Spurs blow as ‘huge obstacle’ may block Nagelsmann’s arrival; ex-Bayern boss on ‘four-man shortlist’

Lewis Oldham 27 Apr 2023 2:49 PM

According to reports, a ‘huge obstacle’ could prevent Spurs from appointing former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann as their new permanent head coach.

Tottenham Hotspur have been searching for a new permanent boss since Antonio Conte left the club last month.

The Italian head coach departed following the club’s disappointing 3-3 draw against Southampton. In the aftermath of this result, Conte hit out at his “selfish” players.

Spurs made the bold decision to make Conte’s former assistant – Cristian Stellini – their interim head coach and this quickly backfired. He won just one of his four games in charge and his final match at the club was their dismal 6-1 loss at Newcastle United.

Tottenham have since made Ryan Mason their second interim boss of the 2022/23 campaign. He thinks he is “ready” to take the job on a permanent basis but they are likely to consider more experienced candidates.

Nagelsmann has been consistently linked with Spurs over the past couple of weeks. He is now out of the running for the Chelsea job with them set to appoint Mauricio Pochettino.

The former Bayern Munich boss is now considered the ‘leading candidate’ to join Tottenham. But The Telegraph are reporting that his ‘wage demands’ are a ‘huge obstacle’ to overcome. The report adds.

‘The Premier League club has hit a significant stumbling block in bringing in Nagelsmann as he is proving to be a very expensive option.

‘It is understood there was no termination clause in Nagelsmann’s contract at Bayern Munich who are continuing to pay his wages in full on a 12 million euros-a-year (£10.6 million) contract after sacking him in March.

‘Nagelsmann has more than three years left on the five-year deal he signed in joining Bayern from RB Leipzig in 2021 and is effectively on gardening leave as he is paid.

‘Bayern are due compensation if the 36-year-old joins another club during this season but there also has to be a deal agreed over the pay-off Nagelsmann will expect to receive.

‘So far this is proving to be too expensive for Spurs. There is a limit to what they will pay for Nagelsmann to compensate for the money he will lose on his deal with Bayern who are likely to dig their heels in.’

They claim Nagelsmann is ‘interested’ in joining Spurs, but they have drawn up a ‘four-man shortlist’ of potential candidates.

The report does not reveal all the names on this list, but it is noted that ‘there has been interest in Celtic’s Ange Postecoglu’ and ‘he appears likely to be a candidate’.

There has also been ‘interest’ in former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, but the latter will be ‘difficult to attract’.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot ‘is also likely to be under strong consideration and be on the list.’

Tottenham Hotspur Julian Nagelsmann