Four-man ‘attacking’ Spurs shortlist includes Kane favourite

Matt Stead
Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag

Tottenham have narrowed their managerial candidates down to four as they aim to replace Jose Mourinho with a more adventurous coach.

Mourinho was sacked by the north London club last week and replaced by Under-23s coach Ryan Mason, who is expected to lead the first team until the end of the season.

Tottenham are thought to have parted with the Portuguese due to his public treatment of players, while other reports suggest that Harry Kane was the only member of the squad still to support him by the end.

After losing the Carabao Cup final in convincing fashion to Manchester City, it seems unlikely that Mason will be given the role permanently. The Daily Mail do claim there would be ‘a groundswell of support’ for him to be appointed full-time if he can take Tottenham into the Champions League, but they are currently seventh and five points behind the final qualification place.

Chairman Daniel Levy is otherwise drawing up a list of potential Mourinho replacements, which has already been whittled down after it emerged that Bayern Munich had agreed terms with Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann to take over in the summer.

The 33-year-old was considered a premium option by Levy, who aims to find a coach willing to implement ‘a clear attacking direction’ after ‘concerns’ were aired about Mourinho’s methods and style.


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He is also ‘eager to avoid a long drawn out scenario’ and wants to make a decision ‘as soon as possible’ in the knowledge that the European Championships will affect any new manager’s preparations this summer.

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is in the frame, particularly as he would be ‘relatively cheap’ as his contract with the Eredivisie club has little over a year left to run.

Some consider Brendan Rodgers of Leicester as ‘the ideal option’ despite his past comments about the club, but the Northern Irishman is thought to have ‘reservations’.

Ralf Rangnick is available, while Gareth Southgate’s success with England ‘has not gone unnoticed at Tottenham’.

The report adds that Belgium coach Roberto Martinez ‘would be interested in the vacancy,’ but it seems that is not a mutual sentiment shared by the club.

The Daily Telegraph name the same four managers as being on Tottenham’s radar, adding that Southgate ‘is well liked’ within the club and ‘would have at least one high-profile supporter inside the club’s dressing-room’ in the form of Harry Kane.

Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate