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Alasdair Gold believes that Christian Norgaard would be the perfect signing for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur, but the journalist explained why a transfer is unlikely this summer.

While the identity of the next Spurs head coach had been an open secret for a while, Tottenham officially confirmed on Thursday that Thomas Frank would replace Ange Postecoglou.

The Dane has signed a three-year contract with the Lilywhites and his first task at hand would be to help rejig the squad ahead of the 2025-26 season as he aims to take Tottenham Hotspur back up the table.

Over recent days, it has been reported that Frank would like to bring Norgaard to Tottenham, with the 51-year-old seeing the midfielder as someone who can help execute his game plan on the pitch.

Alasdair Gold says a summer move to Tottenham is not on the cards for Christian Norgaard

However, it has been reported that the Lilywhites are expected to be frustrated in their pursuit of Norgaard as Brentford have no intention of letting their captain go and are determined to price him out of a move.

Alasdair Gold has now pointed out that the Bees are in a strong position to do so since the 31-year-old only put pen to paper on a new deal at the Gtech Community Stadium a few months ago.

The journalist said on the Last Word On Spurs: “It’s a shame (Christian) Norgaard signed a new contract in March, because I think Frank will want a number six.

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“I think that’s what he’ll really want for his system and he loves, loves Norgaard, he sees him as a lynchpin midfielder but also a real captain, a proper leader type in that dressing room.

“31, he’s not the age profile Spurs would go for either, but I think he was quite an underrated player last season in the Premier League. But I just wonder whether that new contract messes up that idea.”

Will Spurs go after any of Brentford’s other players?

Norgaard is not the only Brentford player who is rumoured to be on Tottenham’s radar, with reports indicating that Frank wants to bring Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Spurs.

Meanwhile, it has also been suggested that Tottenham could try to swoop for Nathan Collins, who has come on leaps and bounds under Frank over the last two seasons.

Alasdair Gold believes that one Tottenham star, who was not at his best last season, will take his game to a new level under the tutelage of Thomas Frank.

Despite winning the Europa League last season, Spurs underperformed considerably in the Premier League, with many of their star men failing to hit the expected heights.

That is something that the Dane has been brought in to fix, with Tottenham highlighting Frank’s record in developing players as a key reason for his appointment.

While there have been suggestions that Frank wants to bring Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Spurs, Gold believes that there is one Spurs forward who can deliver a much better output under the 51-year-old coach than he did last season.

Alasdair Gold backs Dominic Solanke to thrive under Thomas Frank at Tottenham

Solanke had a decent first season at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions, despite spending some time on the treatment table.

However, some pundits felt that Solanke had not justified his huge price tag, insisting that Spurs needed more from the England international at times.

Gold believes that we will see the 27-year-old hit the heights that he is capable of under the new regime during the upcoming season.

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The journalist said on the Last Word on Spurs podcast: “I think Solanke is going to push on even more. Solanke is a terrific striker, but let’s be honest, the service he was getting was rubbish last season. He only became more of a workhorse than a striker.

“Whereas I think Thomas Frank will say to him, ‘Look, I’ll get you someone else to play alongside you in most games, you’ll have support up there, let’s just get the ball up to you and you’ll score goals’.”

Will Spurs sign another number nine this summer?

While Solanke will undoubtedly be expected to lead the line for Frank’s Tottenham, the former Bournemouth man will need support.

Some sources have suggested that Spurs are likely to enter the market for a striker as Richarlison is expected to be put in the shop window.

Tottenham Hotspur had to part ways with a huge chunk of change to appoint Thomas Frank, with the Dane shooting up the list of most expensive managers in football history.

Tottenham Hotspur had to pay £10m to ensure that Frank was relieved of his Brentford contract and could replace Ange Postecoglou at the helm at N17.

Spurs announced that three backroom staff members have followed Frank to N17 in what will be a completely new look first-team coaching staff.

The decision was an expensive one for the Lilywhites, but where does it rank among the most expensive managerial appointments in history?

Thomas Frank to Tottenham breaches the top five most expensive managerial signings

According to GiveMeSport, the £10m that Tottenham paid for Frank is the joint fifth-highest compensation ever paid for a manager, along with Chelsea’s acquisition of Enzo Marseca, which cost the Blues the same amount last summer.

In fourth place is Vincent Kompany’s move to Bayern Munich, with the Bundesliga giants paying Burnley £10.2m for the Belgian.

In third place was Andre Villas-Boas’s move from FC Porto to Chelsea in 2011, while the Blues were also responsible for the second most expensive managerial compensation, paying £21.5m to Brighton for Graham Potter in 2022.

