Premier League

TOTTENHAM are seeking a replacement for sacked boss Ange Postecoglou.Chairman Daniel Levy has axed Postecoglou despite the Aussie ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought.Ange Postecoglou has been axed as Tottenham managerCredit: AlamyPostecoglou, 59, lifted the Europa League trophy in BilbaoCredit: GettyThe 59-year-old vowed that his work was not done after his side beat Manchester United to lift the Europa League in Bilbao last month.But following lengthy deliberations, Levy has still decided to get rid of Postecoglou.With Tottenham having finished 17th in the Premier League table, the Spurs supremo will be desperate for a boss that can lift his side back towards the top four.And with the Lilywhites having qualified for the Champions League via the Europa route, Postecoglou’s successor will have a tricky job on their hands juggling what will need to be an improved league campaign with European duties.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSunSport assesses the pros and cons of the runners and riders in the race to replace axed Ange.THOMAS FRANKPros: The Brentford boss has shown his versatility across seven incredible seasons in West London.The straight-talking Dane would be a common-sense appointment. An effective communicator with both players and the media, Frank should be well placed to navigate what could be an awkward start with a squad of players that were largely behind Postecoglou.Frank, 51, has used several different formations at Brentford and should be confident in improving Spurs’ leaky defence, while he has a track record of getting his strikers scoring, with Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins having all been prolific under his management.Most read in FootballSunSport understand Frank is the strong favourite at Spurs.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThomas Frank has done an exceptional job at BrentfordCredit: GettyCons: Following the highs of Bilbao, Spurs fans and maybe even players may be quite underwhelmed by sacking the man that masterminded that success in order to hire a mid-table boss.For all of his positive traits, Frank has never won a major trophy, albeit having never managed a club realistically expected to challenge for them.Ange Postecoglou drops huge hint over Tottenham future with incredible mic-drop moment at Europa League paradeFrank can at times deploy quite direct football, a style that has not gone down particularly well under the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho at Spurs in the past.MARCO SILVAPros: The Portuguese gaffer has done a remarkable job at Fulham, guiding them from being a Championship yo-yo club to a stable mid-table Premier League side.That sort of stability could be an attractive proposition to the Spurs board, who have overseen a chaotic six years since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked.Fulham performed well in London derbies last season, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and taking a point off Arsenal – something Spurs always struggled to do under Postecoglou.Cons: Silva’s previous big move, from Watford to Everton, did not go well – with the 47-year-old being sacked barely a year-and-a-half into the job.He is not known to be particularly charismatic, which could lead him to struggle in getting Spurs fans onside early on.Silva also hasn’t won any trophies since lifting the Greek title in 2016, while he has never finished higher than eighth in the Premier League.Marco Silva has led Fulham to mid-table stabilityCredit: Shutterstock EditorialMICHAEL CARRICKPros: Having played for Spurs between 2004 and 2006, Carrick possesses an understanding of how the club runs and what their supporters appreciate.Carrick, 43, has therefore also worked with Levy, which could help him when dealing with the Spurs chairman.Following several years at Manchester United, the former midfielder has an impressive contacts book within the game.Cons: Quite simply, Spurs fans will baulk at the idea of hiring a boss that has just been sacked by a Championship side.Carrick’s first full-time gig as a manager has to be seen as a failure, having not been promoted with Middlesbrough in three attempts.All three of his seasons at Boro faltered in the run-in – something Spurs fans and board members cannot accept.Michael Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough after missing out on the play-offsCredit: PAOLIVER GLASNERPros: Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner knows what it takes to win trophies.The Austrian, 50, lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, before going on to win Palace’s first ever major silverware in the FA Cup last season.With the Eagles’ participation in Europe next term shrouded in doubt, Spurs could pounce for their boss amid the uncertainty – perhaps alongside long-term targets Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi too.Cons: Palace