Football FanCast

Next season is set to be another new dawn for Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Levy and Co. made what looks to have been the unpopular decision to sack Ange Postecoglou last Friday and, in his place, hire Thomas Frank.

While fans might've liked the club to back the manager who ended their trophy drought, the Danish coach is an exciting appointment, as he took Brentford up from the Championship and turned them into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, then, the North Londoners have been linked with one of the Bees' best players, Bryan Mbeumo, but if reports are to be believed, they could decide to sign someone else, someone better.

Tottenham Transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it's worth looking at some of the other talented players touted for a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Xavi Simons.

The former has been a long-term target for the North Londoners, and while his £68m release clause would represent a significant investment, his tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 games this season suggest he'd be more than worth it.

Likewise, the £67m it would reportedly take to secure Simons' services this summer may sound like a lot - because it is - but when you consider he's still just 22 years old and was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in just 33 games this year, it doesn't sound so bad.

However, another Premier League-proven attacker has entered the frame for the North Londoners, someone who could be better than Mbeumo: Antoine Semenyo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports, Spurs have maintained their intense interest in the Bournemouth star, even though that interest originated prior to Postecoglou's sacking.

The report does not mention a potential price for the Cherries ace, but stories from earlier this month claimed that he could be available for close to £70m.

It would likely be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line this summer, but given Semenyo's immense ability, it's one Spurs should be all over, especially as he could be an even better signing than Mbeumo.

How Semenyo compares to Mbeumo

Okay, so we know that Mbeumo is one of the most talked-about targets in England at the moment, and understandably so, as in 42 appearances this season, he was able to score 20 goals and provide nine assists.

But for our money, Semenyo would be the better signing, and there are several reasons why.

Firstly, while he wasn't able to produce quite as many goal involvements, the Ghanaian international was still an incredibly effective attacker, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists in as many appearances for Bournemouth.

Moreover, as we all know, a winger is and should be judged on more metrics than just his goals and assists in the modern game, and when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers, the Cherries ace starts to come out on top.

For example, while the former Troyes gem does better in some metrics like shot and goal-creating actions as well as progressive passes, the former Bristol City star comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, tackles and more, all per 90.

Moreover, on top of being the more statistically well-rounded player, the 25-year-old "monster," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is incredibly versatile.

For example, thanks to him being ambipedal - equally able to use both feet - he's more than happy playing off the right as he is on the left and can even play up top or in midfield if he's needed to.

Therefore, the dynamic "maverick," as dubbed by Mattinson, could come in and fill in wherever he's needed, in turn giving Frank far more tactical flexibility than he'd get from someone only dangerous off the right.

Ultimately, either Mbeumo or Semenyo would be excellent additions for Spurs, but thanks to the latter having the more impressive and promising underlying numbers, combined with his ability to play almost anywhere, we reckon he would be the better signing for the North Londoners.

During Ange Postecoglou's troubled tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, it would be fair to say he got a lot right but plenty of things wrong as well.

On the pitch, for example, he led the team to their worst Premier League finish of all time, but then also won them their first trophy in 17 years.

It was the same in the transfer market, with the likes of Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson, and Lucas Bergvall all proving to be great buys, while the likes of Radu Dragusin and most certainly Timo Werner being quite the opposite.

Therefore, fans should be worried about reports linking the team to a player who could be Thomas Frank's own version of the German next season.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the bad news, it's worth looking at some of the more exciting links to the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Hayden Hackney.

The former is reportedly available for a fee of around £60m, and while that is undoubtedly a lot of money, his incredible tally of 20 goals and nine assists in 42 games this season suggests he'd be more than worth it.

Likewise, while £20m might sound like a lot for a Championship midfielder, it could just end up being a bargain, as plenty of top-flight teams are also after Hackney's signature this summer.

However, as we said, it's not all positive, as the North Londoners have now found themselves linked with someone who has flopped for two teams in the Premier League: Jadon Sancho.

Yes, according to a recent report from The Sun, Spurs are, in fact, keen on signing the Manchester United dud.

Alongside his former side Borussia Dortmund, the report claims that the North Londoners, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are 'battling to sign' the Englishman this summer for a fee of around £25m.

While the 25-year-old was able to show glimpses of quality this season, that is still a battle Tottenham should endeavour to lose, as there is a significant chance he could just be another Werner.

