Thomas Tuchel would reportedly be interested in taking over as Tottenham manager should Antonio Conte leave the club.
Conte is currently fifth favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave their post amid a poor run of results and his insistence that he needs to be backed more in the transfer market to get the club competing for trophies.
The Italian manager’s current contract expires at the end of the season, but the club do hold an option to trigger a one-year extension.
Tuchel has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea and replaced by Graham Potter in September, and is now thought to be ready to listen to proposals from clubs looking to hire him.
The Evening Standard claim he would be ‘open to an offer from Spurs’ but he’s ‘not currently be in contact with any potential suitors’.
Tuchel was also been linked with the England job befoe Gareth Southgate committed to stay on until after the European Championships in 2024.
The German manager enjoyed living in London and would be keen to return but is also said to be learning Spanish to open up the possibility of taking on a top job in La Liga.
Tuchel would join Conte in managing Chelsea before fierce rivals Tottenham, but that’s a well trodden path with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy also hiring Glenn Hoddle, Andre Villas-Boas and Jose Mourinho after they had been at the Stamford Bridge helm.
READ: Spurs next manager: Ranking the 19 candidates – all former Chelsea – to replace Antonio Conte
Mauricio Pochettino – who’s been out of work after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last July – has also been linked with a return to Tottenham and is reported to have remained on amicable terms with Levy.
Conte has never been one to hide his true feelings and said earlier this week that he believes other figures at the club should be held to account over the team’s poor form.
“In England I think there’s a bad habit that it’s only the coach [who] talks and explains,” said Conte.
“I’ve never seen the medical department coming here to explain. I’ve never seen the club or the sporting director coming here to explain the strategy or vision of the club.
“In Italy, before every game there’s a person from the club that goes to speak to the media.
“I think for us it could be really better, otherwise there is only one face to explain the situation that I think is better for the club to explain.”
The Italian added: “I think it could be good for the club to be present in the media.
“Not every week, but at least every 15 days or once a month. I think it could be more simple for you to understand, otherwise it can seem [as] if something is a criticism or negative and it’s not the case.”
Spurs have taken just 10 points from the last 27 and are five points adrift of Newcastle United in third and fourth-placed Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
“If there is criticism then we have to accept [it] but it’s difficult to understand because we are doing everything we can in this situation in our possibility,” said Conte.
“The mentality of this team is very strong, but it’s not only about the mentality.”
