop as a coach, too. Set-pieces are an important part of what we do well and I’m sure we’ll maintain those standards with Keith in charge.”

Frank left Brentford after seven years, with Brentford considering a number of options, including Kieran McKenna after Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League.

But Brentford believe the 39-year-old has bigger aspirations within the Premier League and have now moved for Andrews as the probable successor to Frank.

Francesco Farioli, Kjetil Knutsen and Edin Terzic were also linked with the job, but Andrews appears set for his first managerial role of his career.

The transfer window has shut after a mini opening ahead of the summer’s Club World Cup. The window will re-open on 16 June and clubs are continuing to make deals in the interim.

Liverpool are making plans for a Florian Wirtz medical after agreeing a £116.5m deal for the German superstar. The Premier League champions, who have already brought in Jeremie Frimpong, will make Wirtz their club-record signing after agreeing a deal with Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester United, who have secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, are negotiating with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo, who would prefer a move to Old Trafford over Tottenham Hotspur even as Thomas Frank takes charges in north London – though Spurs want Mbeumo and teammate Yoane Wissa.

Arsenal hope to bring in Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Arteta has made RB Leipzig striker, Benjamin Sesko, their No 1 target for a striker. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been rebuffed in their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.

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Transfer news live: Liverpool agree record fee for Wirtz, Man United given Mbeumo boost over Tottenham

Follow all the latest transfer news as the rumour mill whirs despite the end of the summer’s first transfer window

The transfer window has shut after a mini opening ahead of the summer’s Club World Cup. The window will re-open on 16 June and clubs are continuing to make deals in the interim.

Liverpool are making plans for a Florian Wirtz medical after agreeing a £116.5m deal for the German superstar. The Premier League champions, who have already brought in Jeremie Frimpong, will make Wirtz their club-record signing after agreeing a deal with Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester United, who have secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, are negotiating with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo, who would prefer a move to Old Trafford over Tottenham Hotspur even as Thomas Frank takes charges in north London.

Arsenal hope to bring in Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Arteta has made RB Leipzig striker, Benjamin Sesko, their No 1 target for a striker. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been rebuffed in their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.

You can sign up to DAZN to watch every Club World Cup game for free, while all the latest updates, rumours and done deals from what promises to be a chaotic transfer window will be covered in the blog below:

Frank bids farewell to Brentford

Thomas Frank insists Brentford will always have "a big piece of my heart" as he begins life in charge of Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Spurs announced Frank as their new head coach on Thursday night on a three-year deal.

It ended Frank's time at Brentford, where he won 136 of his 317 matches across a seven-year spell, with the Danish coach able to lead the club into the Premier League for the first time in 2021 via Championship play-off success at Wembley.

In an emotional message posted on Brentford's official club website on Friday, Frank said: "The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters.

"I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.

"For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community - it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.”

Lawrence Ostlere13 June 2025 16:38

Tottenham sue Man Utd co-owner Jim Ratcliffe's company

Tottenham have filed High Court proceedings against Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe's company Ineos over a terminated sponsorship agreement.

Court records show Spurs filed a commercial claim at the High Court against Ineos Automotive on Thursday, though no documents are available.

Chemicals firm Ineos agreed a five-year deal with Spurs in 2022 - before Ratcliffe bought a stake in United - for Ineos Grenadier to become the London team's official 4x4 vehicle partner.

Ineos said in a statement: "Ineos Automotive has been a partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2022, expanding on a partnership agreement that Ineos Group had in place with the club since 2020.

"We have a contractual right to terminate our partnership contract and in December 2024 exercised that right."

Spurs declined to comment.

In March it was announced Ineos had reached a settlement with New Zealand Rugby in relation to a sponsorship deal.

The previous month, NZR had said it had launched legal proceedings against Ineos after alleging that the first instalment of 2025 sponsorship money due under a six-year agreement struck in 2021 had not been paid.

Lawrence Ostlere13 June 2025 16:26

Flamengo or Fluminense? I asked a Brazil World Cup winner who can shock Europe’s elite

In international football, Brazil are synonymous with the World Cup, even if they have been stuck on five wins since 2002. The expanded Club World Cup may offer fewer chances of success, given how much of the financial and footballing power rests in Europe. And yet Brazil has outnumbered everyone else in one respect. No other country provides as many of the 32 clubs who are converging on the United States. In Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo, it provides a quartet, the last four winners of the Copa Libertadores.

For a World Cup winner, the 2022 champions of South America are the likeliest to last longest in North America. “The best team in Brazil for now is Flamengo just because they have the best players,” said Kleberson, part of that 2002 side. “A lot of the players come [back] from Europe, they play in the big leagues and the Champions League and they have a really good quality. In my opinion, the club that can go most far is Flamengo.”

How far? In a tournament with 12 European clubs, the context has changed. In the old Club World Cup, South American sides made six of the last 10 finals, but lost each. Now perhaps a quarter-final appearance would represent a cause for satisfaction. “If they got in a semi-final, it is really special for clubs in Brazil,” said Kleberson. “Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League and we can see how far they are from a club from Brazil.” There is also a test of staying power. “The difficulty is before the clubs from Brazil won this tournament, they prepare to play three games,” added Kleberson. “Now it is a little bit different, you have to be more smart to play more games.”

Flamengo or Fluminense? I asked a Brazil World Cup winner who can shock Europe’s best

Exclusive: No country will take more teams to the expanded Club World Cup than Brazil and Kleberson, a 2002 winner with the Selecao, believes Flamengo can go far at the tournament

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 16:10

The anatomy of Liverpool's Florian Wirtz deal

Inside Liverpool’s record Florian Wirtz deal - and how they can afford it:

Inside Liverpool’s record Florian Wirtz deal – and how they can afford it

The 22-year-old is set to sign for Liverpool for an initial £100m, which could rise to £116m

Lawrence Ostlere13 June 2025 15:53

Bryan Mbeumo would prefer Man Utd over Totttenham

Bryan Mbeumo would still prefer to move to Manchester United over Tottenham Hotspur, even with Thomas Frank now taking charge in north London.

United had an opening bid of £45m, plus add-ons, turned down for the Brentford forward, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season for Frank’s side.

With Frank now in charge at Spurs, there have been reports that the new head coach could look to bring Mbeumo with him. However, it is understood that Mbeumo’s preference is still United.

Miguel Delaney13 June 2025 15:33

Man City agree £12.5m fee for Norwegian wonderkid dubbed ‘next Odegaard’

Manchester City have agreed a £12.5m fee to sign the Norwegian teenager Sverre Nypan.

The Rosenborg midfielder, who has been compared to Martin Odegaard, is expected to join and become City’s fifth signing of a busy summer.

City’s plan is to send the 18-year-old, who has been offered a five-year contract, out on loan to get first-team experience.

Man City agree £12.5m fee for Norwegian wonderkid dubbed ‘next Odegaard’

The 18-year-old Sverre Nypan is set to leave Rosenborg for the Etihad Stadium this summer

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 15:23

Why Club World Cup could be transformative for a new Chelsea

And this from Richard Jolly on Chelsea, one of the teams who stand to benefit from this summer’s tournament...

Thomas Tuchel was musing about the knock-on effect of the Club World Cup on next season’s title race. “I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there,” he said.

What Tuchel did not mention is that Chelsea, disadvantaged as a result, qualified for the Club World Cup because of him. It feels a very different era given that Enzo Maresca is the fifth man to manage them since – Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino are the others – and that Reece James is the only player to take the field in Tuchel’s 2021 Champions League final victory who is in the squad they have taken to the United States.

Why Club World Cup could be transformative for a new Chelsea

Chelsea are a different team on every level to the one that lifted the Champions League in 2021 to qualify for the Club World Cup, which can now offer the Blues some signs of progress

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 15:12

Club World Cup 2025: Full schedule, fixtures, dates and venues for Chelsea and Man City

Away from the transfer window, the Club World Cup begins in the USA this weekend.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the competition starting on 14 June.

Club World Cup 2025: Schedule, fixtures, dates and venues

The expanded version of the competition takes place in the United States with Chelsea and Man City representing the Premier League

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 14:55

Leverkusen looking at McAtee as Wirtz replacement?