Why Sancho would be another Werner

So, it might sound harsh, but if Spurs were to sign Sancho this summer, then it would be very easy to describe his move as Werner-esque, and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, not only would the North Londoners be signing a previously highly-rated player turned flop, but they would be doing so after he failed to reach a good enough level at London rivals Chelsea.

In fact, it's worse than that, as in his final underwhelming campaign with the West Londoners, the German scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances before returning to RB Leipzig.

In comparison, the former Dortmund gem was only able to manage five goals and ten assists in 45 games for the Blues, which should be setting off alarm bells in the heads of Levy and Co.

Moreover, when you take into account minutes played, the United dud was only slightly more productive at Stamford Bridge than the Stuttgart-born ace was in N17.

For example, the 29-year-old averaged a goal involvement every 185.1 minutes while in North London and the 23-capped "special" Englishman, as dubbed by Enzo Maresca, averaged one every 161.26 minutes during his stint in the capital.

Ultimately, while there is likely a talented player in Sancho, we have not seen it on a consistent basis since his time in Germany, and with Frank coming in to improve the first team, handing him a player who could just be the new Werner feels like a massive mistake.

Therefore, Spurs should go nowhere near the inconsistent winger this summer, and instead focus their energy on signing more promising options.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to tackle the summer transfer market following the confirmed arrival of Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou's replacement in the dugout.

Tottenham announce as Thomas Frank as their new manager

Spurs were repeatedly linked with Frank after chairman Daniel Levy made the tough decision to sack Postecoglou, with the Australian helping to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy but also guiding them to 22 Premier League defeats last season.

On Thursday evening, Frank was officially unveiled as the Lilywhites' fifth manager since 2019, after Spurs triggered his £10 million release clause and reached an agreement on his backroom staff.

"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," a club statement said.

"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. He has a proven track record in player and squad development, and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead."

On paper, Frank is arguably a perfect for the north Londoners, having worked wonders with limited resources at Brentford whilst also operating under a data-driven recruitment model.

However, the Dane also has zero experience managing a team of this magnitude, nor does he boast any silverware or Champions League know-how, yet he is the man who is about to lead Tottenham into Europe's most prestigious competition next term.

If Frank is to become a success at Spurs, Levy will need to back him in the transfer market, and this summer is set to be another crucial one.

Frank's side are reportedly trying to hijack Man United's move for Bryan Mbeumo, but that is not all.

The 51-year-old has already recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham, according to GiveMeSport, and it is now reported that he's also a fan of Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Thomas Frank "pushing" Tottenham to move for Morgan Gibbs-White

That is according to journalist Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Frank is "pushing" for Tottenham to sign Gibbs-White in a "statement" move.

The England international, despite this report that a £51 million deal is possible, is likely to cost far more. Nuno Espírito Santo's side have him under contract for another two years, with other reports claiming Forest could demand as much as £100 million for him this summer.

Gibbs-White was a superstar player for Forest during their unlikely push for Champions League football last season, bagging seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions, so Spurs will have to seriously dig deep into their pockets to get them talking.

Tottenham Hotspur had their defensive woes last season thanks to a plethora of injuries which debilitated their squad, and with Cristian Romero heavily linked to Atlético Madrid, it isn't inconceivable to think they could be adding a centre-back this summer.

Thomas Frank confirmed as new Spurs head coach

We knew that Thomas Frank would be landing at N17 for the last few days, but on Thursday evening, the Europa League champions officially announced his arrival as new head coach to replace Ange Postecoglou.

The Dane is set to lead Tottenham into their first campaign back in the Champions League since Antonio Conte's final season in charge, and has an almighty task on his hands to inspire momentum from the club's triumph in Bilbao.

According to some reports, Frank has already made some Spurs transfer decisions behind-the-scenes, with the 51-year-old eager to keep hold of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich (TEAMtalk), and requesting that chairman Daniel Levy target a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze (GiveMeSport).

He also has a key call to make in regard to the future of Lilywhites legend Son Heung-min, who is attracting serious interest from the Saudi Pro League and could depart Spurs after 10 years of faithful service.

Saudi have reportedly held talks with Son's camp already, but Frank will unlikely be comfortable losing both the South Korean and Romero in one window.

The latter is a top target for Atlético, and some media sources believe that Romero has informed Levy of his desire to leave Tottenham, regardless of their Europa League final win last month.