chairman Steve Parish will not let go of his manager without a fight – having scrapped to keep Glasner following Bayern Munich’s advances 12 months ago.Tottenham have targeted Palace stars Eze and Guehi, but may be unlikely to get them immediately should the Eagles be stung from losing their manager to the North Londoners. It could force a waiting game for the England duo.Glasner’s three-at-the-back formation is not too dissimilar to Antonio Conte’s, which broke down following his first year at Tottenham – while key Spurs defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both suffered repeatedly with injuries in the last two seasons.Oliver Glasner won the FA Cup with Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyXAVIPros: Former Barcelona boss Xavi would add a bit of star-power to the White Hart Lane dugout.Spurs supporters have always appreciated a dash of flair, so having one of the world’s greatest-ever midfielders as manager would likely appeal to many.Xavi, 45, showed that he can work under difficult circumstances by winning the LaLiga title in 2022-23, while he also demonstrated that he was versatile enough to deviate from Barca’s traditional 4-3-3 system when required.Cons: Xavi has no experience of English football, having never played or managed in the Premier League.His job at Barca, while impressive, was not particularly similar to what the task would be at Spurs – more a of a rebuilding effort than title charge, at least initially.A disappointing run mid-way through the 2023-24 season saw Xavi dramatically claim that he would quit Barca at the end of the campaign – only for him to later perform a U-turn… before being sacked anyway.Xavi coached Barcelona between 2021 and 2024Credit: ReutersSCOTT PARKERPros: Like Carrick, Parker has a deep understanding of Spurs having played for the club.The Burnley boss also began his coaching career at Tottenham, having managed their Under-18s during the 2017-18 season.Parker, 44, has previously been assisted by coach Matt Wells, who has spent the last two seasons on Postecoglou’s coaching staff.Cons: Tottenham fans would be extremely underwhelmed by the appointment of Parker.The former midfielder has had previous cracks at the Premier League with Fulham and Bournemouth – being sacked by both clubs.Parker’s football has been quite dour on the eye at times, something Spurs fans would struggle to accept unless results were extremely good.Scott Parker guided Burnley to promotion last seasonCredit: PAANDONI IRAOLAPros: Iraola’s high-octane pressing football could excite the Spurs faithful next season.The Spaniard’s rise across stints in LaLiga and the South Coast is reminiscent of Mauricio Pochettino’s career prior to joining Tottenham.Iraola has shown an ability to improve his players, with the likes of Dominic Solanke having levelled up under his tutelage.Cons: Iraola’s football takes time to implement and patience may be in short supply following Postecoglou’s dismissal.Read More on The SunThe Cherries did not win any of Iraola’s first nine Premier League games in charge at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.Postecoglou was criticised for the amount of injuries suffered by his players, potentially down to his style of football – with similar accusations having been levelled at Iraola.Andoni Iraola has impressed in two seasons at BournemouthCredit: Shutterstock Editorial More

THE GLAZERS have cost Manchester United £1.2billion in their nightmare 20-year reign.When the controversial Americans purchased the club in June 2005, they paid a whopping £790million.The Glazers have cost United £1.2bnCredit: AFPFans have protested against their ownersCredit: Shutterstock EditorialSir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented brutal cost-cutting measuresCredit: GettyBut the deal was funded by borrowed cash and it dumped £604m in debt onto United, who had just £50m borrowed previously.As the Glazers reach the two decade mark in charge, over £1bn has been lost in debt interest, debt repayments, dividends and fees to the family.BBC claim £815m has gone towards debt interest repayments, £166m in dividends to shareholders and £10m in fees to Glazer family companies. And while things continue to get worse on the pitch, finally, things are at least looking up financially.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBrutal cost-cutting introduced by £1.3bn part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is beginning to pay dividends – even if 450 staff jobs were wiped out along with free lunches amidst a host of other spending slashes.In the club’s accounts for the third quarter of this year, payments to employees by comparison to 12 months ago were down a huge £20m to £71.2m – a drop of almost 22 per cent.Going out of the 2023-24 Champions League and into the Europa League actually HELPED the figures in not paying extra player bonus costs as well as non-playing staff departures.Total operating expenses for the quarter were £162.1m, a decrease of £41.6m, or 20.4 per cent, over the prior year quarter.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKAnd operating profit was at £700,000, compared to an operating loss of £66.2m this time last year.Ratcliffe and his recently downgraded Ineos head honcho Sir Dave Brailsford can point to their financial re-structuring having a near-instant impact.But chief executive Omar Berrada pointed the finger at the side that finished a shocking 15th in the table – and will have no European football at all in the forthcoming campaign after losing to Tottenham in the last chance saloon Europa League final.He declared: “We were proud to reach the final of the Europa League but ultimately we were disappointed to finish as runner-up in Bilbao.“We had a difficult season in the Premier League which we all know fell below our standards and we have a clear expectation of improvement next season.”Berrada and the rest of the Old Trafford hierarchy are working hard to back boss Ruben Amorim in this summer’s transfer market having already forked out £62.5m – in what will be three instalments – for Matheus Cunha from Wolves.Despite Ratcliffe warning earlier this year that those sweeping cuts were necessary to stop the club going bust by last Christmas – and concerns over staying within profit and sustainability rules – a £55m bid for Bryan Mbuemo was registered this week.Brentford want at least £60m for the wide attacker and will almost certainly get their money although United, finances improving or not, will also have to sell.Alejandro Garnacho has been told he’s going and is valued at £60m while Amorim wants to dump Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford along with Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia.Reasons to be cheerfulYet as United juggle their funds to aid the rebuild, the club point to improvements off the pitch.Plans for a new £200bn stadium are progressing, Berrada stressing: “We remain focused on infrastructure, with the redevelopment of our Carrington Training Complex continuing and on track.“It will be the heart of our club, providing world class facilities for all our teams and our staff.“We have also announced our aspiration to pursue a new 100,000-seater stadium, sitting at the heart of the regeneration of the Old Trafford area, which would be a catalyst for growth and investment in our local community.“We are continuing to work with all the relevant stakeholders, including central Government, to support their vision for growth.”Even the dropping value of the US dollar is working in United’s favour.Read More on The SunThe club’s American borrowings still stand at $650m – the same as last year at the same time but due to the USD/GBP exchange rate in GBP United now owe £500.9m compared to £511.3m.United are happy with what they say are “strong revenues which increased by 17.4 per cent driven by additional matchday and broadcast money by thanks to going all the way to Bilbao as opposed to dropping out of last season’s Champions League at the group stage.”United want to build a new 100,00-seater stadiumCredit: APIt could cost £2bn to buildCredit: PA More

ARSENAL fans have been left stunned by Kai Havertz’s incredible body transformation.The German star returned for the final two games of the season after spending three months out with a hamstring injury.Kai Havertz appears to have undergone an incredible body transformationCredit: InstagramThe German shared snaps of himself working hard at the gymCredit: InstagramFans reckon he is bulking up ahead of next seasonCredit: InstagramAnd Havertz appears to have kept busy while sidelined by hitting the gym.He shared three snaps of himself hard at work on Instagram alongside the caption: “Loading.”The photos show Havertz lifting weights and doing pull-ups.Fans have compared his new bulging muscles physique with his old look and are convinced he is looking stronger than he ever ahead of next season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne wrote: “The way Havertz has bulked up is crazy.”Another added: “He’s actually a unit right now.”A third wrote: “Mikel Arteta making his players injury-proof.”Yet others are worried Havertz is bulking up to become Arsenal’s target man No9 when a new striker is high on the club’s summer shopping list.Most read in FootballHavertz – pictured here last summer – is likely to see his place in the side put under threat by the potential arrival of a new strikerCredit: GettyJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThey have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.Reports suggest that Sesko, 21, reportedly has a £62million release clause but Arsenal have reservations over a deal.New chief Andrea Berta is a fan of Gyokeres, 26, and he could be available for around £60m.But competition for the Swede is fierce in the form of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates More