TBR Football

TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Tottenham have joined the race to sign a Premier League star Thomas Frank knows really well.

Tottenham officially announced Frank as their new manager, following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.

While Spurs won the Europa League and ended their trophy drought, Spurs were awful in the Premier League, finishing a disappointing 17th, with 22 defeats.

Tottenham have been linked with several Brentford players. TBR Football previously confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo is one to watch for Spurs, and now they are plotting another potential reunion.

Tottenham want to sign Nathan Collins but face competition from Arsenal

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Spurs have joined the race to sign Brentford star Nathan Collins.

With Cristian Romero fully expected to leave Tottenham this summer, Collins has been identified as an ideal target by Spurs.

However, they face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, who are also keen on signing the Irish star.

Arsenal’s interest in Collins has been previously reported by TBR Football, with the report stating that Mikel Arteta is closely looking at the player having been left impressed by his performances.

There is interest from other clubs as well, with Newcastle also looking at Collins along with Marc Guehi.

The 24-year-old centre-back is currently tied to a long-term contract with Brentford until 2029, and the Bees are expected to demand a significant fee, having paid £23 million to sign him from Wolves in the summer of 2023.

What Thomas Frank has previously said about Nathan Collins

The Ireland international has been excellent for Brentford, and perhaps had his best season for them this past season.

Collins played every single minute of the Premier League season, joining Virgil van Dijk as one of only two outfield players to do so.

Frank has shown strong belief in Collins, praising his reliability and steady performances throughout the season.

The Danish coach also highlighted Collins’ leadership qualities, noting that it’s no surprise he was trusted to captain Ireland previously, given his maturity and presence on and off the pitch.

At just 23 at the time, Frank acknowledged that Collins was still in the early stages of his development but already handling the pressures of top-flight football impressively. Frank said (quotes via VAVEL): “This season he’s been going from a good performance to another good performance. I’m very pleased with him.

“As a character and a person, I understand why he was the captain of Ireland [versus Greece] – he’s got everything to be a good leader.

“He’s still young. 23? that’s nothing. I was baby when I was 23. Sometimes these footballers, we expect everything from them and that’s just because everyone’s filming and taking pictures.

“They’re young men at best, some of them young boys, and they are developing in a highly pressurised world. I think Nathan is on a really good track.”

Tottenham Hotspur only announced the arrival of Thomas Frank on Thursday evening, but have already handed the Dane a signing.

Spurs have now sealed a £30m deal for Mathys Tel after taking the Frenchman on loan from Bayern Munich for the second half of last season.

The 20-year-old only scored two goals in 13 Premier League appearances within that time period, but Tottenham have seen enough promise in the France U21 international to sign him on a permanent basis.

As Mathys Tel joins Tottenham on a six-year contract, Thomas Frank owes Ange Postecoglou a debt of gratitude.

Ange Postecoglou predicted Mathys Tel would sign permanently after “long” phone call

Speaking back in February, the Australian assured Tottenham fans that the Sarcelles-born prodigy was not just joining Spurs on a temporary basis.

Postecoglou said: “He’ll be a Tottenham player, mate. He’ll be a Tottenham player.

“I think he’ll show everyone he’s going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months. I didn’t bring him here for six months. I felt that if I kept him on the phone long enough, I would wear him down. He was falling asleep by the end.

“I got a sense pretty early on that there was a connection there and he was hearing what he wanted to hear. I think it is a credit to him that, rather than just jump at what came at him, he was very thorough in the way he made his decision.”

Postecoglou clearly put a lot of effort in to bring Tel to north London, and with Frank having a say on recruitment at Spurs, the Dane surely approved this signing, and owes his predecessor for his groundwork in luring a precocious talent to N17 in the first place.

Where Thomas Frank should deploy Mathys Tel

Tottenham fans expressed some concern over Tel after a recent UEFA European U21 Championship clash between France and Portugal, where he and Wilson Odobert both struggled to shine.

Supporters raised the point that Tel must decide whether he wants to play out wide or centrally, as he seems to be caught in two minds at the moment, although the evidence suggests he is strongest on the left flank.