Meanwhile, his central defensive partner, Radu Dragusin, is now also attracting interest from abroad.

Suggestion Tottenham could be offered Fikayo Tomori in Radu Dragusin swap deal

According to Calciomercato.it, Spurs actually reached an agreement to sign AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori in January, but the move ultimately failed to materialise.

However, they suggest that a swoop for the 27-year-old could be back on the cards, namely due to Milan's strong interest in signing Dragusin. The Romanian's agent, Gabriele Giuffrida, held a three-hour-long meeting with Milan chiefs earlier this week, with Dragusin "hoping" to make a return to Serie A.

Calciomercato warned to pay "special attention" to him and a potential San Siro move, adding that Tottenham's January agreement for Tomori could help to instigate a swap deal involving Dragusin.

Tomori is homegrown, out of contract in 2027 and may be keen on coming back to the Premier League after falling slightly down Milan's pecking order. Valued at around £26 million, any swap deal involving Dragusin could also bring this price down further, and allow Spurs to reinvest the saved cash into bringing in other crucial new additions.

Tomori has serious credentials as well, having earned plaudits for his growth in Italy.

“He was very brave in going to another country and stepping out of the shadows of Chelsea to test himself," said TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand about Tomori's development.

"I saw a quote the other day from him saying a lot of the Italian strengths in defending he has started to pick up and learn. One of the things that stand out immediately is his tenacity and pace.

"He is remarkably quick, but the way he comes out and closes down people and spaces is tremendous to see. He would have learnt. He is a student of the game, he is intelligent, he will keep on growing."

The season ended less than a month ago, and so much has already changed at Tottenham Hotspur.

In the space of a week, Ange Postecoglou, who led the club to their first trophy in almost two decades this season, was fired, and his replacement all but announced.

The man to come in and try to improve the Lilywhites' Premier League form looks set to be Brentford's Thomas Frank.

However, to ensure the Danish coach can do that, Daniel Levy and Co have to execute this summer perfectly, which means bringing in the right players and selling those who need to be sold, such as Son Heung-min and another big name.

Why Son should be sold

There is no doubt that in the pantheon of great and iconic Tottenham Hotspur players, Son is right near the very top, as not only has he spent a decade at the club, but he was the captain for their Europa League triumph last week.

However, that is one of the reasons he should be moved on this summer, as if he were to go now, he'd be leaving on an incredible high and as an unquestionable legend of the club, but were he to remain for another year, there is every chance his declining ability would see him eventually leave on something of a sour note next year.

It's not the South Korean superstar's fault he's become less effective in recent years, but just an unfortunate reality of getting older, a reality supported by research carried out by The Athletic showing that wide attackers peak at 26 and see their ability to take defenders on nosedive at 30 and beyond.

We can also see this in his numbers, with the Chuncheon-born ace racking up 27 goal involvements in 36 appearances last year but just 23 in 46 games this year.

Moreover, per FBref, the 32-year-old sat in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons per 90 in the 18/19 Premier League season, but then this season, he was in the bottom 42% for the same metric.

Now, the good news is that the North Londoners can probably still get some good money for the Bayer Leverkusen star, as according to French outlet Foot Mercato, he has been approached by Saudi Pro-league side Al-Hilal, and as we've seen in the past few years, they can pay an awful lot for ageing stars.

In all, Son is now a bonafide legend at Spurs, but this summer feels like the right time for him to go so he can leave on a high, and the club can cash in, which is the same for another star.

The Spurs star who should be sold

While there are a few players who should be sold this summer because they simply aren't good enough, like Yves Bissouma, we are talking about one of the co-vice captains, Cristian Romero.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, we are not for one second saying the Argentine isn't good enough to play for Spurs under Frank.

However, there are a few reasons why the North Londoners should probably be looking to cash in on him, with the first being the interest.

There has always been the odd link here and there for the World Cup winner, but it has to be said that in the last few months, said links have increased in volume and believability.

For example, Real Madrid were reportedly keen on the former Juventus ace in early April, but since then, there has been a near-constant stream of reports touting him for a move to their city rivals, Atlético Madrid.

Worse still, the Córdoba-born "monster," dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, has reportedly already spoken to his compatriot Diego Simeone and now wants to move to the Spanish capital, which is a want likely strengthened by the sacking of Postecoglou.

The second reason is intertwined with the first and concerns the money involved in a potential move.

