Daily Express

Tottenham players will be greeted by a new face when they report back for pre-season. Just over three weeks on from their Europa League triumph, Ange Postecoglou has given way to Thomas Frank, who will hope to translate his gleaming track record at Brentford into an upturn in fortunes for Spurs.

One player who has intimate knowledge about the inner workings of a Frank squad is Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international scored 20 Premier League goals for the Bees last season and is seemingly on his way out of the Gtech Community Stadium, with Tottenham reportedly trying to hijack Manchester United's big-money move for him.

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There's a chance Mbeumo could end up in north London to give Tottenham players a face-to-face heads-up about exactly what it's like to play for Frank. But just in case he opts for Old Trafford instead, Spurs stars can learn from insight that Mbeumo has already put into the public domain.

The 25-year-old was asked about Frank's managerial approach in an interview with Sky Sports late last year. Identifying the weak points in a player's game and striving for continuous improvement are two of the strong points that stuck with him.

"For him there is always something you can do better, in your life in general or in football," Mbeumo said. "You always have some things that are a bit weaker that you can work on and I think Thomas found them well in me.

"He used to be [focused on] the mental part. I used to be very frustrated when it was not going my way - even if I had a good game but I missed a chance, I used to get my head down and lose my focus. That is something I’ve tried to work on."

Whatever Frank did with Mbeumo worked wonders as he enjoyed by far the best individual season of his career in 2024/25. Only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland managed more Premier League goals than the in-demand Brentford star.

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That scintillating output has allowed Brentford to demand a chunk of cash for his signature. United have seen a £55million offer turned down after Mbeumo reportedly indicated that he was willing to make the move to Old Trafford.

But Frank's move to Spurs has thrown a spanner in the works. Claims of a £70m transfer bid were made on Friday as the north London club look to reunite their new boss with his deadliest attacker.

Thomas Frank has taken the biggest gamble of his managerial career by agreeing to become the Tottenham manager. The Dane was untouchable at Brentford - a team he took over in the Championship and transformed into not just a solid Premier League outfit, but European hopefuls.

Now, he has jumped into the pressure cooker which chewed up and spat out Ange Postecoglou in two seasons, with a Europa League title not enough to save his skin. Frank will naturally be keen to tinker with the playing squad if he is to propel Spurs up the table from the dismal 17th-place Premier League finish they managed last term. Here, we take a look at two high-priority items on his to-do list...

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Give three players the chop

Togetherness and stability are two of the attributes Frank will want to instil in north London. For that to happen, he may have to make some ruthless decisions.

A year or so ago, the thought of parting with Cristian Romero would have been unthinkable. But following a season in which his appearances were limited by injuries, and during which he hinted at a move to Spain, it could be time for Spurs to cash in. Frank will surely want a team of players who are all desperate to pull on the white shirt after all.

The 27-year-old would be worth big money, has no shortage of suitors, and Frank reportedly wants to bring centre-back Nathan Collins with him from Brentford anyway.

Rodrigo Bentancur is another who could make way. Tottenham are well-stocked in defensive midfield, and they will want to nurture young talents like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr. Bentancur is therefore the most likely departee in an area of the pitch which does require some attention.

With eyes on a summer splurge to set Frank on his way, Spurs chiefs would be unwise not to look at the high-value stars who remain on the fringes. Richarlison falls into that category, and he may be among those at risk of being moved on if the club decide to cash in and invest elsewhere.

Sign £70m game-changer

Frank has arrived at a club which already has exciting options in attack. Dominic Solanke is proven at Premier League level, there is still life in club captain Son Heung-min on the left, and there is a tricky choice between Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison as the No. 10.

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One player who could put the cat amongst the pigeons, however, is Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international was Frank's best player at Brentford last season, scoring 20 Premier League goals.

He could compete with Brennan Johnson on the right or with Solanke up top, but there is little doubt that he would add extra bite to Spurs' forward-line. To sign him, Tottenham would need to see off the challenge of Manchester United.

And steps have been taken to do just that, with reports of a £70million bid sure to have rocked the hierarchy at Old Trafford.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made a £70million bid to outmuscle Manchester United for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.