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The most expensive managerial appointment in history was made by Bayern Munich back in 2021 when they paid £21.7m to poach Julian Nagelsmann from rivals RB Leipzig.

The Tottenham board cannot be accused of penny-pinching

The one constant criticism of Levy and the Tottenham board over the last two decades has been that they have prioritised finances over success and often gone for cheaper options.

However, their decision to sack Postecoglou, pay him a hefty compensation, and sign Frank, who was the most expensive option out of the managers on their radar, is evidence that they have not let financial considerations dictate this decision.

Only time will tell if this proves to be the right appointment but one can sense that Spurs fans are getting excited about what the 51-year-old can bring to the club.

Thomas Frank’s right-hand man, Justin Cochrane, has been announced as Tottenham’s new first-team assistant coach, and it isn’t the first time he has worked for Spurs. He had some interesting things to say about his time at Hotspur Way back in 2022.

Cochrane is one of three members of staff who has followed Frank from Brentford to Tottenham as the Lilywhites embark on a new era.

The 43-year-old has had an extensive coaching career, having been in charge of England’s youth sides at different age group levels.

He served as Man United’s director of development before joining as Frank’s assistant at the Gtech Community Stadium, but interestingly, the English coach also spent a short time as an academy coach at Hotspur Way at the start of his career.

Justin Cochrane opens up on his time at Tottenham Hotspur

In an interview with Training Ground Guru podcast back in 2022, Cochrane gave an interesting insight into his time at Spurs.

He revealed that he forged a close relationship with the likes of Kieran McKenna, John McDermott, Chris Ramsey and others, insisting that the experience informed the style of football he has aspired to implement in his coaching career.

Cochrane said: “I was doing my B License, along with Kieran McKenna (now Ipswich Town manager), Jim Hicks (now Head of Coaching at the PFA) and Paul Davis (now England U17s assistant). I knew Kieran was a professional at Spurs, but he had had an injury and was looking to move into coaching.

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“I think Jim and Kieran said to John McDermott (then Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development at Tottenham Hotspur), ‘There’s a keen young coach who lives close to where we train and he’s interested.’

“I had an interview with John and got the job and then I worked closely with (Head of Player Development) Chris Ramsey and it changed the way I thought about football. Up until then, I thought, ‘We want to develop these players to win games and beat whoever we’re playing’.

“Chris really stripped me back and was like, ‘We want to play the right style and have the best players on the pitch – that will be a good predictor of future success.’ My coaching reflected that. I worked with the U11s, U12s, U14s, U16s and then the U23s at Tottenham.”

Cochrane reveals his philosophy on youth player development

Not only is the incoming Spurs assistant coach aware of the ethos of Tottenham, but his experience with the North London club’s academy also gave him plenty of insights into the intricacies of player development.

In the same interview, Cochrane spoke about the considerations about loaning out young players, which is something he and Frank will have to make a lot of decisions regarding this summer.

He added: “When a player is ready to play men’s football, that’s a good time for them to go and experience that. But at the same time you have to be very careful (and I experienced this at Tottenham) of sending a player out on loan, they play no games and then actually come back worse.

Kyle Walker spent eight years of his career at Tottenham Hotspur and there is one thing he still wishes he could have done there.

Many years have passed since Kyle Walker departed Tottenham to join Manchester City. The right-back was exceptional in his final season at the Lane, which saw him earn the £50m move, making him the world’s most expensive defender at the time.

Walker made 229 appearances for Spurs across all competitions, registering four goals and 18 assists in the process. While he officially played as a defender, Walker offered an attacking threat and helped Tottenham to a second-place finish in the Premier League, as well as a League Cup final.

However, the 35-year-old was unable to win silverware in his eight years at the club. Since leaving, Walker’s achievements include six Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups, a Champions League title and more.

Kyle Walker reveals what he would give to win a trophy at Tottenham

Walker’s popularity declined when he made the decision to exit Hotspur Way for the final time. For many Spurs supporters, his move was tough to take, as he was the first key player to leave the club during the Mauricio Pochettino era.

However, Walker has seemingly always kept a place for Tottenham in his heart after his latest admission. The Sheffield-born star has revealed that he was feeling the nerves watching Spurs in the Europa League final. He has even said he would forfeit one of his honours at Manchester City if it meant being part of Tottenham’s cup-winning team.

Walker told The Kyle Walker podcast: “That was the first time in a long time I’ve been nervous and I wasn’t even playing, get on that! I was sat there on my iPad, watching it, and I couldn’t sit and watch it … I was just walking up and down my room.”

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He added: “I’d probably give up one Premier League to win that with Tottenham.