If the club can get upwards of £60m for the wantaway defender, as it looks like they want, then that cash can go towards new players that actually want to play for the team and that Frank personally wants in his squad.

Finally, the the £165,000-per-week defender cannot be relied upon to remain fit anymore, as he missed a whopping 27 games for club and country this season, so even if he stays this summer, he could well end up missing half of the 25/26 campaign.

Ultimately, Romero is a brilliant footballer and was important in the Europa League this year, but with him increasingly looking like he wants to leave, combined with his fitness problems, it would make sense for Spurs to cash in now and hand Franks the funds to sign his own players.

They might not have won the Premier League, but the Tottenham Hotspur team of the mid to late 2010s was stacked with seriously entertaining players.

Whether it was Harry Kane and Son Heung-min scoring for fun or Christian Eriksen playing sensational pinpoint, accurate passes from the middle of the park, fans were guaranteed a good time when watching the North Londoners.

Yet, there was another starter of that time who was perhaps the best to watch out of the entire team, someone capable of starting an unreal move or thundering the ball into the back of the net himself: Dele Alli.

The midfield maestro was a superb footballer, and if recent reports are to be believed, the club could be about to pull off a transfer reminiscent of his all those years ago and land Thomas Frank his own Dele.

Tottenham looking to sign new midfielder

Spurs have been linked with plenty of midfield talents in recent weeks, most notably Adam Wharton and Quinten Timber.

The former would be a brilliant signing for the club to make, as the young Englishman has more than established himself as a Premier League quality player, but with a reported price tag of up to £60m, he might just be out of reach.

Timber, on the other hand, could be a far smarter acquisition at a reported price of just £25m and with a tally of seven goal involvements in 26 games this season.

However, neither the players nor their potential moves could really be compared to Dele, unlike Hayden Hackney.

Yes, according to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Spurs are now interested in the Middlesbrough gem.

The report claims that the North Londoners have entered the race to sign the young talent alongside Manchester United, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

Fortunately, while the competition will be a significant hurdle for the Lilywhites to contend with, the potential price tag shouldn't be, with the story claiming the gem in question could be available for just £20m.

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Hackney's ability and potential, it's one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Frank's own Dele.

Why Hackney could be the new Dele

So, we know it's a fairly bold opinion to suggest that Hackney, who might still be a relative unknown to many fans in the top flight, could be a Dele-esque signing for Spurs and Frank, but there are a few reasons why we think this.

The first is that, even though the former Tottenham star was more of an attacking midfielder than the Boro ace is, the latter is somewhat versatile in the roles he can play, something the former was known for during his time in the capital.

For example, while the Redcar-born gem is at his best at the base of midfield, he is more than capable of playing a more central role, has ventured further up the pitch into attacking midfield, and has even made a few appearances out wide.

The second similarity is in relation to their transfers or potential in the 22-year-old's case.

When he joined the Lilywhites, the former England international did so from an EFL club, moving from MK Dons for a significant, but not outrageous fee of £5m, and should this deal go through, the 5 foot 10 dynamo would also be moving from an EFL club for a fee that, in today's game, certainly isn't too dear.

Finally, and this is an important one, there is an expectation from many that the "immense" gem, as dubbed by manager Michael Carrick, could develop into a truly exceptional player.

For example, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a "special player" and someone who should be a "high priority" signing; Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder called him a "super" talent, while another analyst proclaimed him a "progression monster."

Ultimately, while he might not be a name everyone is familiar with, Spurs should do what they can to sign Hackney this summer, as with his potential, he could be Frank's own Dele.

West Bromwich Albion are now making moves to sign a new target, having registered their interest in a forward who Ryan Mason knows very well, according to a report.

Mason era underway at the Hawthorns

West Brom have arguably taken a risk by appointing Mason, given that his only experience as a senior manager has been as interim boss of Tottenham Hotspur, but the 33-year-old believes he is now ready for his first permanent role in the dugout.

While the young manager is yet to prove himself in the hot seat, he has certainly had the opportunity to learn from some top managers during his time at Tottenham, working under the likes of José Mourinho, Antonio Conte and most recently Ange Postecoglou.

That experience should stand the London-born coach in good stead to be a success at the Hawthorns, and the manager is now looking to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited by bringing in a player he worked with during his time at Spurs.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states West Brom are now making moves to sign Tottenham forward Mikey Moore, having registered their interest in the 17-year-old, alongside Championship rivals Birmingham City.

