Daily Express

Tottenham's squad should brace themselves for a unique pre-season with Thomas Frank, who is known to buck traditional gruelling regimes. Ex-Brondby player Martin Albrechtsen, once of West Brom, sang the praises of Frank’s pre-season regime, contrasting it with his demanding experiences in the Premier League.

Under Frank’s system previously seen at Brentford, players need to zoom through 1km on the pitch in approximately three minutes and 15 seconds; a task which seems almost leisurely compared with Conte’s notorious 'death runs' in Seoul three years prior, wherein Spurs stars were pushed to the limits with 42 sprints following a two-hour workout in sweltering heat.

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Harry Kane, then Spurs captain, famously fought off jet lag enough to throw up mid-drill, while Son Heung-min visibly faltered under the exhaustive trial.

Albrechtsen elaborated on how this year's training would differ, telling the Mirror: "I've had a taste of both worlds, the totally crazy pre-season regimes and also managers that think differently.

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

"He thought about recovery and that if we're training tomorrow, we don't want injuries.

"His mindset was not about short-term gain and smashing people to their absolute limit, it was more about improving our conditioning and sharpness."

Former West Brom defender Albrechtsen, who hung up his boots last summer, still has vivid memories of his pre-season training during his 2004–2008 stint at The Hawthorns which continue to haunt him.

Now 45, he reflected: "Life under Gary Megson was a bit special. We had this coach that would make us run in this park in Sutton Coldfield, it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my career.

"I lost around 5kg, I wasn't very big back then anyway so it was a real culture shock.

"I don't know any player that would enjoy running in a forest for two hours non-stop, they thought we were in good shape but we weren't ready to play football because our bodies were so fatigued.

"Thomas likes to involve the ball a lot, there were still interval runs but you were getting a feel for the ball which goes a long way."

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has praised Frank for his prowess in nurturing young talent.

However, Frank will now have to manage high-profile players at Tottenham and Albrechtsen remembers him being rather "soft" during their time together at Brondby.

He added: "I think he was maybe just a bit too soft.

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"We were a group of older players that were used to a harder, tougher mentality so we were missing that direct, rougher managerial approach at times.

"That said, it was around 10 years ago now and I'd expect he's changed given his success."

Nevertheless, even Ange Postecoglou's feat in bringing Spurs' 17-year trophy drought to an end wasn't enough to satisfy chairman Daniel Levy. If you found the peculiarities of the Australian's departure striking, then Thomas Frank's exit from Brondby presents an even stranger tale.

In a twist worthy of a spy novel, Frank quit his managerial post at Brondby in 2016 after revelations surfaced that chairman Jan Bech Andersen had anonymously criticised him on a supporters' forum. The club's former defender Martin Albrechtsen confirmed the astonishing events, saying: "Yes, it's true."

Despite the turmoil within the Danish outfit, which teetered on the brink of relegation amid financial woes, Albrechtsen reflected with a sort of battle-hardened nonchalance akin to just another day at the office, remarking: "Still, it was really strange but perhaps it was a good thing because we weren't performing well and if we carried on, Thomas may have been sacked."

Thomas Frank is waiting to discover how much he will be backed in the summer, having joined Tottenham from Brentford. He hopes to bring Bryan Mbeumo with him on the short cross-London journey, but faces competition from Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle.

There are also a few whispers that several Spurs stars, disappointed that Ange Postecoglou was sacked after winning the Europa League, are ready to call time on their days at the club and seek out exits. Here, Express Sport takes a look at what a worst-case scenario looks like for Spurs this summer…

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Bryan Mbeumo makes Man Utd U-turn

Tottenham were handed a potentially sizable boost in their hopes of reuniting Mbeumo with Frank, as journalist Duncan Castles claimed that the Cameroon forward favours a move to Spurs rather than United.

That is assuming that both teams submit offers equal to Brentford’s £70million asking price, considering Spurs can also offer Champions League football.