“Just for what that moment meant, to say I was in that Spurs squad that won a trophy for the first time since 2008.”

Kyle Walker cannot be blamed for leaving Spurs

Walker was unlucky in that he joined Tottenham the year after they won the League Cup and only a few months after they reached the final for a second consecutive year. He would then have to wait six years to appear in a cup final, which ended in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

This was unfortunate timing and it made sense for Walker to make the move to further his career. He may be willing to trade one league title for a cup win at Spurs, but giving up all his Manchester City achievements for that is out of the question.

However, Heung-min Son has shown that loyalty can be rewarded. He came close a number of times before finally winning a major trophy at Tottenham and becoming an undisputed legend of the club. Had Walker remained all these years, there is a very good chance he would have achieved that status too.

An Italy Under-20 international did not think twice before rejecting Tottenham Hotspur as he is clear about where he wants to be playing his football next season.

Tottenham may need to enter the market for a centre-back this summer, given that there are major question marks over Cristian Romero’s future.

It emerged a few weeks ago that Spurs had turned their attention to a young centre-back, who is making waves in the lower divisions in Italy.

It was revealed that Tottenham launched an offer for Pisa defender Francesco Coppola but their bid was turned down by the club.

This was later confirmed by the 20-year-old himself, with Coppola making it clear that he wants to remain at Pisa after they won promotion to the Serie A.

Tottenham’s offer for Francesco Coppola was rejected without a second thought

A new report in Quotidiano Sportivo has now provided a detailed explanation of Tottenham Hotspur’s failed approach for the centre-back.

Coppola came to the attention of Spurs owing to his impressive loan spell at Serie C side Vis Pesaro last season, and the Lilywhites decided to make an approach after watching him closely throughout the campaign.

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If he had accepted the move, it is pointed out that he would have been the first player to go from Vis Pesaro straight to a Champions League side in the club’s 127-year-long history.

However, he knocked Tottenham back ‘without thinking twice’, having his heart set on being part of Pisa’s Serie A campaign.

Coppola does not even want to know about Tottenham’s interest

The publication goes on to explain that Spurs were not the only ones to make a move for the young centre-back, with the Ligue 1 side Lens approaching him in January.

However, they too were turned down, with Coppola making it clear that he wanted to continue at Pisa.

In fact, the publication says that the youngster ‘does not want to know anything else’ about the interest in his services as he is fully focused on impressing in pre-season training back at Pisa and getting minutes in the Italian top flight next season.

Thomas Frank is officially the new Tottenham Hotspur manager, so we wanted to take a look at five Spurs stars could thrive under his leadership next season.

Tottenham confirmed the appointment of Thomas Frank as head coach on Thursday evening, along with four members of his coaching staff set-up in N7.

The 51-year-old is no stranger to the squad he is set to manage, as back in February, Frank offered glowing praise to a ‘very, very good’ Tottenham trio and several other members of the Spurs team.

In fact, Frank’s admiration for Tottenham has been going on for years, as it was revealed by one of the members of his backroom staff that the Dane often joked about taking charge of Spurs with them.

With the 51-year-old now confirmed as having taken over at Tottenham, we have now put together a list of five players who will thrive under the tutelage of Thomas Frank.

Pedro Porro could flourish in a traditional full-back role under Thomas Frank at Tottenham

Under Ange Postecoglou, we often saw Pedro Porro invert into midfield during games, as the Australian looked to overload the centre of the pitch.

This approach did have some positives for Porro, who frequently received the ball deep in midfield on the right-hand side, allowing him to create from deeper positions with his pinpoint crosses into the box.

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That move paid off a number of times, particularly in the Europa League. However, under Thomas Frank, Porro could be tasked with a more traditional full-back role, overlapping his winger and getting to the byline where he can whip in dangerous crosses.

Porro, of course, is a good crosser of the ball and allowing him to overlap and get into areas where he can be a more aggressive and effective attacking outlet, would definitely improve his numbers and output.

Destiny Udogie likely to benefit from overlapping role under Thomas Frank at Tottenham

On the opposite flank, Destiny Udogie would also stand to gain from a tactical shift, as he would be encouraged to overlap rather than invert – a contrast to how he was used under Ange Postecoglou.

As we have seen, the full-back is often at his best when he makes use of his blistering pace to overlap, stretch the pitch, and recover quickly when Spurs are hit on the counter.

Thomas Frank is not one to employ the famous inverted full-back system, and this shift in tactical shape could suit Tottenham’s full-backs better, as they appear more natural in traditional roles rather than hybrid responsibilities.

