Thomas Frank drops big hint over replacing Erik ten Hag at Man Utd

Thomas Frank has put Manchester United on red alert after saying he might need the ‘challenge’ of managing a big name club. The Brentford boss has long been linked with Old Trafford, the same venue where his side were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Despite the result, the pressure continues to build on Erik ten Hag following United’s worst ever start to a Premier League season.

And now Frank, who last week celebrated seven years in charge of the Bees, has made some telling comments.

On an appearanced with the Sports Agent podcast, the 51-year-old was asked if he tempted by the prospect of leaving to manage a team like United. “Maybe it is a challenge I need to try,” he said.

Frank, who served as assistant coach at Brentford for two years before taking over, has received widespread credit for his work in elevating them to the Premier League. The club were promoted via the play-offs in the 2020/21 campaign, and Frank has since guided them to 13th, 9th, and 16th-placed finishes in their three seasons in the top flight.

However, he did also concede that he had reservations handling about the extra pressure and media scrutiny that managing a more renowned club would bring. “For sure if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better,” he added.

“I think we all know that. It is not something I am thinking about. I have sacrificed a lot throughout my life to reach where I am now. In terms of sacrificing, I missed my children’s birthdays for five years in a row because I was with the national team.

“I have been working 60, 70 hours a week for the last 30 years. I have sacrificed a lot of things. You don’t know how it would be if you walked into another job.”

Despite signing a one-year contract extension in the summer, Ten Hag’s position remains precarious despite the three poitns on the weekend. Failure to win at Fenebahce on Thursday would make it three Europa League games without a win this season.

With Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino having taken national roles elsewhere, Frank will undoubtedly be a contender if Ten Hag is removed. But it’s ex-Barcelona boss Xavi who suddenly appears the favourite to takeover.

According to reports, United have twice made contact with the 44-year-old already to sound out his interest. Chief Executive Omar Berrada is also said to have led a four-person delegation that flew to Barcelona last Thursday.