Tottenham Hotspur’s manager search will continue. On Wednesday morning, it was reported that Arne Slot has decided to stay with Feyenoord for the time being. To the delight of the Rotterdam supporters.
This is what Tottenham’s candidate list looks like after ‘no’ from Rotterdam
The British media once again made a state of affairs on Wednesday. The current interim coach Ryan Mason, only 31 years old, would like to become Antonio Conte’s permanent successor. But that chance seems small. The first serious candidate is Ange Postecoglou. The Australian trainer of Celtic is praised for the attractive football and the two national titles he won with it. According to The Independent, he is a serious candidate.
The same newspaper and the BBC report interest that chairman Daniel Levy would have in Luis Enrique, but the Spaniard would bring a considerable package of demands to the negotiating table, which would be a bit of a deterrent in advance. Other names popping up in the English media include Graham Potter, Brendan Rodgers, Julen Lopetegui and Rúben Amorim.
Slot was the number one candidate at Spurs, it has become clear. The Feyenoord trainer announced on Thursday morning that he would stay in Rotterdam and the talks with agent Rafaele Pimenta and general manager Dennis te Kloese were purely about extending his contract. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy himself walked away from the talks, according to Sky. Due to a difference of opinion over the terms of Slot’s buyout.
Five million euros release clause
Slot’s contract contains a clause that says he can leave for another club for five million euros, but it will only take effect from next summer, so that Feyenoord can now ask what it wants. When Spurs were told that Slot would have to cost double that, plus another five million for the people he wanted to take with him, the club decided to pull out. Spurs feel ‘misled’, it sounds in England. The London club has the feeling that Slot has used Tottenham’s interest to get a better contract with Feyenoord.
The bookies have another candidate in mind. Even though Julian Nagelsmann has declined according to all English media, the German remains the candidate that a gambler gets the least in return. In all the guesswork, one thing seems clear: it will be some time before it becomes clear who will line up at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in August.
After Sunday, we do have an answer to the question of whether Tottenham will be active in Europe next season. In the final round, Mason’s team must get at least one point more than Aston Villa. Spurs play away at Leeds United, Aston Villa meets Brighton & Hove Albion at home.