Throughout his career, the Frenchman has played 44 games on the left and 40 as a central striker, supplying 16 goal involvements out wide compared to just six in the middle.

Therefore, seeing as Frank already has Dominic Solanke and Richarlison to play centrally, the Dane should focus his efforts on moulding Tel into a left forward.

TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Tottenham are on the verge of completing their first signing under new manager Thomas Frank.

Frank was officially announced by Spurs earlier this week. He joins the club along with Justin Cochrane, who returns to Tottenham as assistant manager.

The club are now set to begin their transfer activities ahead of the new season, with Levy expected to back Frank in the transfer window.

And while Bryan Mbeumo is one to watch for Spurs, it looks like Frank is already closing in on making his first signing as Tottenham manager.

Tottenham on the verge of signing Mathys Tel on a permanent deal

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Spurs have a deal in place with Mathys Tel to finalise his return to North London.

It was reported by TBR Football in May that Tel is ready to join Tottenham on a permanent deal.

It can now be confirmed that Spurs are progressing with the deal with Bayern Munich. A broad agreement has been reached for the club to pay a further £30m, having already paid £8.5m in terms of a loan fee in January.

TBR Football can also reveal that the 20-year-old has agreed personal terms with Tottenham and that Thomas Frank personally told the club that Tel’s move should be made permanently during talks a number of weeks ago when he discussed Spurs’ squad plans with the club’s hierarchy.

Mathys Tel rejected other clubs to join Tottenham

TBR Football can also confirm that Tel had interest from other clubs as well ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, the player only wanted to join Tottenham, and informed both Bayern and Spurs of his decision last month.

Speaking about Tel, Bailey revealed: “Tel made it clear last month to Bayern and Spurs that he wanted to make the move.

“There was interest from other clubs but it was clear that Tel only wanted Spurs and they were very impressed with this attitude.

“Thomas Frank was asked about Tel during his talks with the club and was more than happy for them to progress.”

Tottenham were impressed by Mathys Tel during his loan spell

Tel, described as ‘quality‘ by Micah Richards, joined Spurs on loan in the January transfer window after the club were forced into entering the market for a striker due to injuries.

Tel’s impact on the pitch was limited, with just two goals and one assist in the Premier League in 13 games.

He also scored in his debut appearance in the FA Cup for the club, finishing the season with three goals and an assist in 14 starts for Spurs across all competitions.

The Tottenham Hotspur revolution under Thomas Frank is underway.

The Dane has been brought in to replace Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked just 16 days after winning the Europa League and ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.

Thomas Frank is now tasked with taking Spurs to the next level, and to do so, he will need help from the transfer market.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Bryan Mbeumo to Tottenham is one to watch, and that is definitely the case now.

Along with the Cameroonian, Frank could try and sign another Brentford attacker.

Tottenham have held internal discussions about signing Yoane Wissa

Yoane Wissa has been one of Brentford’s best players in recent years.

The 28-year-old directly contributed to 25 goals in all competitions for the Bees last season, and he had formed a tremendous partnership with Bryan Mbeumo.

A lot of Frank’s success in attack was down to his African duo, and The Guardian claim now that he could be interested in a reunion at Tottenham.

The report claims that Spurs have held ‘internal discussions’ about signing Wissa, who was of interest to Nottingham Forest at the turn of the year.

Brentford, however, are not expected to entertain a sale for anything less than £40 million this summer.

That is cheaper than what Mbeumo will cost, but whether Tottenham would be willing to pay around £100 million for two players from the same club remains to be seen.

Wissa’s current deal at Brentford expires in the summer of 2026, but the Bees have an option to extend that by another year.

What Thomas Frank has already said about Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa as a ‘duo’

New Tottenham boss Frank knows Wissa and Mbeumo better than anyone else.

The Dane brought the best out of the two players at Brentford, not just individually, but as a pair as well at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Speaking about Wissa and Mbeumo as a duo, Frank said in April, as per Optus Sports: “As a pair, is there anyone who has (scored more)?

“I know (Mohamed) Salah has been ridiculous, you’ll find a Liverpool player that has more between the two of them, but as a consistent pair? That’s an incredible achievement from the two of them.

