It’s a tough pill to swallow for Spurs fans, who had hoped Frank’s prior relationship with Mbeumo would tip the scales in Tottenham’s favour. But in truth, once United’s interest became serious and money talks reached £71m; £65m up front with £6m in add-ons, this was always going to be a hard battle to win. Thomas Frank stays gracious amid disappointment Despite the setback, new Spurs head coach Thomas Frank took the news with his usual calm and class. “Bryan, of course, is a fantastic player,” he said on Saturday. “I have been with him for five years. I think he deserved the move, no matter where he goes. As a player I wish him all the best when you’ve been with a player for so long.” Frank’s comments will resonate with the Spurs faithful—this is a manager who respects his players’ ambitions, even when they diverge from his own plans. But it also underscores the challenge Tottenham face this summer in convincing elite-level players to choose the project in N17 over more “established” giants.