Bayer Leverkusen are expected to make an offer to Manchester City for midfielder James McAtee, reports Sky Sports.

City are said to be asking for at least £25m in order to sell the England U21 international, who could be a replacement for the outgoing Florian Wirtz.

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 14:41

Man Utd enter race for Ekitike?

Manchester United have reported entered the race for coveted French striker Hugo Ekitike, who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Sky Sports reports that United have enquired as to the terms of a deal, with the German club insisting on €100m to lure the 22-year-old away.

Chelsea and Liverpool are the Premier League clubs who have previously registered an interest in Ekitike.

Chris Wilson13 June 2025 14:29

Thomas Frank insists Brentford will always have “a big piece of my heart” as he begins life in charge of Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Spurs announced Frank as their new head coach on Thursday night on a three-year deal.

It ended Frank’s time at Brentford, where he won 136 of his 317 matches across a seven-year spell, with the Danish coach able to lead the club into the Premier League for the first time in 2021 via Championship play-off success at Wembley.

In an emotional message posted on Brentford’s official club website on Friday, Frank said: “The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters.

“I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one.

“For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community – it’s an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you.

“Whatever we have achieved, we have achieved together, and our success is built on unity, spirit, courage and ambition at every level of the club and amongst the fans.

“Everybody has contributed, and every contribution has been invaluable. I am not just leaving a football club, I am saying goodbye to friends whose support through good and bad times I will carry with me always.

“I would like to say a special word of thanks to Matthew Benham. His trust and friendship have meant so much and the fact he gave me a chance in English football means I will always owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt.

“So, while this is a goodbye, I hope the relationships I have built with everybody will be lasting ones and, of course, we will meet again in the wonderful world of football.

“Thank you, Thomas.”

PA

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Thomas Frank as their new head coach on a deal running until 2028.

Spurs will reportedly pay Brentford a compensation fee of £10m for the 51-year-old Dane, who replaces Ange Postecoglou at the club.

Postecoglou was sacked despite ending Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a trophy after a dismal Premier League season which saw Spurs finish 17th.

Frank was Tottenham’s top target after taking Brentford from the Championship and turning them into an established Premier League side in seven years.

Tottenham released a statement confirming the appointment, saying they were “delighted” to have the Dane join the club.

“Thomas has extensive experience in English football having joined Brentford in 2016 - since becoming one of the longest-serving current managers in the Premier League. During his time at Brentford he transformed the Club, moving them up from the Championship to an established Premier League side, consistently and significantly outperforming expectations for an extended period of time.

“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game,” the club added.

Frank joined Brentford in 2016 as assistant head coach and replaced Dean Smith as head coach two years later. He oversaw a remarkable rise in the Bees’ fortunes, guiding them to promotion to the top flight in 2021, and he holds the record for most wins in his first 200 games at the club, with 90.

They reached the Championship play-off final at the end of the 2019-20 season, losing to Fulham, but beat Swansea City in the final the following year, and have solidly established themselves as a Premier League side with 13th, ninth, 16th and 10th-place finishes since promotion.

“Everyone connected with Brentford would like to thank Thomas for the incredible impact he has had on the club’s history,” Brentford said in a statement confirming his departure.

The Bees’ director of football, Phil Giles, said: “From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club.

“But it's not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength.

“We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential.”

Highly-rated first-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane will join him, alongside head of first-team performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton. Cochrane also joined Thomas Tuchel’s England coaching set-up earlier this year alongside his role at the London club.

In their statement, Tottenham added that Manchester United’s Andreas Georgson would also be joining as a first team assistant coach.

It is the kind of story that has got around the Premier League, and explains why so many wealthy clubs have considered Thomas Frank. Earlier this season, the Brentford coach was having a chat with Fabian Hurzeler, and enthusing about Brighton’s style of play.

“I’d love to play like this,” Frank said, before smiling. “I’d need another £100m, though.”

If that sounds self-indulgent, and like a manager who can only play a certain way if he is given sufficient money, it isn’t. It is really testament to the job he has done without money. After Brentford got promoted in 2020-21, they had by far the lowest wage bill in the Premier League for the next two seasons. Figures of £68m and £99m should have sent them straight back down, in a way we’ve seen with so many other promoted clubs.