Brennan Johnson set for pressing and poaching role under Thomas Frank at Tottenham

Brennan Johnson is another player who could thrive under the tutelage of Thomas Frank, should the Dane complete his move to North London.

The Welsh forward is fresh off the back of his best-ever goalscoring campaign, having netted 18 goals in all competitions for Tottenham.

Most of his strikes came from close range, with Johnson often lurking at the back post and popping up in the right place due to his sharp anticipation in the final third.

Frank managed to get similar output from Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford last season, as the Cameroon international racked up 20 Premier League goals, many from similar positions and movements.

That attacking framework could suit Johnson just as well, who would also be tasked with pressing high and running in behind to stretch opposition defences.

Dejan Kulusevski could be unleashed in a free number ten role under Thomas Frank at Spurs

Dejan Kulusevski is currently sidelined and is expected to miss pre-season due to the injury he sustained against Crystal Palace last season, which required surgery.

Kulusevski could make his return in September, according to a recent update, meaning he will begin working under Thomas Frank slightly later than most should the appointment go through.

Kulusevski could flourish in Frank’s 4-2-3-1 system, most likely occupying the number ten role, where he would be given the freedom to roam the pitch and create when in possession.

Mikkel Damsgaard notched 10 assists playing a similar role under Frank last term, and a comparable return from Kulusevski would not be out of the question.

Radu Dragusin could benefit from Spurs switching to a back three under Thomas Frank

When Thomas Frank initially took over at Brentford, he preferred a 3-5-2 setup, deploying three centre-backs and using wing-backs to stretch the pitch.

While he has since moved away from that system, it remains a viable option should the situation at Tottenham call for it.

One player who could stand to benefit from such a tactical tweak is Radu Dragusin, who struggled under Ange Postecoglou’s high defensive line.

The Romanian defender was often caught out, leading to costly errors. A switch to a more compact and defensively solid shape under Frank could be just what he needs to finally settle into a Spurs shirt.

Cristian Romero has finally dropped a social media post dedicated to Ange Postecoglou and he is pulling no punches with how he feels about the Tottenham Hotspur board.

It has been almost a week since Ange Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham. Despite winning the Europa League, he was shown the door due to a poor season in the Premier League.

Many members of the Tottenham first-team squad were supportive of Postecoglou, including Cristian Romero. For the past few months, Romero has been linked with Atletico Madrid, but there was some belief he could remain at Spurs if Postecoglou kept his job as manager.

One journalist said Postecoglou’s future could impact Romero, because the pair shared a close relationship. He also added that Tottenham’s return to the Champions League could be a factor in Romero’s final decision.

Cristian Romero sends Tottenham message about Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham have appointed Thomas Frank as their new manager and not long later, Romero posted on his X page paying tribute to his manager of the last two years.

Romero recognised Postecoglou’s greatest achievement in winning a trophy and highlighted the challenges he faced as manager, without going into great detail.

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His post read: “Ange, thank you for these two incredible seasons. You’re a fantastic coach, but above all, a great person who deserves the best.

“From day one you paved the way despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist. Beyond everything, we won a trophy and went down in the history of this beautiful club, which is the only thing that matters.

“I wish you the best because you deserve the best, and thank you for everything”

Cristian Romero may leave Tottenham

Many Spurs supporters were excitedly waiting for the 27-year-old’s post because last season Romero called out the Tottenham hierarchy.

His post has not disappointed, as it is clear he is sending another message to the Spurs board. One key obstacle Postecoglou faced was injuries, but Romero has been clear the problems he is referring to will always exist.

With his close relationship with Postecoglou and his criticism of those at the top of the Spurs hierarchy, it is hard to see a scenario where he will remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium beyond the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of Thomas Frank as their new manager, along with four other backroom staff members.

Thomas Frank joined Tottenham Hotspur as head coach on a three-year deal and the decision to appoint the Dane came as no surprise, with multiple reports indicating that the former Brentford boss was the club’s preferred choice to succeed Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed on Friday, 6 June.

Frank was confirmed as the new head coach of Spurson Thursday evening, and the expectation is that he will begin work immediately as pre-season preparations get underway along with his new-look Tottenham coaching staff.

Unlike Ange Postecoglou, who arrived at the club without an established coaching team and later finalised his staff, Frank’s move to Tottenham has already seen him bring some of his trusted Brentford colleagues with him.

We reported days ago that at least six members of Frank’s backroom staff were part of the discussions between Tottenham and Brentford, with their inclusion in the negotiations seen as a key part of the deal.

Thomas Frank brings trusted Brentford staff to Tottenham

With the confirmation of Thomas Frank’s appointment now made official, Tottenham Hotspur have also revealed that three members of his Brentford team have followed him to north London, along with one from Manchester United, to bolster his backroom staff to date.

