Why Thomas Frank's arrival could leave four Tottenham players as big winners

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Evening Standard

·13. Juni 2025

Why Thomas Frank's arrival could leave four Tottenham players as big winners

Frank tried to sign two players now at Tottenham while he was in charge at Brentford

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It is all change at Tottenham following the appointment of Thomas Frank as their new head coach.

The Dane has left Brentford to sign a three-year contract at Spurs and he is joined by four members of staff that will form his backroom team.

Frank is set to get to work immediately and his arrival could have a big impact on several players in the Tottenham squad.

A new head coach means new ideas and a new way of playing, which could change the fortunes of some players.

And, here, Standard Sport takes a look at the big winners at Tottenham from Frank’s appointment…

James Maddison

The attacking midfielder has blown hot and cold during his time in north London.

Maddison excelled in the first few months after joining Spurs from Leicester in the summer of 2023, but his form has been mixed since then.

The arrival of Frank could reignite Maddison’s Tottenham career, though, especially if the Dane elects to play a 4-2-3-1 formation.

That was how Brentford were set up for much of last season and Mikkel Damsgaard excelled as the team’s No10.

Damsgaard was voted the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at Brentford’s end-of-season awards.

Only three players had more Premier League assists than the 10 that the Denmark international managed last season.

Maddison would relish having a similar role in Tottenham’s team and the chance to be the central playmaker could get the best out of him.

James Maddison could have a leading role under Thomas Frank

Getty Images

Archie Gray

Had things turned out differently, Gray could have been playing for Brentford last season and not Tottenham.

The Bees had looked set to complete a £35million deal with Leeds last summer, but Spurs swooped to sign the teenager.

Gray is reported to have even undergone a medical with Brentford, before having a change of heart.

Brentford’s pursuit of the 19-year-old is a clear sign of Frank’s admiration for him and the pair will now get the chance to work together.

Gray had a good first season at Spurs, often filling in at centre-back to ease the club’s injury crisis.

It remains to be seen where Frank elects to play the teenager, but he will surely be a big part of his plans going forward.

Frank tried to sign Archie Gray for Brentford last summer

Action Images via Reuters

Brennan Johnson

The winger is yet another player that Frank tried to sign during his time with Brentford.

Back in 2023, the Bees made a club-record bid of over £35m for Johnson - but it was rejected by Nottingham Forest.

Later that summer, the Wales international would move to Tottenham as part of a deal worth £47.5m.

It is not hard to see why Frank wanted to sign Johnson as he would have suited the direct and fast style of Brentford’s attack.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa scored 39 Premier League goals between them for Brentford last season, with Kevin Schade also proving a dangerous weapon due to his pace.

Johnson has just had a good season for Spurs, scoring 18 goals and, most famously, the winner in the Europa League final.

He may now have a key role to play for Frank by bringing speed to Tottenham’s forward line.

Brennan Johnson scored Tottenham’s winner in the Europa League final

AFP via Getty Images

Pedro Porro

Frank revealed his admiration for Porro last season when he described how the right-back had “Trent-ish offensive qualities”.

The comparison to Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold could be a glimpse into how Frank wants to use Porro next season.

The Dane places a big emphasis on getting balls into the box and Brentford ranked fifth in the Premier League last season for successful open-play crosses. The year before, they were No1.

That should be music to Porro’s ears as he is the best crosser in Spurs’ squad. He completed 34 successful crosses last season in the Premier League, which was 25 more than anyone else at Tottenham.

Frank could give Porro the freedom to influence games from right-back like Alexander-Arnold, while he may have a key role if Tottenham play with a back-three.

At Brentford, Frank was happy to switch to a back-three at times and the wing-back role is one Porro suits.