The offer from the north London club is said to be worth £65million plus an additional £5million in add-ons, which is £10million more than what United offered.

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As reported last week, Tottenham's new manager Thomas Frank is keen on bringing 25-year-old Mbeumo to north London. And according to The Mirror, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is eager to secure the Cameroon international as a significant signing for the successor of Ange Postecoglou.

However, it appears that Manchester United remains the preferred choice for Mbeumo, who netted 20 goals in the Premier League for Brentford last season.

Frank hopes to lure him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the promise of a reunion and the opportunity to play Champions League football. The Danish manager has worked with Mbeumo since he joined Brentford from Troyes in 2019.

United have already made two offers for Mbeumo, the latest being a £60million package consisting of £55million plus £5million in add-ons last week.

Brentford declined the offer, leaving the door open for Tottenham to potentially make a decisive bid.

At present, it seems unlikely that United will increase their offer for Mbeumo beyond the £60million they have already spent on their star signing, Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha.

Despite the potential for change, Brentford are standing firm on their £70million valuation of Mbeumo, who was outscored by only three players last season - Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland. And his seven assists were instrumental in propelling the West London club to a top-half finish.

The area where United could still hold sway is in terms of wages. The salary on offer at Old Trafford ranges from £150,000-£175,000 per week, with bonuses potentially boosting Mbeumo's package to £200,000 per week.

To match this, Spurs would need to break their wage structure, with Mbeumo expected to earn around £130,000-£140,000 per week. Even with bonuses, this would fall short of the sum he could earn at United.

Mbeumo's stellar performance last season for Brentford quelled fears that the club would flounder following the departure of star striker Ivan Toney to Saudi Arabia a year ago.

With just a year remaining on his contract, plus an option for an additional year, the Bees have accepted that Mbeumo feels his time at the Gtech Stadium has come to an end and he is prepared to move on.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly sued INEOS - the petrochemicals company helmed by Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe - over the early termination of their partnership. According to the Telegraph, Spurs have taken High Court legal action against INEOS after Ratcliffe's attempts to walk away from the club's agreement.

The two parties have collaborated since 2020 when the petrochemicals giant became Tottenham's "official hand sanitiser supplier" during the Covid-19 pandemic. In December 2022, they announced a lucrative five-year deal to promote the INEOS Grenadier car as the Lilywhites' "official 4x4 vehicle partner".

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However, they have been locked in negotiations since February as Ratcliffe and Co. seek to withdraw from the deal two years before its 2027 expiry.

It comes at the same time as INEOS' decision to step away from multiple sporting ventures, including rugby union's All Blacks and Sir Ben Ainslie's sailing team.

Yet, the report claims that a withdrawal agreement seemingly hasn't been struck, with Spurs lodging a claim on Thursday.

The claim against INEOS Automotive Limited - a subsidiary of Ratcliffe's company - has appeared in a commercial listing under "general commercial contracts and arrangements".

An INEOS spokesperson told the Telegraph that the company exercised a "contractual right" to part ways with Spurs in December.

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

"Like any business, we have to be diligent in how we operate and where we invest marketing budgets.

"It's completely normal for partnerships to be reviewed on a regular basis, and we've decided that the partnership wasn't working out for us. We have the right to terminate the partnership."

INEOS have faced heat from another direction after reports in February claimed New Zealand Rugby had also taken legal action.

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Ratcliffe's company was, again, sued for an alleged breach of contract after ending a six-year deal until 2027 early. However, that situation has since been settled.

The British billionaire lamented rising energy prices and carbon taxes after shutting down INEOS' synthetic ethanol plant in Scotland earlier this year at the cost of around 600 jobs.

INEOS has cited the "deindustrialisation" of Europe as the reason for their recent cost cuts, blasting the continent's "extreme" green carbon taxes.

Ratcliffe has also overseen ruthless budgeting measures since investing £1.3billion in United last year, during which approximately 450 employees have been made redundant.

Bryan Mbeumo has further fuelled transfer speculation on social media amid fresh reports claiming Tottenham Hotspur have hijacked his Manchester United move. The Brentford forward is said to have had his head turned after Spurs announced head coach Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou's successor on Thursday.