The Baggies are keeping close tabs on the teenager, and want to take him on loan next season, as there is a belief the youngster would be capable of being a stand-out player in the second tier, despite his age.

"Fearless" Moore has already built up first-team experience

With Tottenham suffering an injury crisis in the 2024-25 campaign, Moore was perhaps called upon more times than he would've expected, making 15 appearances in all competitions, during which time the starlet picked up one goal and two assists.

Much like Mason, a move to the Championship could be ideal for the left-winger, as it would provide him with the opportunity to get more first-team experience, and there are signs the starlet could be capable of making a real impact at the Hawthorns.

James Maddison was left impressed by what he saw from his teammate last season, with the England international saying: “[He has] that young, fearless mentality and you never want to take that away from him. He’s a young kid, a brilliant lad, a lovely boy. He takes in information, and he’s got bags of ability."

Moore clearly has a lot of potential, and West Brom will be hoping that the opportunity to work under Mason will help them win the race for the forward's signature, despite the interest from Championship rivals Birmingham.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a very intriguing first Premier League season under prospective new manager Thomas Frank, but not everyone will be along for the ride.

Players who could leave Tottenham after Thomas Frank arrives

The Dane is poised to take over from Ange Postecoglou, with Frank agreeing terms on a move to Spurs earlier this week and the Lilywhites apparently set to trigger his £10 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Frank is seemingly braced for a completely different challenge away from the expectations of mid-table Brentford, as Spurs gear up for a 2025/2026 campaign back in the Champions League and fresh off winning their first major trophy in 17 years.

The 51-year-old has big shoes to fill as well, with Postecoglou earning popularity among the Spurs squad and many speaking out publicly in defence of the now-unemployed tactician.

He's likely to have an influence on the club's transfer activity once confirmed as Tottenham's latest head coach, with some reports suggesting Frank has already urged Daniel Levy to keep Mathys Tel (TEAMtalk).

His stance on certain other squad members is yet to be made clear, but we'll find out in due course, as a fair few squad members face uncertain futures.

Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil are surely likely to be sold this summer, after spending 2024/2025 on loan at Leeds United and Girona respectively, while uncertainty also surrounds the long-term future of Richarlison amid interest from Everton (Sky Sports).

A lot of noise is centered around star defender Cristian Romero right now too.

Romero is a top target for Atlético Madrid, and some reports suggest that the 27-year-old is equally keen on joining Diego Simeone's side, despite Tottenham's qualification for the Champions League (Marca).

Alongside Romero, another big name in long-serving £190,000-per-week captain Son Heung-min could also make an emotional departure.

The Telegraph first broke news that this year could be Son's last at Spurs, with clubs in Saudi Arabia said to be expressing an interest.

Son Heung-min exit from Tottenham on the cards as agents hold Saudi talks

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, Saudi Pro League sides have held talks with the agents of Son, who may well leave Spurs 10 years after signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

Bailey goes on to say that Son may well have played his last game for Tottenham, even if his exit isn't exactly nailed on just yet.

"Son could very well have played his last game for Tottenham, and well, if it was the Europa League final, it would be fitting," said Bailey.

“I am told he still believes he is more than capable of recapturing his best form – but Spurs are ready to make moves this summer and Son leaving could materialise.”

The 32-year-old's contract expires in 2026 after Levy took up the option to extend it by a further year, but it is now or never for them to make any money off Son's sale.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is already working to back incoming new manager Thomas Frank, with the Dane closing in on a move to N17 as he replaces Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham reach Thomas Frank agreement as transfer plans begin

Fabrizio Romano was first to give the 'here we go' on Frank's switch to Spurs from Brentford, and now other reliable media sources are reporting that he's about to become the Lilywhites' fifth manager since 2019.

Talks over backroom staff were apparently stalling preparations to announce Frank as Postecoglou's immediate heir, specifically Justin Cochrane as the 51-year-old's assistant, but the club now appear to have struck an accord.

With any doubt surrounding Frank's move to N17 seemingly quashed, Tottenham can begin work on their summer recruitment drive sooner rather than later, which is vital considering their place in the Champions League.

Levy will not want to leave Frank in a similar position to that of Postecoglou last campaign, as the Australian had to deal with a plague of injuries throughout his squad on a consistent basis during the 2024/2025 season.

