Chelsea eyeing Thomas Frank as Potter successor

Chelsea are considering a swoop for Brentford manager Thomas Frank, with current boss Graham Potter failing to combat the woes that plague the prestigious Premier League outfit…

According to Football Insider, the Chelsea board are ‘admirers’ of Frank and the job that he is doing at Brentford, and as a result, are eyeing a move should results fail to improve under Potter.

The 49-year-old’s track record at the Gtech Community Stadium, investing in youth and implementing an attractive and fluid style, are considered sterling attributes for a manager at the helm of the Blues ship, and if Potter is sacked shortly, an approach might be made.

The Bees perch in ninth place in the division after securing their survival in their maiden Premier League campaign last year, while Chelsea languish in tenth, 13 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and facing a detrimental end to a season that has seen owner Todd Boehly pump over £550m into the squad.

What would hiring Thomas Frank mean for Chelsea?
Certain segments of the Chelsea support might be reserved in their judgement over a prospective move for the Danish gaffer, given his position with Brentford somewhat mirrors the place Potter had at Brighton & Hove Albion, but the work he has plied with his outfit cannot be understated.

Across the 217 matches at the helm of his current club, Frank has recorded a points-per-match average (PPM) of 1.60, including an impressive average of 1.52 in the league this season.

And utilising an offensive, possession-based philosophy that heaps onus on full-backs marauding forward and contributing effectively to the attacking drive, creating wide overloads, the likes of Ben Chilwell and Reece James could slot into a system that suits them to a tee.

Last season, Brentford finished in a respectable 13th place in their debut top-flight term, boasting 46 points; this year, the west London outfit have already collected 35 points after just 23 matches, and if the trajectory is maintained they could eclipse their previous tally.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp even waxed lyrical over Frank’s efforts, saying: Their football and organisation is incredible. How they recruit, with less money they can create something special.”

That final word is one that tends to follow the great Dane around with reporter Sean Walsh notably having dubbed the manager “special” in a conversation with Ben Mee.