Mbeumo reportedly chose United as his preferred destination earlier this summer despite rival interest from Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham. However, that decision came before Frank swapped Brentford for North London, and it's claimed that the Dane wants his star man to join him. United are still in pole position but haven't yet submitted a second bid after seeing their initial approach worth £50million rejected.

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Brentford are reportedly holding out for £60m, and the Red Devils' willingness to meet that asking price could prove decisive.

Mbeumo hadn't reacted to Frank leaving the Bees after nine years until Friday afternoon, in the midst of the meltdown over Spurs' hijack.

The 25-year-old took to his Instagram story to share Brentford's post confirming Frank's exit, captioning it with two prayer emojis.

It hasn't helped simmer the swirling speculation about his interest in joining his former boss at Spurs next season, with supporters working hard to decipher any deeper meaning.

There will likely be significant developments on Mbeumo's future next week after the summer transfer window re-opens until September 1 on Monday.

Frank has made no secret of his desire to work with Mbeumo next season, albeit while both were under contract at Brentford.

And the 51-year-old suggested that the feeling was mutual after six successful years together at Griffin Park and the Gtech Community Stadium.

"I'm the head coach. I want my best players to stay forever," Frank told Sky Sports ahead of the summer transfer window.

"I know that Bryan is very happy being here at Brentford, he's thriving, doing well and playing fantastic. What happens in the future? I don't know.

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"I've said many times: we are a selling club. But at the same time, we have to reinforce that there are 10 clubs in the world that aren't selling clubs.

"So, of course, if the right price - and that's going to be expensive - is coming, then I'm sure the club will be open for it.

"But I'm very happy he's here, and I'm convinced that Bryan will still be happy playing football here."

Tottenham have reportedly identified Antoine Semenyo and Tyler Dibling as potential alternatives, should they miss out on Mbeumo.

Tottenham Hotspur have hijacked Manchester United's advanced pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo and opened talks with Brentford over a potential transfer, according to reports. Mbeumo reportedly chose a summer move to United over Arsenal, Newcastle United and Spurs before the latter sacked Ange Postecoglou as head coach.

However, on Thursday, Brentford boss Thomas Frank was announced as Postecoglou's successor, intensifying suggestions of a potential hijack. According to Sky Sports, Tottenham have now launched initial talks with the Bees over bringing Mbeumo to North London with Frank. And it's claimed that the 25-year-old forward has grown more intrigued by the prospect of a move after his head coach's switch.

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Mbeumo has struck up a strong relationship with Frank across his six years at Brentford after the Dane signed him from Troyes.

The Cameroon international has made 242 appearances for the Gtech Community Stadium outfit, scoring 70 goals and registering 51 assists.

Mbeumo is coming off the back of a career-best 2024/25 season, in which he plundered 20 goals and eight assists in the Premier League.

He seemed destined to follow Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford after United completed a £62.5million deal for the Brazilian on Thursday.

However, the Red Devils failed with their first bid worth £45m plus £5m in add-ons, with Brentford demanding at least £60m.

Club figures have reportedly been in continued negotiations with Brentford over a revised offer, but Frank's appointment at Spurs throws a major spanner in the works.

There is no European football on offer at Old Trafford after United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, a record-low position.

Tottenham were even worse in domestic competition, ending up in 17th, which ultimately cost Postecoglou his job.

But the Lilywhites secured Champions League qualification through the back door by beating United in the Europa League final, lifting their first major trophy in 17 years.

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Mbeumo didn't take the opportunity of playing in Europe's elite competition when offering his hand to United earlier this summer.

Yet, his trusted coach now being stationed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seriously adds to the allure of a drastic U-turn.

The summer transfer window re-opens on Monday after a mini business period at the start of June, organised so that Club World Cup entrants could complete deals before the summer tournament.

United will have to get a move on and quickly strike an agreement with Brentford if they are to fend off Frank and Spurs.

Thomas Frank has previously given a glowing review of the team he is set to take over at Tottenham. Frank has inked a three-year contract to become the new Spurs manager, stepping into the shoes of Ange Postecoglou, who despite leading the club to Europa League glory - their first trophy in 17 years - was shown the exit door.