But the Mbeumo saga has gone back and forth on countless occasions already and few would be surprised if he ended up in Manchester, handing Frank an early blow to begin his Spurs reign.

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Cristian Romero forces transfer

Perhaps more concerning is the future of Cristian Romero at Spurs. When he and Micky van de Ven are fit, they are one of the top centre-back pairings in world football.

He is one of the players who are considering their future following Postecoglou’s exit, with Atletico Madrid circling and Diego Simeone has already spoken publicly about his desire to sign a fellow Argentine.

Losing Romero would represent a major disappointment, considering the club’s dismal defensive record last season.

He has two years left on his contract and told TyC Sports: "I’d love to play La Liga. I’d love to, honestly. My goal is always to grow and go to new places to continue developing."

Rejecting the idea of renewing his contract and forcing a move would be dealing Frank a nightmare hand.

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Son Heung-min leaves with no replacement

Having led Spurs to European glory, Son Heung-min may opt to leave north London on a high and has interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia alongside Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

He is unlikely to leave before the club’s pre-season tour to South Korea, but that may mean Spurs are waiting until late in the window to secure a replacement - if one is needed.

Turning 33 next month and with only a year left on his contract, Son is unlikely to demand a tall transfer fee and Spurs may not have much room to manoeuvre in terms of a replacement.

Mathys Tel has joined permanently but did not set the world alight during his loan spell, while Spurs may have to count on Wilson Odobert and Richarlison if another winger does not arrive.

Bayer Leverkusen is set to increase their interest in Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah after selling Florian Wirtz to the Reds.

The clubs have been in talks over Quansah, with the Bundesliga side reportedly preparing to intensify their pursuit now the Wirtz deal is finalised.

Florian Wirtz has made a bold statement after confirming his move to Liverpool.

He told the club website: "I'm not coming to]have fun here, I want also to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve.

"I would like to win everything every year. First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. In the end, we want to be successful.

"Last season they won the Premier League, so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious."

Wolves have confirmed the signing of Celta Vigo forward Fer Lopez in a £19million deal.

The 21-year-old has joined on a five-year contract, and told the club website: "It's an amazing opportunity for my career to play in the Premier League and I'm very happy.

"Manager Vitor Pereira told me he thought I was a good fit in the squad and when it's a club like this, you have little to think about. The team did very good when Vitor came and I think he is top, so I'm very excited to be with him."

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has snubbed the chance to join Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vlahovic only has one year to run on his contract and Juve are looking to cash in while they can.

But the Serbian forward is determined to wait for what he deems to be a top club, and Fenerbahce did not meet his threshold.

A host of Premier League sides have been linked with Vlahovic in the past, but interest has not resurfaced in a serious way at this point in the window.

Tottenham are considering an approach to bring Kyle Walker-Peters back to north London later in the window, according to football.london.

Walker-Peters spent seven years on the books at Spurs before joining Southampton in 2020.

The right-back is out of contract in 10 days' time and the Saints have just been relegated from the Premier League.

Spurs need club-trained squad members to comply with European regulations, having sealed their spot in the Champions League by winning the Europa League.

Bournemouth are on the cusp of losing their second centre-back of the summer transfer window.

The Cherries have already sold Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for £50million.

And now Illia Zabarnyi could be about to follow him out of the Vitality Stadium.

Fabrizio Romano claims that Paris Saint-Germain are advancing in talks with Bournemouth, and they have already agreed personal terms with the Ukrainian.

The fee has not been agreed as yet, and Andoni Iraola's side want up to £51m.

Sunderland are the most advanced of any club pursuing Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat this summer. Various Premier League sides have been mentioned in relation to the 23-year-old, who boasts an impressive goals record in his native Ukraine. But the Black Cats have taken the most concrete action to date.

Express Sport understands that even before the end of last season, Sunderland had formulated a plan to go after Vanat if they were promoted to the top flight. They made sure of that with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the play-off final, and club chiefs have retained their interest in the centre-forward.

