Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to appointing Arne Slot as the club's new manager. Daniel Levy took the decision to sack Antonio Conte in March and is searching for a new head coach ahead of next season.
Spurs had held talks with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann before the German pulled out of negotiations over concerns about the club's recruitment strategy and lack of football director. After guiding Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title, Slot is understandably held in a high esteem by those at Spurs and his actions regarding the reports linking him with Spurs could be telling.
Ex-Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Tim Steidten is understood to be in the mix to join over the summer, with Fabio Paratici's influential position now vacant. With that being said, football.london takes a look at all the latest news regarding Slot's potential move to N17.
READ MORE: Everything Arne Slot said amid Tottenham links as Feyenoord chief claims own Spurs approach
Levy new approach
According to the Telegraph, Daniel Levy has held talks with betting experts over creating a new model at Tottenham to revamp the recruitment process, something that is set to impact the new head coach.
It is said that the chairman wants to follow the methods used by Brighton and Brentford in recent years as a way to revolutionise Spurs' activity in the market.
Levy priority
Daniel Levy is said to be waiting for appointment of a new director before hiring Slot, according to Fabrizio Romano. The transfer guru said on YouTube: "Daniel Levy is still looking for a new director and then he will go for a new manager but internal conversations are taking place for Arne Slot, