Frank Gets Reprieve After Burnley Stalemate as Tottenham Weigh Up £8m Sacking Bill

Thomas Frank's position at Tottenham looks secure for now, despite a disappointing stalemate against Burnley that did little to ease the mounting pressure on the manager.

Saturday's 2-2 draw at Turf Moor came as a relief only in the sense that Cristian Romero's last-minute equaliser snatched a point from the jaws of defeat. Yet the result epitomises Spurs' alarming recent form—just two wins in their last ten outings across all competitions have left them languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

However, Frank's midweek Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund appears to have bought him valuable time. Football Insider reports that Tottenham are willing to grant the manager further opportunity to reverse the club's fortunes, despite growing speculation about his future in north London.

The speculation has naturally centred on potential replacements, with Xavi—the former Barcelona boss—mooted as a possible successor. The Catalan coach has been available since summer 2024 and would represent an intriguing option for Spurs, though journalist Pete O'Rourke cautions against reading too much into the links.

"Let's wait and see what Tottenham decide regarding Thomas Frank," O'Rourke said. "Perhaps he'll turn things around and keep the job. If not, they'll certainly explore options both domestically and further afield. Xavi being a free agent makes him attractive for multiple clubs, but I'm not convinced he's top of the list for either Manchester United or Spurs at this stage."

The financial implications of dispensing with Frank's services have also come into sharp focus. Football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley has calculated that terminating the manager's contract—he arrived from Brentford only last summer—would likely set Tottenham back around £8m.

"His salary is reported at approximately £8 million annually with a couple of years remaining," Plumley explained. "However, most manager contracts contain performance-based termination clauses with predetermined compensation figures already agreed. These typically equate to roughly a year's salary. If those salary figures hold up, you're looking at a dismissal cost in the region of £8m."

Plumley stressed that such payoff arrangements are now standard practice in modern football contracts, with managers rarely receiving the full remaining value of their deals upon departure.

For now, Frank remains firmly in the hot seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though his margin for error has been considerably reduced. Manchester United, meanwhile, continue their search for a permanent manager with Michael Carrick holding the fort in an interim capacity, and Xavi's name has circulated there too—though again, sources suggest the former Barcelona manager isn't necessarily top of their wish list either.