Up to now, Sunderland are the only Premier League side holding formal talks with Vanat's camp. And there is an expectation that a speedy agreement would be reached on personal terms if common ground can be found club-to-club over a transfer fee.

There lies the potential hitch, however. Reports indicate that Dynamo are demanding as much as £21million for Vanat, who has never played club football outside of his homeland.

And the Ukrainian outfit are determined not to budge on price. Bosses in Kyiv ideally want to keep Vanat for their Champions League qualifying campaign, which is scheduled to begin on July 22.

They are also aware of the difficulty of bringing a high-quality replacement to Ukraine, given the country's complex political climate.

Alexander Isak is extremely unlikely to sign for Liverpool this summer, according to The Telegraph.

Newcastle United are set to dig their heels in over their Swedish striker and demand a fee well in excess of £150million.

The report adds that Liverpool have not even lodged a formal enquiry with Newcastle, despite senior figures at Anfield enjoying a healthy relationship with those at St James' Park.

The sales of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez could free up funds for Liverpool but Newcastle fans have been urged to breathe easy over Isak's future.

Manchester United are the 'first club' to make official contact with Aston Villa over the signing of Emi Martinez, according to Ole.

And they are also the only side to have made any notable progress in pursuing the goalkeeper at this stage of the window.

There are, however, significant differences regarding the price tag.

Villa reportedly want just over £34million for their starting stopper, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday less than a month into the new season. And it is said that United are only willing to pay around half of that figure.

Manchester United and Tottenham have reportedly been told to cough up £70million for Antoine Semenyo. Both clubs are chasing the Bournemouth star but may decide to shelve their interest after learning of the steep potential price tag.

Semenyo enjoyed an excellent season for Bournemouth last season, catching the eyes of bigger Premier League clubs. United and Spurs are understood to have expressed an interest in signing the Ghana international. A formal enquiry is said to have been made by the north Londoners, who are also battling the Red Devils for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

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According to The Athletic, Spurs were told that Bournemouth valued Semenyo at around £70m. Thomas Frank’s new side are said to have parked their interest for now after learning the potential fee.

Bournemouth’s valuation is perhaps due to the fact that they face losing several key players this summer. Defender Dean Huijsen has already joined Real Madrid in a £50m deal. Illia Zabarnyi, Huijsen’s centre-back partner, has been the subject of repeated bids from Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool are also understood to be closing in on a deal for left-back Milos Kerkez. However, Bournemouth have already signed his replacement, French defender Adrien Truffert.

Semenyo has scored 21 goals across the last two seasons and played a key role under Andoni Iraola last term. His versatility was particularly important, with the 26-year-old playing on both wings and as a striker at times during the campaign.

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United and Spurs are both determined to improve their forward options over the coming months. Matheus Cunha has already arrived at Old Trafford from Wolves in a £62.5m switch, while both clubs are engaged in an ongoing battle for Mbeumo.

Frank’s arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Brentford is said to have heightened Spurs’ desire to sign Mbeumo from the Bees. However, the same report claims that the Cameroon international’s preference is a transfer to United.

Spurs’ only senior deals this summer so far were to complete permanent moves for loanees Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel. Both players arrived on loan in January, from Lens and Bayern Munich, respectively, and played significant roles in the club’s Europa League glory.

The north Londoners are said to have an interest in signing an attacking midfielder this summer. Express Sport understands that Eberechi Eze is of interest.

Bryan Mbeumo will have to sacrifice his preferred shirt number if he opts for Tottenham Hotspur over Manchester United. The Brentford winger has been in sensational form, netting 20 goals and providing eight assists in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

His remarkable performances have attracted attention from both Spurs and United, with both clubs eager to secure the services of the Cameroon international next season. Ruben Amorim's side made the first move with a £45million plus £10m in add-ons offer, which was promptly rejected by the west London club.

