It truly was the best and the worst of times for Tottenham Hotspur last season, and though Ange Postecoglou drove his side to glory in the Europa League, his wretched Premier League form led Daniel Levy to give him the boot.
Though there has been an outpouring of rueful emotion following the news, and though Ange will likely feel aggrieved after ending 17 years of searching for silverware in north London, finishing 17th in the league was unacceptable.
It is, of course, crucial that Spurs use this critical juncture as a launching pad for future fortunes, taking Postecoglou’s foundations and building sustainable success.
Mooted managerial targets such as Fulham’s Marco Silva and former boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has since led Chelsea, don’t quite speak of a step in the right direction.
But Brentford’s Thomas Frank certainly does.
Talks are advancing for Brentford’s boss, with the Lilywhites growing in confidence that a deal will be reached now the 51-year-old has informed his club of his wish to depart.
Change, then, is afoot. With Levy moving swiftly to get a deal done, Tottenham are expected to make changes to the first team.
Let’s have a look at exactly how Frank might put his stamp on his new team.
1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario
Guglielmo Vicario has suffered through his second season in a Tottenham shirt, but he kept a clean sheet in Bilbao and made a crucial save in the dying embers of the match.
With so much going on elsewhere, it looks like the Italian will continue to ward off competition from Antonín Kinský.
2 RB – Pedro Porro
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid ended Pedro Porro’s chance of moving to the Spanish capital, and though it’s been an up-and-down campaign for the right-back, he’s still an impactful and dynamic talent.
For sure, Djed Spence will be knocking on his door, but Frank’s more stable defensive game could actually see Porro go from strength to strength.
3 CB – Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi is a wanted man. Tottenham are on the case, but so too are Liverpool and Newcastle United believed to be suitors for the centre-back.
Cristian Romero is being linked with a transfer to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine is world-class, but routinely injured, and Guehi could wipe the slate clean.
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
18 (18)
Goals
3
1
Assists
2
0
Clean sheets
11
2
Touches*
64.9
78.8
Pass completion
84%
90%
Key passes*
0.5
0.4
Ball recoveries*
4.3
5.0
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
3.1
Clearances*
4.6
2.9
Duels (won)*
4.9 (59%)
4.9 (61%)
Errors made
2
2
Worth as much as £70m, Guehi would cost a pretty penny, but his technical and defensive qualities and rare absences highlight his aptness as Romero’s heir. The best ability is availability, after all.
4 CB – Micky van de Ven
Romero may get sold, particularly with Ange now gone, but Micky van de Ven will be going nowhere. Athletic, imposing and a progressive passer, his form and fitness could see him become a defining linchpin of the prospective Frank era.
5 LB – Destiny Udogie
Only starting four Premier League matches in 2025 due to injury, Destiny Udogie hasn’t elicited the awe of football fans this year, but still remains one of the most powerful and high-potential defenders across Europe.
Recent interest from Manchester City, before Pep Guardiola’s side moved for Rayan Ait-Nouri, indicates the strength of his skill set and how he could still become a first-class full-back.
Improvements, though, need to be seen. Perhaps he could take influence from how Frank crafted Rico Henry into a better player in west London.
6 CM – Lucas Bergvall
It’s crazy to think Lucas Bergvall is still only 19, thrown right into the deep end last season, playing 45 matches across all competitions.
The Swedish talent will only continue to improve, and if he takes the right steps, could become a fixed feature in Tottenham’s senior squad.
7 CM – Morten Hjulmand
TEAMtalk believe Tottenham are ready to make their move for Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand, who is also wanted by Man United. The Dane could cost around £50m.
Neither Rodrigo Bentancur nor Yves Bissouma have really cut the mustard, and both strugglers are on the verge of entering their final year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hjulmand is tenacious and a tough tackler, more of a natural six than the aforementioned, and he might just prove a huge difference-maker.
8 RW – Leroy Sane
Leroy Sane may end up leaving Bayern Munich this summer, and should the German winger do so, Tottenham could reportedly be there to tempt him back to the Premier League.
Though the 29-year-old has lost some of his raw pace (37th in the Bundesliga for highest-clocked speed last term), he still scored 11 goals from just 17 league starts.
This could be Frank’s new Mbeumo…
9 AM – Dejan Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski had surgery on a patella injury last month and will be sidelined for several months, but he’s still one of the most important players down N17.
He might not be as naturally prolific as James Maddison, but Deki’s industriousness and ball retention have seen him step toward the upper echelon of top midfielders, and he may well keep the Three Lions star on the bench.
10 LW – Eberechi Eze
Aside from keeping Postecoglou in the dugout, this could be the summer-defining move. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has been heavily linked with Tottenham of late, and with a £68m release clause, could mark the marquee move of the off-season.
FA Cup “superstar” – as he’s been described by football analyst Ben Mattinson – Eze would be an incredible addition, replacing Heung-min Son at left wing. Son scored himself a fairytale ending by winning the Europa League, but recent reports suggest a fee could be generated for the 32-year-old, who is the latest high-profile Saudi Pro League target.
Eze’s pace and silky athleticism would prove the perfect way to replace the legendary skipper, that and his potency, posting 14 goals and 11 assists across the campaign.