Tottenham will hope to have some clarity on their managerial hunt by the end of this week with Arne Slot‘s representatives understood to be preparing for talks over his Feyenoord future.
Slot is leading the race to become Antonio Conte’s long-term successor and is keen to swap the Eredivisie for the Premier League.
The 44-year-old led Feyenoord to the title with two games to spare, helped by Ajax’s post-Ten Hag struggles under the former Everton centre-back John Heitinga.
Slot’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, is set to take part in discussions with Feyenoord in the coming days and is likely to make his position clear – that he would like the opportunity to speak to Spurs, despite being under contract until 2026.
Pimenta is the most high-profile female “super-agent” in the world and was formerly the business partner of Mino Raiola until his death last year. Slot has said it would be “good for all parties” if a swift resolution can be reached over his next move, having previously confirmed: “My next step will not be a club in Holland. If that is my next step, then I’ve failed completely.
“The normal next step will be to go abroad and I’ve always said the best league in the world is the Premier League.”
Those recent statements echo his departure from AZ Alkmaar, where he was abruptly sacked for his open flirtation with Feyenoord.
It is approaching two months since Spurs parted ways with Conte and they have been impressed with Feyenoord’s progress. They contacted the club’s general manager Dennis te Kloese about becoming their director of football, replacing Fabio Paratici who left Spurs in the wake of his worldwide ban from football – but Te Kloese turned them down.
Only Ajax have beaten Feyenoord for pass completion this season and FC Twente are the only side with a better defensive record. They are also the third-highest goalscorers in the Eredivisie.
Daniel Levy is leading the charge to find a fifth permanent manager in under four years. Scott Munn is Tottenham’s new chief football officer but he does not formally start work until July. Compensation for Slot is believed to be in the region of £6m, with at least two of his backroom staff – Marino Pusic and Sipke Hulsoff – joining him.
Ryan Mason, Spurs’ current interim manager, could revert to his former role in the academy.
Slot, who was considered for the Leeds job when Jesse Marsch was sacked earlier this season, is seen as one of the preferred candidates because his preferred system of 4-2-3-1 is familiar to many of the senior players, while he also operates with a 4-3-3.
That would limit the extent of the squad overhaul needed this summer, though the main asterisk hangs over Harry Kane’s future. Spurs cannot finish higher than seventh this season, which would see them qualify for the Europa Conference League, and could finish as low as ninth, in which case they would miss out on European football altogether.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/f4QkEt6
Post a Comment