Despite Spurs' dismal record of 22 Premier League losses and a lowly 17th place finish, Frank remains optimistic about the quality of the squad left behind by Postecoglou. One of the few Premier League triumphs for Spurs came against Frank's previous club, Brentford, in February. Following the 2-0 defeat, the Danish manager had nothing but praise for Postecoglou's team.

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In fact, Frank even drew comparisons between one of his new players and Real Madrid's recent signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold. He commented: "I know they haven't had their 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 any day.

"Their midfield? (Dejan) Kulusevski, (Rodrigo) Bentancur, (Yves) Bissouma. That's a very, very, very, very good Premier League midfield.

"And then I know they haven't had a centre-back but maybe (Archie) Gray and Ben Davies played their best defensive game of the season (against Brentford) . (Pedro) Porro is fantastic at right-back. He's got Trent-ish offensive qualities. And Spence has done very well."

The appointment of 51-year-old Frank by Daniel Levy was confirmed once it was agreed that he could bring along his Brentford backroom staff. This signifies a complete coaching overhaul at Spurs. The highly-regarded Justin Cochrane has been appointed as a first-team assistant coach, joining Chris Haslam, who also serves as head of performance.

Joe Newton has come on board as an analyst, while Andreas Georgson, a former colleague of Frank's before his move to Arsenal in 2020, is reuniting with his old boss as an assistant coach.

It is believed that Levy has assured Frank of substantial support in the summer transfer market. It is rumoured that the new manager is keen to disrupt Manchester United's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo.

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Other players linked with a move to Spurs include Crystal Palace stars Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi. However, Frank would face stiff competition if either or both players were open to leaving Selhurst Park.

Working alongside Tottenham technical director Johan Lange, Frank will need to make crucial decisions about player departures. Son Heung-min is reportedly contemplating a move away, while Cristian Romero is drawing considerable attention from Spanish clubs, particularly Atletico Madrid.

Frank may also need to reassure Bissouma about his future at the club, given his limited playing time under Postecoglou.

During their extensive discussions, Levy and Frank would have devised a detailed transfer strategy. However, it's clear that the new manager believes he already has a squad capable of finishing much higher than just above the relegation zone.

So, after weeks of speculation, Thomas Frank has been confirmed as the new manager of Tottenham. The Dane heads to north London after seven years in charge at Brentford, where he’s established a reputation for being one of the shrewdest tactical operators in English football.

Attention will now turn to who Frank targets in the summer transfer window. The 51-year-old is expected to be handed funds to strengthen his new side’s Champions League campaign, having previously been credited for working on a tight budget with the Bees. Despite speculation, an 11th hour hijack of Byran Mbeumo’s move to Manchester United appears unlikely, but Spurs have already been linked with a host of other targets.

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Express Sport looks at Tottenham’s potential XI, with Frank likely to deploy the 4-2-3-1 formation he favoured last season…

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario

The chances of Mark Flekken following Frank across London have already been dispelled, with the Dutchman having agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen in July. Following his lengthy injury lay-off last season, Vicario is almost certain to continue as the club’s No.1 under the new boss.

Defenders: Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie

Again, not an area where the Dane is likely to implement much change. With Cristian Romero now looking increasingly likely to stay despite links to Atletico Madrid, him starting at centre-back alongside Micky van de Ven appears nailed on if both players stay fit.

Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie both played in the Europa League final, which ended in glory. However, Djed Spence will pressure the pair this season.

Defensive midfielders: Rodrigo Bentancur, Morten Hjulmand

Frank will be charged with improving Tottenham’s susceptibility to attacks, and the signing of Morten Hjulmand would go a long way to addressing that. The 25-year-old excelled for Sporting CP last season and is not only adept at breaking up play but also boasts the ability to pick out passes and shoot from distance.

Being Danish, the attraction to playing under Frank would be obvious. Could form a formidable partnership alongside Uruguayan international Rodrigo Bentancur.

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Forwards: Eberechi Eze, Dejan Kulusevski, Antoine Semenyo

Any Spurs fans who doubt Frank’s appointment would be appeased if he could seal two huge attacking signings. Eberechi Eze and Antoine Semenyo have both been linked, with Spurs expected to step up their efforts when the window reopens on June 16.

