Levy ready for talks with candidates after ‘managerial due diligence’
TOTTENHAM are set to step up talks with managerial candidates, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim under consideration.
Spurs have completed the due diligence stage of the process, led by chairman Daniel Levy, and are now seeking to interview contenders to permanently succeed Antonio Conte.
Levy is also searching for a new sporting director following the resignation of Fabio Paratici last month.
Spurs have made contact with out-ofwork pair Julian Nagelsmann, sacked by Bayern Munich in March, and former Spain coach Luis Enrique, and are now seeking discussions with other candidates to narrow down the shortlist.
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot and Burnley’s Vincent Kompany are of interest, while Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou are among the others linked with the vacancy.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso has been in charge of Leverkusen since October but led the club from relegation trouble to sixth place in the Bundesliga and they are preparing for a Europa League semi-final against Roma. Amorim, 38, has established himself as one of the most highly-rated young coaches in Europe after guiding Sporting to their first domestic title in 19 years in 2020-21 and his attacking style of play and preference for a threeman defence should appeal to Spurs.
Amorim is believed to be open to taking the job at the end of the season although his contract contains a significant buyout clause.
Sporting beat Spurs at home and earned a draw in north London in the Champions League group stage before dropping down into the Europa League and eliminating Arsenal in the last-16.
Spurs insist there is no front-runner but Nagelsmann, 35, is widely regarded as a leading candidate, having previously been a target in summer 2021. The German is interested in the role but reportedly concerned about Spurs’s lack of a sporting director.
Nagelsmann spoke to Chelsea last month but ruled himself out of the running to permanently succeed Graham Potter, with the Blues expected to appoint former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has not been approached about returning to north London.
Interim head coach Ryan Mason has thrown his hat into the ring after succeeding Cristian Stellini, and he will have another chance to impress when Spurs host Crystal Palace on Saturday.