It is expected that Matt Wells and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch could have a place on the bench.

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The expectations of Thomas Frank at Spurs

With Thomas Frank and his coaching staff now installed at Hotspur Way, Tottenham are preparing for what they hope will be a more stable and successful managerial era under the Danish head coach, who becomes Daniel Levy’s 16th managerial appointment in just 24 years.

Given that the previous 15 managers have all been dismissed, Frank will be keen to avoid a similar fate by bringing long-term success and consistency to a side that has struggled for stability since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Tim Sherwood has already weighed in with a message to Frank, cautioning the new manager to fully understand the objective of Levy’s project, which he claims is centred around remaining competitive in the Premier League, rather than being solely focused on winning silverware.

Indeed, Frank is no stranger to the demands of the English top flight, having managed Brentford in the Premier League since 2021 and established them as a solid mid-table side.

Tottenham Hotspur have turned to Thomas Frank to take charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Danish tactician stepping in to begin a new era after a dismal domestic campaign under Ange Postecoglou.

Thomas Frank was appointed as Tottenham Hotspur head coach on 12th June 2025 having signed a three-year deal, replacing Ange Postecoglou at the helm following his sacking after two seasons as Spurs boss.

Despite delivering Europa League success in his second season in charge, Ange Postecoglou was dismissed following a disastrous 2024/25 Premier League campaign that saw Spurs slump to 17th in the table.

Following the Australian’s sacking, Daniel Levy’s attention swiftly turned to Thomas Frank, as he deemed him the ideal replacement to lead Tottenham into a new era.

Spurs reached an agreement with Brentford after activating the Danish manager’s £10 million release clause to seal his arrival in North London, making him the 16th managerial appointment by the club’s chairman since 2001.

Where and when was Thomas Frank born?

Thomas Frank was born on 9 October 1973 in Frederiksværk, Denmark. The 51-year-old stands at 5ft 7 and holds Danish nationality.

Who is Thomas Frank?

Frank’s coaching career began at the grassroots level in Denmark, initially working with youth teams including Frederiksværk’s U8s and U12s before progressing to roles at Hvidovre, B93 and Lyngby. It was during these early years that he built a strong reputation for youth development.

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He later took charge of Denmark’s U16 and U17 national sides, guiding the U17s to a semi-final finish at the European Championship and securing qualification for the U17 World Cup. Though he moved on to lead the U19s, he was unable to secure qualification with that side.

His first senior managerial position came with Brondby in 2013, where he delivered back-to-back top-four finishes before resigning in 2016 after public criticism from the club’s hierarchy.

Frank moved to Brentford later that year, initially as assistant manager, before stepping into the top job in 2018. Following a steady rise with the Bees, Frank has now landed the biggest role of his career with his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

What has Thomas Frank won as a manager?

Frank’s managerial career has not brought major silverware, but he did guide Brentford to promotion by winning the EFL Championship play-offs in 2021. That remains his only trophy at senior level.

What are Thomas Frank’s tactics?

During his time at Brentford, Frank adopted a flexible tactical approach. For several seasons, he preferred a 3-5-2 formation, focusing on defensive structure while encouraging forward thrusts through wing-backs and midfield runners. The Bees were disciplined in defence, often relying on man-to-man pressing to keep opponents at bay.

More recently, Brentford transitioned to a 4-2-3-1 setup. This tweak allowed them to become more effective in the final third, with players like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa thriving in more attacking roles. Their direct approach and well-rehearsed set-pieces, grounded in data analysis, became central to their game model.

What has Thomas Frank said about Tottenham Hotspur?

In the final months of his tenure at Brentford, Frank praised the quality of the Tottenham squad he would later inherit.

Speaking after Brentford’s 2-0 defeat to Spurs in February 2025, Frank acknowledged the calibre in Tottenham’s ranks, particularly highlighting the strength of their forward line and midfield.

He remarked: “I think that is a big expectation. I know they have not had the best season, but if you look at their line-up, just take their front three, I think a lot of clubs would have taken them in a day.

“Their midfield – Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma – that is a very, very, very good Premier League midfield.

“And then I know they have not had a centre-back, maybe Archie Gray and Ben Davies played the best defensive game of the season. So, Pedro Porro is fantastic at right back, he has got Trentish offensive qualities and Djed Spence has done well.”

Thomas Frank’s wife

Frank is married and has three children. Before relocating to London in 2016, his family lived in Hvidovre. he has also contributed as a pundit for the BBC’s Euro 2024 coverage.