“When you consistently, over the last six seasons, have produced top scorers, that must be something we’re doing right. I’m very happy that (Mbeumo) is shining and is the main man now for us. But I think it’s a duo, him and Wissa.”

Morgan Rogers has been ranking and rating some of the best players in world football.

Indeed, the Aston Villa star has been taking part in a TikTok challenge with Puma where he’s had to rank and rate some of his peers, and he’s made some interesting claims along the way.

Rogers has enjoyed a fantastic season for Aston Villa, and now, he’s shared some insight into who he believes are the Premier League’s top players.

The England star has shared his verdict on some big-name players, but perhaps the most interesting claim the attacker made was surrounding two of Tottenham and Arsenal’s star players.

Interestingly, that comes after Rogers was linked with a move to Arsenal.

Morgan Rogers ranks James Maddison ahead of Kai Havertz

Rogers was asked to pick between 10 big-name stars from the Premier League and world football.

Neymar ultimately ascended to the top of Rogers’ list, but below Neymar, the Villa star ultimately ranked James Maddison above Kai Havertz.

Rogers ended up picking a very interesting top 10.

The debate between Maddison and Havertz is very interesting to say the least, both players have been compared since the day they arrived at their respective clubs.

Darren Bent said he’d take Maddison over Havertz not long after he signed, but after changing positions, Havertz has looked better and better.

James Maddison compared to Kai Havertz

It is very interesting to compare Havertz and Maddison. After all, both players were marquee signings for Spurs and Arsenal respectively in the summer of 2023.

Both men were signed as attacking midfield players, but, since then, Havertz has evolved to be more of a striker.

The two players’ stats for their respective clubs makes for interesting reading.

Based on goal contributions per game, Maddison is ahead of Havertz, and that’s in spite of the fact he’s playing in a deeper role.

Ultimately, it is hard to pick between these two players, but Rogers seemingly prefers the £40m Tottenham star to Havertz.

Tottenham have a lot of work to do if they want to catch Arsenal in the coming years, and Maddison may well have a key part to play in that.

Tottenham are entering a brand new era after hiring Thomas Frank to be their new manager.

Indeed, Spurs are heading in a new direction under their new manager, and that likely means there will be a squad refresh.

New signings will be a priority this summer, Antoine Semenyo has been linked to Spurs, while Thomas Frank wants Bryan Mbeumo.

New attacking additions will likely lead to outgoings in the attack, and according to Alasdair Gold, speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham Podcast, Heung-Min Son could be a player who leaves Spurs.

Heung-Min Son closer to leaving Tottenham than ever

Heung-Min Son was a world-class player at his best, but, sadly, this season, Son has been off his game.

David Pleat called for Son to be sold recently, and according to Alasdair Gold that is a more distinct possibility than ever this summer.

Indeed, according to the journalist, Son is more open to leaving Tottenham than he ever has been.

“He set out to achieve something and he achieved it, and he’s been there for 10 years. I think it’s quite important to look at some of the quotes that came out ahead of the final, where he made it very clear to the Korean media. Then I think after that to some English media that he admitted, I pretty much stayed at this club because I wanted to win a trophy,” Gold said.

“So you can kind of analyse that as if to say that had he won a trophy, maybe he would have looked at opportunities that came in. And now he has won that trophy. And that’s what I understand, is that this summer is definitely the most open he’s been to getting a move if it’s one that suits all parties.

“Obviously, the Saudi Pro League, the clubs there, I think, would be very, very interested in taking him, some of them, because that’s a big thing for them to harness the Asian market. We know how huge he is within. And of course, he is also a terrific player. He is a superstar player.”

Who could replace Heung-Min Son as Tottenham captain?

If Son leaves Spurs, not only will Tottenham be losing a club legend, but they will also be losing their captain.

Spurs will need a new skipper if Son leaves this summer, and there are some interesting candidates to take up that role.

Tottenham do have captain contenders, Ange Postecoglou named Cristian Romero, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario as three other leaders in the Spurs squad.

Romero and Maddison are currently vice captains, so it would make sense if they stepped up.