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Despite Old Trafford's reported confidence that Mbeumo will join them, as reported by MEN, recent speculation suggests that Spurs' UEFA Champions League qualification and the chance to reunite with Thomas Frank may sway his decision. However, should Mbeumo choose to join the Europa League champions, he'll have to relinquish his favoured No. 19 shirt, currently worn by Dominic Solanke, reports football.london.

The 25-year-old has been synonymous with the number throughout his professional journey, from his early days at Troyes to representing his country. Yet, with Solanke already donning it, Mbeumo may have to settle for another, with 12, 18 and 25 up for grabs. While the No. 19 shirt is occupied at his current club, a move to United would see Mbeumo reclaim his favoured number, as it's currently available there.

The transfer rumour mill is buzzing, but whether Mbeumo will make the switch to Manchester is still up in the air. Frank is set to lead Spurs into his first competitive match against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13. He's vowed to honour Ange Postecoglou's legacy at the club.

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"He will forever be a legend at Tottenham," he said of his predecessor. "It’s very important to understand that we all stand on the shoulders of others so I am going in on the foundations that Ange has built. I’m very humble about that and I’ll do my very best to continue the great work he put in.

"But the feeling and excitement, the joy and happiness you could see in the fans' faces [after the Europa League win], the pictures you saw were... wow! Hopefully we can create more of those moments. That would be the ultimate dream to do that and build on that. Hey, no one can say they are not winners; the team and the players are winners. Now we need to do [our] best ... to see whether we can be serial winners in the future."

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank singled out Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie as he dropped a transfer hint ahead of the new season. The 51-year-old has succeeded Ange Postecoglou in the Tottenham dugout after Spurs made a £10million compensation payment to prise him away from Brentford.

Frank excelled at Brentford as he guided the Bees to the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2021. The Dane then led the west London outfit to two top-10 finishes in four campaigns, with Brentford only just missing out on European qualification last season. And he was the top target for Tottenham, who could only muster a 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final.

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Frank will have a talented squad to work with at Spurs and will be expected to catapult his new club up the table.

And he has hinted that he may be reluctant to delve into the transfer market to sign a new left-back, midfielder or forward as he namedropped the four stars who play in those positions during an interview with club channels this week.

“I think it’s all players that we need to develop and make perform at the highest level,” he said. “But of course, Bergvall, Archie Gray, Odobert, Udogie - all of them I think have a high ceiling. There are others I haven’t mentioned. I could mention the whole squad and I’m looking forward to it.”

Read more... Man Utd handed Rashford lifeline as Arsenal reach striker agreement

Frank carved out a reputation as a smooth operator during his time with Brentford as he got the most out of his players season after season.

And discussing his strategy for success, he explained: “It’s always about winning, okay. We need to make the team win on a Saturday and a Tuesday, and then on a Saturday and on a Wednesday.

“But it’s also about developing the individual player. That’s me and my staff and the player, how we work together about that on a day-to-day basis. Because if we lift the player’s performance or develop them, the team will grow, perform better, hopefully opportunities to win more matches.”

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The new Spurs boss then spoke about his team’s supporters as he added: “First and foremost, I think it’s a fantastic fanbase. I think the fans are the most important ones.

“It’s the team. staff, me – all of us. How can we make sure we create enough magic moments with the fans, make moments they remember, they can get hopefully excited about?

“It’s about that and also that we go on a journey together. And on a journey there will be ups and downs. It’s how we get through these ups and downs together.”

Newly-appointed Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank described his new role as "a fairytale" and highlighted the necessity for togetherness following a season of upheaval at the club. Breaking silence since taking over from the ousted Ange Postecoglou, who guided Spurs to their first silverware in 17 years only to be handed his marching orders weeks later, the ex-Brentford manager stressed that "alignment" is required across the board, starting from chairman Daniel Levy, in order to capitalise on their Europa League success.