Securing much-needed strength in depth will be imperative if they wish to compete in Europe's most prestigious competition and significantly improve on their 17th-placed Premier League finish.

Some reports suggest Frank is already making some intriguing transfer decisions behind-the-scenes ahead of his arrival in north London.

According to TEAMtalk, Frank is keen to keep hold of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal, and he's also recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Levy as a potential signing (GiveMeSport).

Tottenham are targeting a new forward as one of their summer priorities (Michael Bridge), with keen interest also shown in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Daniel Levy meets with Antoine Semenyo's agents over Tottenham transfer

According to talkSPORT and reporter Alex Crook, their fondness of the Cherries forward stretches far beyond just an admiring glance.

It is believed Levy has personally met with Semenyo's agents to hold Tottenham talks, but Spurs' high-ranking chief was told a key transfer condition, namely that Tottenham would have to smash their transfer record to strike a deal for the Ghanaian.

The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and bagged a further seven assists in all competitions last term, with the price for his signature coming in at around £70 million.

There is little doubting Semenyo's quality, though it remains to be seen just how much Levy is willing to part with to make his signing a reality.

"He's a lovely footballer to watch", said Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp on Premier League productions late last year.

"The manager's taken him to another level. He obviously has that capability because you saw it with Solanke. I'm just seeing him elevate his game right now, we'll talk about why does that happen, a lot of it is purely on confidence.

"He looks like he's enjoying his football, his shoulders are back, he's relaxed, every time he gets it, he plays with a bit of a swagger. He's actually a joy to watch right now."

It has yet to be officially confirmed by the club, but Thomas Frank looks set to be Tottenham Hotspur's new manager.

The Danish coach feels like a sensible choice to replace Ange Postecoglou, as since bringing Brentford up to the Premier League, he's proven himself capable of achieving a lot with not much.

So, it's exciting to see what he'll be able to do at one of the wealthiest clubs in the league after what should be a summer with at least a few offensive signings.

That said, reports have recently linked the club to a tremendously promising player who could be the ideal replacement for Cristian Romero, who could be on his way out of the club.

Tottenham eyeing Romero replacement

So, while the exciting rumours have seen Spurs linked with attacking talents like Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo, there have been some worrying reports concerning Romero's future in recent weeks and months.

For example, in early April, the Argentine international was being linked with a move to European royalty Real Madrid.

Then later that month, into May and right up until this week, Atlético Madrid have emerged as the team who seem most intent on signing the World Cup winner for around £60m, and there have even been stories claiming that the players have already spoken with Diego Simeone.

In all, it feels like a distinct possibility that the 27-year-old could leave North London this summer, which might help explain the links to Jarrad Branthwaite.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are now 'considering a bold move' for the Everton star this summer.

The story claims that the North Londoners are 'huge fans' of the young Englishman and that Frank sees him as 'a cornerstone for Tottenham's ambitions to compete for Champions League football.'

However, to get their man, the Lilywhites will have to stump up at least £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and potential, it's one Spurs should pursue, especially if Romero leaves.

Why Branthwaite would be an ideal Romero replacement

Now then, the first thing to say, and it's important, is that if this deal were to go through, and Branthwaite was signed to replace Romero, fans should not expect him to come in and be just as good right away.

The Englishman is still just 22 years old, and while he's hugely promising, with respected analyst EBL claiming he "ticks every box," he's not going to be at the level of a seasoned 27-year-old.

With that said, when we take a look at the pair's underlying numbers from this season, the good news is that the Carlisle-born titan doesn't fare too badly at all and actually comes on top in several defensive metrics.

For example, when he ranks higher than the World Cup winner for things like blocks, interceptions, clearances, and the percentage of and outright number of aerial duels won, all per 90.

Moreover, the England U21 star makes fewer errors leading to a shot, miscontrols the ball less, is dispossessed less often, commits fewer fouls and has a higher success rate when tackling opposition players in a dribble, also per 90.

It's not just the statistical side of the game that makes the former Carlisle United gem such an appealing prospect, but also his physicality.

Standing at a massive 6 foot 5, the "ball-playing physical beast," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, would add some serious heft to the North Londoners' backline that the 6 foot 1 Argentine just doesn't.

Ultimately, while keeping Romero and him staying fit would likely be the best bet for improving Spurs' defence next season, Branthwaite certainly wouldn't be a bad replacement, and if they can get him as well as keeping the Cordoba-born titan, then even better.