Meanwhile, Kevin Danso has earned praise for his leadership skills since joining Spurs, so perhaps he could be a candidate too.

Thomas Frank may have a big decision to make almost as soon as he takes charge at Tottenham.

Tottenham officially appointed Thomas Frank as their new manager following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs paid Brentford £10m to secure Frank’s services, making him the third most expensive manager in Premier League history.

The agreement was done days ago, however, Tottenham delayed Frank’s announcement as they worked on securing Justin Cochrane’s services as well.

Cochrane has now returned to Tottenham as their new assistant manager and Jermain Defoe thinks his former club have struck gold with his appointment.

Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe full of praise for Justin Cochrane

Defoe spoke highly of Cochrane, sharing how impressed he was after visiting one of his training sessions.

He noted that Cochrane, who previously worked at Spurs before moving to Manchester United, stood out as an excellent coach and teacher.

When Defoe attended the training day, he initially expected to just watch from the sidelines, but Cochrane invited him to join a coaching meeting a few days before a game.

Defoe was impressed by how clear and focused Cochrane’s instructions were throughout the meeting. When asked if Frank and Cochrane are the right appointments for Tottenham, Defoe told talkSPORT: “100%. And that’s the one I wanted to be honest. Was it? Yeah, that’s the one. I thought if we can get Thomas Frank be amazing because I went in last season.

“Obviously, I know Justin Cochran who looks like he’s he’s going to he’s going to come with Thomas Frank.

“He started at Tottenham just before he went to United. Unbelievable coach by the way. I remember I got invited in. So, I went in for the day and when I went in, I just thought I’ll just sort of like be on the side of the pitch. I watch training.

“He said to me, ‘No, come in the meeting’. So I come to the meeting and listen to all these coaching points. They were really clear messages.

“And then after I sort of like watched the training sessions, I listen to his coaching points and where we stood when he coached and the way he sort of like drives the sessions, the way he connects with people which is also important.

“After training I sat down with him, it’s just that you know that people skills and just tried to pick his brain a little bit but really nice guy. He’s a top coach, top man.”

Justin Cochrane will be beneficial for Tottenham youngsters

With Spurs welcoming a wave of young talent, Cochrane’s expertise in youth development fits perfectly with the club’s vision.

He began his coaching career at Spurs as a youth coach before leading various England youth teams. In June 2021, Cochrane joined Manchester United’s academy as head of player development and coaching, then became Brentford’s head of coaching a year later.

He has overseen the development of several known players during his time at Spurs and England youth level including Noni Madueke, Kyle Walker-Peters, Japhet Tanganga and Oliver Skipp.

Tottenham have officially announced Thomas Frank as their new manager and are now expected to become active in the summer transfer window.

Several players have already been linked with a move. Tottenham believe they can now sign Bryan Mbeumo, with the 25-year-old one of the reported targets.

Tottenham are also interested in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, who could replace Cristian Romero, after TBR Football reported that Romero is expected to leave Spurs this summer.

Another player Tottenham are reportedly monitoring is Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert.

Tottenham eyeing move for Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert

According to the latest report from CaughtOffside, Kluivert is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs including Tottenham.

The report claims that Spurs have entered conversations to sign him, and are weighing up a potential move which would depend on other outgoings.

He will not come cheap though, with the report stating that the Cherries have slapped a hefty price tag on him worth between £42-47m (€50–55m).

Tottenham face stiff competition, with Liverpool also said to be monitoring the ‘amazing‘ player alongside Manchester United and Newcastle.

The report further adds that while Bournemouth are under no financial pressure to sell him, they are aware of the significant profit they could make from his sale.

Justin Kluivert is good friends with Micky van de Ven

Spurs could have a potential advantage if they pursue a move, with Kluivert being very good friends with Micky van de Ven.

The attacker made the admission during an interview where he was asked to name the top 10 fastest players in the Premier League.

Kluivert picked his Dutch compatriot as number one and made the revelation about him being close friends with him, saying: “He’s a good friend of mine, and I’ll put him for sure at number one.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager and coaching team are in place, with the club’s hierarchy wasting little time in replacing Ange Postecoglou and his staff.