Despite achieving their lowest league standing of 17th and notching up 22 league losses, it's the taste of victory over Manchester United in Bilbao back in May that carries Spurs into the Champions League, a stage they've not graced since 2022. And new man Frank told the club's website: "I've only heard good stuff about all the people here, the training ground, the players. It's a good squad. It's an exciting, massive club with massive potential. So, it's just super, super exciting.

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"I had very good conversations and meetings with Daniel Levy, (chief executive) Vinai Venkatesham and (technical director) Johan Lange where we discussed everything in depth, details about the club structure, processes, and of course I came with my views on things, how I saw it, my ideas, and the way I want to do things and how I try to build a team and a club."

Relations between chairman Levy and Tottenham supporters have been fraught, as fans expressed their dissatisfaction more towards Levy than manager Postecoglou during last season's string of losses.

Levy has faced criticism for his alleged lack of investment in the squad, a point of contention especially stark considering Spurs' decline since their 2019 Champions League final appearance. Frank steps in as Tottenham's fifth permanent boss after Pochettino got the sack only five months following that iconic Madrid final.

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Frank, the man behind Brentford's commendable climb to a 10th place finish last season, continued: "If you want to do something quick, you can go alone," he said, adding, "If you want to do something big or achieve something big, you go together. So, it's definitely about doing things together – me, the staff, the players.

"I think alignment is key, from top to bottom. Of course it starts from Daniel, Vinai, Johan, and me, and the more the four of us can be aligned, just like a unit, an unbreakable unit, the stronger we'll be.

"There'll be ups and downs. Right now, it's a fairytale. Everyone's happy, the sun is shining, it's fantastic."

If the release of the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures is not a kick up the backside for Manchester United's transfer brokers, it is unclear what would be. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City await in the first five games of a season in which domestic results mean everything. United cannot afford a slow start.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived in a £62.5million transfer from Wolves, upgrading Ruben Amorim's attack early in the summer window. However, the Red Devils have so much more business to complete if they are to improve to the extent they require after an abysmal last campaign.

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After exploring United's dream summer transfer window on Monday, it's time to consider what Amorim's nightmare would look like...

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Bryan Mbeumo joins Tottenham

Bryan Mbeumo is the Old Trafford giants' next priority target after Cunha, and he is believed to have chosen the Theatre of Dreams as his preferred destination.

The 25-year-old has already been the subject of a rejected bid worth £45million plus £10m, with Brentford demanding at least £60m.

United are expected to return with an improved offer despite tabling their opening approach two weeks ago. And now Tottenham Hotspur are in the frame.

Mbeumo is reportedly intrigued at the prospect of joining his old manager, Thomas Frank, at Spurs, who can offer Champions League football after beating United in the Europa League final.

Failing to strike a deal with Brentford and watching Mbeumo join rivals Spurs would be a cataclysmic blow to Amorim's preparations.

Man Utd fail to sell crucial trio

It goes without saying that United have to improve other areas of the team as fans clamour for goalkeeper, wing-back and midfield reinforcements.

Yet, beyond Mbeumo, the Red Devils will rely on player sales to fund further deals due to financial limitations caused by missing out on European football.

United want to sell Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho after their loan spells away from the club last season. However, the trio's salary demands are reportedly proving problematic.

If Amorim can't shift the trio in the coming months, he may have to settle for their services rather than new players he wants to work with.

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Ruben Amorim settles for Andre Onana

All signs currently point towards Andre Onana staying put at United despite uncertainty surrounding his future.

The 29-year-old has been unconvincing in his two years in Manchester, and the fanbase has seemingly lost all trust in him to come good.

United could do with upgrading their goalkeeper, but Amorim is reportedly ready to settle for Onana next season.

Given the importance of the position, that could prove costly if the Cameroon international continues his error-proneness.

Tottenham are preparing to test West Ham's resolve with a lowball bid for Mohammed Kudus, according to reports. Spurs have not conducted transfer business with their cross-city rivals for well over a decade on account of Daniel Levy's poor relationship with senior figures at the London Stadium.