Frank instead established Brentford in the Premier League, making them a fixture. It’s hardly as if other clubs are queuing up for their players, either, in the way they are with Bournemouth. He has made them so much better than the sum of their parts, and it is why Tottenham Hotspur have now appointed him.

Analysis by Swiss Ramble shows that Brentford have been top of the league in terms of performance relative to wages for every single season they have been in the Premier League. That shows the scale of Frank’s overperformance.

It could be said this is merely a case of a manager perfectly fitting one club, as can happen. Except, Frank hasn’t always had the same approach, or even the same kind of team. Brentford have gone through multiple different incarnations under the Dane, as a team and a club.

Premier League sporting directors see Frank as one of the most successfully adaptive coaches in the game. Some even feel the 51-year-old is not given anywhere near enough credit for that, a quality that becomes even more valuable in a football world that is moving away from dogmatic ideology. Frank’s teams played in drastically different ways when Brentford were in the Championship, when they went up and then when they stayed up.

When he needs to play percentage football, he’ll play percentage football. When he needs to break with pace, he’ll break with pace. When he needs possession, he can do possession.

There were even occasions in the past season when Brentford resembled Jack Charlton’s Ireland for the way they constantly made defenders turn. That has fostered a view that he is “unfairly pigeon-holed”.

It is also why clubs like Tottenham have no concerns when they ask Frank how he would play at a higher level. Instead, just like those at Brighton, they are enthused by his response. He is persuasive.

That is displayed in perhaps the most impressive aspect of this manager search. As recently as April, Frank was liked but not near the top of Spurs’ list. Now he has leapt ahead of so many other candidates to take the job. It is testament to a genuine charisma.

That feeds into one of the most pertinent questions about Frank, which isn’t how he’ll play, which shouldn’t be too much of a concern. It’s how he’ll manage a higher-paid dressing room.

This does matter, especially given the greater intensity that surrounds the better-supported clubs. The noise can take over, as Ange Postecoglou found. That can make it worse in a dressing room. As one insider from elite Premier League squads says: “The reality is that high-level players can be pricks.” The window of acceptance for coaches is narrow and getting narrower. It’s why coaches without track records at big clubs have to win straight away.

Postecoglou essentially got two years at Spurs out of his successful first 10 games. While the decision to sack a Europa League winner seems emotionally harsh, the reality is that the nature of that cup run was too far removed from what you actually need for the Premier League. There was a logic to Spurs' decision.

Put bluntly, Postecoglou’s side weren’t playing Premier League-level opposition for most of it, and still compromised everything. It wasn’t really a recipe for medium-term success, other than from the potential emotional fillip that could have created a momentum.

Frank knows how fragile it can be to rely on such intangibles, having been at a club as scientific as Brentford. The substance to his own personality stands out all the more.

The Dane is described as a “good human”, something that isn’t exactly said with great frequency in football. It might even be more valuable in a sport that has moved far away from the school of hard knocks, or even Jose Mourinho’s “confrontational leadership”.

A social media generation is now more likely to respond better to encouragement rather than excoriation. As a former teacher, Frank is highly attuned to the balance required there. It also makes him a far more rounded figure than most managers.

That has another effect. In an era where tactics have become ever more detailed and sophisticated, many modern coaches almost need to be obsessives, and quite intense. They can be utterly tunnel-visioned. That doesn’t always make for the most illuminating media appearances when they are thrown wider state-of-the-game or state-of-the-union questions in the way that Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson used to be.

Frank has no such problem with that. He is engaging to listen to, which is what his players warm to, too. That intelligence has almost made him the voice of the Premier League, and perhaps even the moral voice. Brentford might have just suffered a frustrating defeat to elite opposition, but Frank is still willing to expound on everything from the Club World Cup to financial disparity.

That means much more than the relative superficiality of how he speaks to the media. It makes him a figurehead, something that Spurs have arguably never had greater need for.

It’s not just about that, though. Frank deserves his opportunity, and has proven he is capable of seizing such moments.