Tottenham have brought Thomas Frank to N17 following his impressive work at Premier League rivals Brentford over the years.

Frank is likely to be a much more flexible manager for Tottenham, in contrast to Postecoglou’s often uncompromising desire to play a high line.

In addition, Frank has brought a number of coaches over from Brentford, including Justin Cochrane, who was previously on the books at Tottenham.

Cochrane has now sent a message to the Spurs fanbase, and supporters are buzzing over what he said.

Tottenham fans welcome Justin Cochrane back to N17

Cochrane took to X on Friday night to express his delight at being back at Tottenham after starting his coaching career at White Hart Lane.

“Well what can I say, back to where I started in 2009,” Cochrane wrote. “I’m delighted to be joining Spurs.

“I can’t wait to get started. The club gave me my 1st job and now after 16 years of working very hard, getting qualified and making an impact wherever I’ve been.

“I’m back. LET’S GO!”

Fans loved Cochrane’s message, with one replying: “Congratulations, Justin. Speaking to staff yesterday so many excited to see you back.”

Another said: “Welcome back Justin, delighted to have you back with us. Get ready for pre-season in Korea.

“Some hard grafting to do – give Mbeumo a text too!”

The praise kept coming, with one supporter writing: “Welcome back… thank you for choosing us. Looking forward to building something special.”

Another said: “Hopefully you can develop this crop of young talented and exciting players like you’ve done many times before COYS.”

Another wrote: “Welcome back, Justin. Some young talents are about to be coached into world beaters.”

Why Justin Cochrane could be great for Tottenham’s young stars

Cochrane previously worked at Tottenham’s academy and has also worked in the England setup, from the Under-15s all the way up to the senior setup with Thomas Tuchel.

While at Spurs, Cochrane helped oversee the development of the likes of Noni Madueke, Kyle Walker-Peters, Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp and Josh Onomah.

In the England setup, Cochrane helped nurture the likes of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, among many others.

Meanwhile, his time at Manchester United saw the club win FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2011, and the side in the final included Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Cristian Romero has become a hot topic of discussion among Tottenham Hotspur fans following the appointment of Thomas Frank as their new head coach.

Daniel Levy sacked Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after he won them the Europa League title in Bilbao, and several people felt that it was a harsh move.

Micky van de Ven even called Levy’s decision to sack Postecoglou as ‘strange’, which tells you all you need to know about how the players feel.

Tottenham confirmed on Thursday that Frank is their new head coach. After the announcement, Romero took to social media to send a message to Ange Postecoglou.

A part of his post read: “From day one, you paved the way despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist.”

Many Spurs fans feel that was a big dig aimed at Levy and the Tottenham board.

Tottenham fans react to Cristian Romero’s post about Ange Postecoglou

Cristian Romero’s Instagram post has raised a lot of debate on social media.

The timing of it — he posted it after Thomas Frank was officially announced as the new boss — has led many to believe that Romero’s words are directed at the decision-makers of the club.

One Tottenham fan said: “Love the bloke. He loves the club and fans, but absolutely sees straight through the top of this club. What a man!”

Another wrote: “‘Despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist,’ he should’ve just tagged the board!”

“Our only truly world-class talent sounds like he’s off as we can’t match his ambition. How do Daniel Levy and Enic explain these comments which are so clearly pointed at them – the obstacle to success,” tweeted another.

Another wrote: “Red card challenge on the board. Two-footed and high!”

“‘Obstacles that were there and always will be’ (Levy),” said another.

Cristian Romero’s Tottenham future remains uncertain

Tottenham fans have long felt that Romero would leave if Postecoglou was sacked, and that could soon become the reality.

The Argentine clearly had a lot of love and respect for the old Tottenham boss, and it does seem that he is upset about his departure.

TBR Football exclusively revealed this week that Romero is still expected to leave Tottenham, but Levy is having one final crack at keeping him.

The Spurs chairman will try to extend his deal again, but the defender has already spoken to Diego Simeone, and all signs point towards a move to Atletico Madrid this summer.