Any ill feeling will have to be put to one side if Tottenham are to get their hands on Kudus, who the Hammers could cash in on to fund a squad rebuild for manager Graham Potter. But Levy risks inflaming tensions with David Sullivan and other major investors if they deem an offer to be insulting.

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Kudus has an £85million release clause, which is accessible to Premier League clubs, written into his West Ham contract. And according to The Guardian, Spurs are prepared to open the bidding at £50m - less than 60 per cent of the top-end figure.

It has been reported that West Ham would be prepared to sell Kudus for less than his £85m clause, although they are likely to demand somewhere close to that sum. The Ghanaian, 24, has been a live wire since landing in the Premier League two years ago, scoring 19 goals in 80 games.

And Tottenham are not the only cash-rich Premier League side with an interest in Kudus. The idea was reportedly floated to Chelsea earlier in the window, and he remains on the radar at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues' chances of landing Kudus could be boosted by claims that West Ham bosses are keen on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who both face uncertain futures under Enzo Maresca.

Sanchez spent the majority of last season as Chelsea's No. 1, but Stamford Bridge chiefs spent the early part of the transfer window pursuing AC Milan stopper Mike Maignan. Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, has been feeding off scraps of game time since completing a £30m move from Leicester City last summer.

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Spurs may require a wide player of Kudus' calibre if they decide it is the right time to part ways with skipper Son Heung-min. The South Korean is attracting interest from Saudi Pro League sides for the third year in a row, and they are prepared to put significant cash on the table, despite the fact Son only has a year left on his contract.

Any move would have to wait until later in the window, however, as Tottenham are contractually obliged to play Son in a pre-season friendly on South Korean soil at the beginning of August.

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be active in the summer transfer window after a summer of change that's seen them appoint Thomas Frank as their new manager. While many of Tottenham's Premier League competitors have already made significant moves in the transfer market, Spurs' decision-making was delayed due to uncertainty over Ange Postecoglou's future and his subsequent replacement. As a result, Tottenham have been slower to secure signings.

However, club chairman Daniel Levy has already managed to land £17 million in the bank from the sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 29. Hojbjerg actually left the club last summer, moving to Marseille on a season-long loan. Yet that loan deal, agreed back in 2024, included an obligation to buy for the French side.

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Hojbjerg's contract with Spurs was set to expire at the end of June, but Tottenham negotiated a fee for the midfielder as part of his loan move. The Ligue 1 outfit are now expected to pay up to secure the Danish player on a permanent basis.

Hojbjerg featured in 30 of Marseille's 34 matches this season, completing the full 90 minutes in all but two of those games. He scored twice in the league, added another goal in the French Cup, and provided four assists.

He was a crucial component of Robert de Zerbi's team, which finished second to Paris Saint-Germain and secured a spot in next season's Champions League.

Tottenham originally signed Hojbjerg from Southampton in 2020 for £15m. The £17m sale, despite his contract nearing its end, is somewhat of a coup for Levy, not only fetching a substantial sum for him but also turning a profit on the Danish midfielder.

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Elsewhere for Spurs, Kevin Danso's loan from Lens was made permanent, as required by the terms of the agreement, while Mathys Tel's loan from Bayern Munich was also converted into a full-time deal following input from Spurs' new head coach.

Although new arrivals may be sparse, several players have already exited the club. Alfie Whiteman, Fraser Forster and Sergio Reguilon left at the end of their contracts in N17, while Timo Werner returned to RB Leipzig after his loan spell concluded.

Spurs now head into a summer with 51-year-old Frank in the hot seat and a host of players linked with the club, including Bryan Mbeumo and Jack Grealish. The former Brentford manager has been handed a three-year contract at Spurs as he was given the job just six days after the Europa League-winning Postecoglou was dismissed.

Frank will begin his Spurs reign with a home tie against newly promoted Burnley. Their first five games for the new campaign are made up by home ties with Manchester City and Bournemouth, while trips to West Ham United and Brighton round off the opening few weeks for Frank's side.