Tottenham bracing themselves for summer of change

TOTTENHAM face a summer of mass upheaval amid uncertainty over the futures of head coach Antonio Conte and talisman Harry Kane. The club have no immediate plans to sack Conte after Wednesday’s Champions League defeat by AC Milan consigned them to a 15th season in a row without a trophy. But chairman Daniel Levy is ready to act if he feels Spurs’ Champions League hopes are imploding. They are fourth in the table, three points ahead of in-form Liverpool having played a game more. Conte, who was on the end of a stinging attack from record signing Richarlison after the European exit, is expected to leave before the start of next season and the club are interested in reappointing Mauricio Pochettino. Neither Spurs nor Conte are keen to trigger a 12-month extension in the manager’s contract and it would only cost about £5million in compensation to sack him. His exit would placate a clutch of players who are tired of the Italian’s intense training regime, while there are also concerns over the lack of opportunities given to academy players since his appointment in November 2021. Richarlison, who came off the bench with 20 minutes left against Milan, pulled no punches afterwards. ‘I didn’t understand, I was playing well, we won two games and suddenly I was on the bench,’ said the Brazilian. ‘No one told me why. I’m not silly — I’m a professional that works hard every day and I want to play. This season has been s***.’ Pochettino, Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Oliver Glasner and free agent Luis Enrique are among the early options to replace Conte. Levy is understood to see the merits of bringing back Pochettino, who may help persuade Kane to sign a new contract, but there is not a unanimous desire at the club for a reunion. Tottenham fear Kane also has his heart set on leaving this summer. The England captain is entering the last year of his contract, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich interested. Spurs would be reluctant sellers, but know they cannot risk losing their record goalscorer for free next summer. Levy will demand at least £100m for Kane, 29, and would increase that price tag if selling to a Premier League rival. A move to resurgent United appeals to Kane, who is 59 goals away from Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260.