Following Wednesday's UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan, Premier League side Tottenham find themselves in the midst of a crisis. Having already crashed out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, Spurs will now have to endure another trophyless season.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte, the highly-regarded tactician who has won trophies with each of his last three clubs, appears set to leave North London this summer once his contract runs out.
Additionally, with Richarlison unapologetically slamming the manager publicly during the post-match interview, one can imagine the frustration in the dressing room and at the board level regarding the club's current campaign.
With that in mind, Sky Sports reports that Tottenham have already identified a number of potential targets to replace Conte should he depart at the end of the season. While Antonio will wait until then to make a decision, the consensus is that he will leave, and Daniel Levy and Co. are preparing for that likelihood.
One name being heavily linked with the job is Mauricio Pochettino, and for obvious reasons. The Argentine tactician managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019 and had a memorable stint in charge of the club, leading them to a UEFA Champions League football. Some reports even suggest that the players and staff are keen on reuniting with the 51-year-old.
However, while his name will be considered should Conte leave, the club is in no hurry to make a sentimental appointment and rehire the Argentine. Instead, another five tacticians will be looked at, including former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who remains unemployed since being sacked at Stamford Bridge.
Luis Enrique, who is also unemployed after stepping down as the head coach of the Spanish national team, is also on the list. Brentford and Fulham bosses Thomas Frank and Marco Silva are also "in the equation".
The most exciting name on this list, however, is Roberto de Zerbi, the popular Italian who is enjoying tremendous success at Brighton despite only having arrived back in September. While the Seagulls are 8th in the table, the English side have three games in hand over fourth-placed Tottenham and only have a seven-point gap to overcome in order to enter the top four.
| Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Luis Enrique all on the list of potential candidates for the Tottenham job after Antonio Conte departs pic.twitter.com/qMYfTsMJsk
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 9, 2023
De Zerbi has deployed a brilliant style of football at the Amex and is already being eyed by several top clubs. Nonetheless, given how recently he joined Brighton, prising him away might be difficult.