Crystal Palace’s FA Cup hero Eze is also said to have been targeted by United and reportedly has a release clause of £68million. Unlike Frank though, Ruben Amorim can’t offer the carrot of Champions League or even European football.

According to talkSPORT, representatives of Bournemouth star Semenyo are said to have already met Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. According to transfermarkt, he’s valued at around £40m, but the Cherries are likely to hold out for more, given his contract runs until 2029.

Striker: Dominic Solanke

Solanke may be sitting nervously as speculation arises that Frank could bring Yoane Wissa with him to Spurs. However, the Bees are likely to guard against an immediate raid from their now former coach, and Solanke's work rate is a trait Frank will no doubt admire.

Potential Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Hjulmand; Eze, Kulusevski, Semenyo; Solanke.

Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of Thomas Frank from Brentford. The 51-year-old Dane replaces Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked despite winning the Europa League final last month, and has been handed a contract until the summer of 2028.

Frank spent seven years in charge of Brentford, guiding the Bees into the Premier League in 2021. He's since established the club as a top-flight side with finishes of 13th, ninth, 16th and 10th respectively. In a released statement, Spurs said Frank had a "proven track record" from his previous jobs.

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"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," the statement read. "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."

They also confirmed four other appointments, with three figures following Frank from Brentford. Justin Cochrane, initially deemed a contender to replace the ex-Brondby man at the Gtech Community Stadium, will again serve as his assistant.

Chris Haslam has also come on board as head of performance and first team assistant coach, and Joe Newton will be the new first team coach analyst. Andreas Georgson has come from Manchester United as another assistant coach.

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Frank's maiden season at Spurs will see him lead a side in the Champions League for the first time. Despite their 17th-place finish in the Premier League, the Europa League glory under Postecoglou secured a spot in UEFA's elite competition.

In March, Frank signed a new deal at Brentford to keep him at the club until 2027. Tottenham have reportedly paid their London rivals a fee of around £10million to buy him out of his contract.

Thomas Frank has already made it clear that he would like to work with Bryan Mbeumo again next season. However, the scenery has changed in the month that followed. Manchester United are currently the favourites to complete a deal for Mbeumo this summer after earning the 25-year-old forward's preference.

Yet, Frank's imminent arrival at Tottenham Hotspur, replacing sacked head coach Ange Postecoglou, has added an intriguing angle to the saga. According to The Athletic, Spurs are set to announce the Dane as their new boss after striking an agreement for highly-rated assistant Justin Cochrane to join him across London.

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Simultaneously, reports claim that Frank is preparing to hijack United's pursuit of Mbeumo and lure his star man to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Brentford rejected the Red Devils' opening bid worth £45million plus £5m in add-ons and are holding out for a package of £60m.

While both clubs will be actively working the settle on a deal, the short break between the first summer deadline on June 10 to the start of the transfer window proper on June 16 invites the risk of shenanigans.

Frank made no secret of his admiration for Mbeumo throughout their long relationship at Brentford, during which he scored 70 goals and 51 appearances in 242 appearances.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, Frank discussed Mbeumo's future and insisted that while the Bees may have to listen to offers, the pair wished to continue working together.

"I'm the head coach. I want my best players to stay forever," Frank told Sky Sports. "I know that Bryan is very happy being here at Brentford, he's thriving, doing well and playing fantastic. What happens in the future? I don't know.

"I've said many times: we are a selling club. But at the same time, we have to reinforce that there are 10 clubs in the world that aren't selling clubs.

"So, of course, if the right price - and that's going to be expensive - is coming, then I'm sure the club will be open for it.

"But I'm very happy he's here, and I'm convinced that Bryan will still be happy playing football here."

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Frank also admitted that the Cameroon international's desire to remain at Brentford could change if heavyweight interest arrived, though.

And it has in the form of United, despite the fallen giants' 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season and lack of European football in the upcoming campaign.

Spurs ended up in 17th, highlighting the magnitude of the task at hand for Frank in North London, but there is Champions League football on offer, courtesy of a Europa League triumph over United.

Mbeumo's heart seems set on a switch to Old Trafford, but his soon-to-be former boss will be waiting in the wings in case an opportunity presents itself.