logo
Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears

Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears

Yahoo18 hours ago

Tottenham is closing in on the appointment of Thomas Frank as the club's new manager after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou last week.
Spurs took the decision to move forward without the Australian manager, despite the club winning its first piece of silverware since 2008 by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last month. Ultimately, Tottenham's league form cost Postecoglou his job, as the North London outfit finished in 17th position after losing 22 of its 38 Premier League games.
Advertisement
Spurs has identified Frank as the man to replace Postecoglou, and the Danish coach is somebody who Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a lot of respect for.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz medical, Milos Kerkez talks, Darwin Nunez future
READ MORE: How Liverpool should spend $171M if Florian Wirtz transfer collapses
After Frank described Liverpool as "the best team in the world" in January, Slot said: "His (Frank's) opinion means something to me because he has shown at Brentford how well he has done for so many years without spending crazy amounts of money."
Frank's exact quote about Liverpool was: 'We just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time. For me they're a level above the two teams. They're complete.
Advertisement
'Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators. They're so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favorites to win it (the title)."
While Slot had some kind words to say about Frank in January, the soon-to-be new Spurs manager was not alone in receiving praise from the Reds' head coach: Slot also showered the axed Postecoglou with praise ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final meeting with Tottenham earlier this year.
'They (Tottenham) have always been a certain brand of football for me and have a certain identity," Slot said. "I think Ange Postecoglou gives them that identity back completely. Ange is doing great work over there. I hope this is seen a bit more. I also hope, hope, hope that he wins a trophy.
'I'm completely a fan of his team for the Europa League because people always talk about trophies and that it's so important. For his brand of football and his style, it is so much more important and if he can combine that with winning something that would be so good for football in general because people can stop talking about it's too attacking or ­whatever. How on earth can you play too [much] attacking football?'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop brutal snub despite Ricky Ponting's concerns
Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop brutal snub despite Ricky Ponting's concerns

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop brutal snub despite Ricky Ponting's concerns

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has confirmed Sam Konstas and Scott Boland have both been excluded from the starting XI for the World Test Championship final with Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Hazlewood getting the nod. One of the biggest talking points for the Aussies leading up to the final against South Africa at Lord's was who would open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. While Khawaja had nailed down his position, in what is likely his last WTC final, the selectors were trying to find a place for either Konstas or Labuschagne in the side. Cameron Green's return to cricket after injury, and subsequently a return to form, prompted the selectors to immediately catapult him back into the side at No.3. The selectors see him as the future of the Australian batting line-up and his form in the second division of County cricket prompted an immediate recall. With Steve Smith also confirmed at No.4, this meant either Labuschagne or Konstas was set to miss out. Labuschagne has been holding onto his position in the team by a thread in recent months with his form at all levels of cricket a major concern. Fans have also been calling for a change with the Queenslander's form not good enough across the last few years. Although Cummins claimed the selectors have rewarded Labuschagne for helping them get to where they are in the final having promoted him up the order to open with Khawaja. "Cam Green, the last few weeks he's had, coming back in great form, we thought he deserved a spot somewhere in the batting line-up,"Cummins said at Lord's on Tuesday. "We thought three probably suits him best. With Marnus moving, we thought it's one spot up, it's not too different to batting three. He's done well here in England in the past. It's a final, so selectors pick the best 11 for this week." Konstas captured the Aussie publics attention during the summer when he took it to Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG and SCG to help Australia win a tight series. However, his cavalier style of batting divided fans and eventually the selectors. Konstas was dropped from the starting XI for the Sri Lanka cricket tour and was eventually sent home to find form in Sheffield Shield. While he based a number of solid scores, Konstas will once again be on the periphery during the WTC final. While Konstas may have lost his position, Labuschagne has done very little to keep his. Australia's Test No.3 has faced growing calls to be axed for the red-ball test final against South Africa at Lord's with his form dropping off a cliff. Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 with the bat across the summer, after disappointing Test series against India and Sri Lanka. That came after an equally underwhelming previous year for Labuschagne, where he averaged just 27.08 across the summer of 2023/24. And the 30-year-old only managed scores of 23, 0 and 61 in his three Sheffield Shield innings for Queensland after those Test series. One of the biggest omissions from the starting XI was that of Boland. The Aussie quick is a crowd favourite and was player-of-the-match when Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at the SCG in January against India. However, with Hazlewood returning to form in the IPL, having helped RBC win the title, Boland has missed out on selection once again. 'There are some guys where you genuinely say, you know, 'You've done nothing wrong. Don't change a thing.' And that is Scotty. He is just really unfortunate to miss out,' Cummins said. "Joshy Hazlewood comes back in. We know how good he is. The message to Scotty is there's a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next couple of years, and just because you're mid-30s, doesn't mean you know you're missing this Test, and that's one Test off your career. "By having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend all our careers for an extra couple of years. It's really unfortunate Scotty misses this but the message to him is, 'Don't feel like you're running out of time'." Only last month, Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting felt the selectors would lean this way when the move Labuschagne up the order. Although the legendary batter was not 100 per cent convinced Labuschagne should open after his recent dip in form. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks." AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood. SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