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Spurs edge closer to announcing new manager

George Sessions

Thursday 12 June 2025 14:10 BST

Tottenham have reportedly reached an agreement with Brentford to appoint Thomas Frank as their new head coach, following Ange Postecoglou's sacking.

Spurs approached Brentford on Monday, initiating discussions regarding Frank's contract, which ran until 2027 and included a £10 million release clause.

Negotiations also covered Frank's backroom staff, with Brentford first-team coach Justin Cochrane expected to join him at Tottenham, returning to his former club where he began his coaching career.

Christian Eriksen, who played under Frank at both Brentford and Tottenham, has endorsed Frank as the 'right coach' for Tottenham, citing his personality, playing style, and suitability for the club's rebuilding process.

Frank, who transformed Brentford during his seven-year tenure, led the club to promotion from the Championship in 2021 and established them as a Premier League regular.

Brentford want first-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane to replace Thomas Frank, if he remains at the club.

Frank is set to be appointed by Tottenham Hotspur and is trying to persuade the highly rated Cochrane to join him in north London.

Cochrane, 43, arrived at Brentford in 2022 to become their head of coaching, and in March joined Thomas Tuchel’s backroom staff at England.

Brentford, who also looked at Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, believe Cochrane is ready to take the next step in his coaching career and succeed Frank - in what would be his first lead role at a senior side.

The former England youth international was previously head of player development at Manchester United and has held numerous coaching roles within youth development at England.

Frank is set to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham after the club moved to dismiss the Australian after he won the Europa League but finished 17th in the Premier League.

Frank, 51, has been at Brentford for seven years, taking the club from the Championship and establishing themselves as a Premier League side.

Brentford had considered a move for McKenna after Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League but they believe the 39-year-old has bigger aspirations within the Premier League.

The mayor of Melbourne has implored Tottenham to reconsider their decision to sack Aussie countryman Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou was dismissed last week just 16 days after leading Spurs to the Europa League, with it determined that a first trophy in 17 years was not enough to redeem the Aussie after a dismal domestic season.

Thomas Frank looks near certain to succeed Postecoglou in the Spurs hot seat, with only the matter of compensation fee yet to be agreed with Brentford.

This news will be to the displeasure of Melbourne mayor Nicholas Reece, who took to social media to plead with Spurs to backtrack on their dismissal and reinstate Postecoglou.

“On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou,” said Reece in a post on Instagram. “In Melbourne we have followed Ange’s career closely for decades.

“Never underestimate Ange’s determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy — its first such win in 17 years. We will see further trophies if Ange is given the chance.

“Don’t let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next year’s Premier League campaign.”

Postecoglou, who grew up in Melbourne, spent much of his playing career at South Melbourne FC and was later their head coach between 1996 and 2000.

The 59-year-old also led Australia to the World Cup in 2014 and remains a popular figure both within and beyond the city of Melbourne.

Tottenham are on the verge of appointing Thomas Frank as their new manager but will need to overcome one more obstacle to get a deal over the line.

Brentford boss Frank was quickly made Spurs’ top target following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou on Friday, with the club opting to cut ties with the Aussie despite Europa League success, leading the club to a first trophy in 17 years.

There is a growing confidence that the Dane will be the man to replace Postecoglou after positive discussions took place over the weekend.

Nearly all details have been agreed over the move to North London, but the matter of compensation is yet to be finalised, with Brentford holding out for £10m to let Frank out of his contract two years before its expiry in 2027.

Negotiations over a fee are ongoing between the two clubs but there is nevertheless an expectation that Frank will take charge of Tottenham, thereby ending seven lauded years at Brentford.

Frank has thoroughly impressed at the Bees since joining them in the Championship in 2018, guiding them to the Premier League before consolidating their status as a top-flight side.

Brentford finished last season in 10th place, a staggering 18 points clear of Postecoglou’s side, who ended the campaign in a dismal 17th.

Despite a catastrophic domestic season, Tottenham’s success on the European stage means they have the prospect of Champions League football to entice Frank.

Should he make the move as anticipated, he will renew allegiances with Spurs technical director Johan Lange, having worked together at Danish club Lyngby before both making a splash in the Premier League.