Tottenham Hotspur is a club that has struggled to live up to expectations once again this season, this time under manager Thomas Frank, who took over in the summer.
The Danish player took over after the sacking of manager Ange Postecoglou, and although the Australian finished 17th in the Premier League, he managed to win the Europa League title.
However, while high hopes were placed on the 52-year-old to succeed in North London, it is no exaggeration to say that he will struggle to meet the demands of his fan base in 2025-2026.
The Lilywhites currently sit 14th in England’s top flight and are eight points clear of Champions League qualification after the first 21 games of the season.
He may still have time to protect his career in north London, but there are already plenty of options in place should the bosses decide to make a change in management.
Manager wants to replace Frank at Spurs
Rumors have been circulating over the past few weeks about Frank’s departure, with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola being named as one of the candidates to replace him.
The Spaniard is said to be admired by those behind the scenes in north London and his current contract with Vitality is set to expire at the end of this season.
These factors could lead to a move in the near future, and it is currently unclear whether he will remain on the south coast beyond the end of 2025/26.
However, he is not the only option being considered by Lilywhites bosses at the moment, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino also putting his name forward for the role.
According to Football Insider, the Argentine is keen to return to the job after five years in charge during Daniel Levy’s tenure as president.
However, the report also states that the 53-year-old is set to lead the U.S. national team at the next World Cup and a deal may have to wait until the summer.
Why Pochettino is the perfect fit for Spurs’ Gallagher
We are already halfway through the transfer window and Spurs have only made one senior addition so far, with Conor Gallagher joining from Atletico Madrid for £34m.
The deal allows the club to strengthen its central midfield department after Rodrigo Bentancur is sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old has Premier League experience following various spells at Crystal Palace, while also cementing his place in the first team at Chelsea.
However, it remains to be seen who his long-term partner at the base of the midfield will be, and Frank will need to find the best solution in such an area.
Given the manager’s own situation, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to make the most of his new signing, and his transfer could be entirely in Pochettino’s hands.
Not only does the Argentine know the club inside and out, but the addition of Gallagher, who previously used him at Chelsea, will help him in every aspect of his quest for success.
The pair formed a great partnership at Stamford Bridge, with the midfielder producing perhaps the best results of his career to date.
Manager Pochettino, who has been described as a “genius” by Alex Keeble, has selected the 25-year-old to play in all but one Premier League game in the 2023-24 season, demonstrating his importance to the manager.
As a result of the faith shown in him, Gallagher scored five goals and provided seven assists in England’s top flight, the highest such tally in any season of his career in this division.
Conor Gallagher – PL statistics (2023/24) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | 37 |
goals and assists | 12 |
Pass accuracy | 92% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.6 |
The tackle I made | 2.5 |
Number of intercepts | 1.3 |
won a duel | 6.1 |
recovery has taken place | 6.3 |
Statistics by FotMob | |
His basic statistics highlight how impressive he has been under the Argentine manager, and a potential reunion of the duo would greatly benefit the Lilywhites in the coming years.
Gallagher completed 92% of the passes he attempted that season, creating 1.6 chances per 90, and then displayed his incredible ball-playing ability.
But he was just as impressive without the ball, making 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions, making him the perfect box-to-box option.
There’s no denying that Mr Frank faces huge challenges in keeping his job in North London, and the pressure will only increase on his shoulders as his term begins.
Pochettino appears to be one of the likely candidates to take over the reins, potentially leading to a fairy-tale comeback for the Argentine in the near future.
Such a move would allow Gallagher to reach his full potential with the Lilywhites and could see him enjoy the best period of his professional career under his tutelage.
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