Liverpool and Leverkusen in final stages of Florian Wirtz transfer negotiations
Liverpool and Leverkusen in final stages of Florian Wirtz transfer negotiations

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

Liverpool and Leverkusen in final stages of Florian Wirtz transfer negotiations

Negotiations between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen over a deal taking Florian Wirtz to Anfield are in the final stages, with the clubs speaking daily as they try to reach an agreement. Liverpool made an improved second offer for the 22–year-old Germany playmaker last week worth around €134million (£113m), with about €118.7m (£100m) guaranteed. Advertisement This proposal was not rejected as such and talks continue in order to settle on a package that is acceptable to both sides, but Liverpool have no intention to bid as high as the reported €150m (£126.4m) asking price for the attacking midfielder. The discussions — led by Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes — are now mainly focused on the structure and specifically payment terms, plus the nature of any add-ons. A medical has also yet to be arranged. The first part of this summer's transfer window, created for the Club World Cup, has now closed and will not reopen until June 16, giving time for both clubs to agree the finer details of this agreement. The magnitude of the transfer, allied to Leverkusen not specifically needing a trade and Liverpool wanting to work within their parameters, explains why the parties are going into such detail over the situation and it is taking understandable time and patience to find a resolution. There is a level of respect within the dialogue that should produce an amicable outcome for what would be Liverpool's record signing and Leverkusen's biggest sale. There is, meanwhile, a possible departure from Merseyside in the form of Darwin Nunez. Al Hilal contacted Liverpool about the Uruguay striker on Monday and the Saudi Pro League team were made aware about the conditions of a move. Liverpool rejected a proposal worth €70m from Al Nassr in January and that sets a minimum bar if an exit is to materialise. Nunez is thought to favour staying in Europe — Spain and Italy being a priority. Atletico Madrid are among those considering the forward. The 25-year-old has scored 40 goals across three seasons at Anfield since joining from Benfica in 2022. (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Liverpool reach verbal agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz
Liverpool reach verbal agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Liverpool reach verbal agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz

Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement in principle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Florian Wirtz for a reported €150m including bonuses. It brings an end to the saga that will see the 22-year-old German playmaker play for Arne Slot's side next season. Liverpool's latest offer comes just days after it was reported that Leverkusen were expecting a final offer from the Premier League side after rejecting two previous approaches. Advertisement The arrival of Wirtz – who is expected to sign a contract until 2030 – at Liverpool will see two transfer records broken: the record fee received by a Bundesliga club for a player, and a record arrival in the Premier League, beating Chelsea's record purchase of Enzo Fernandez for around €121m. Wirtz scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 31 Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen last season, and 31 goal contributions (16 goals and 15 assists) in 45 games across all competitions. GGFN | Daniel Pinder

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store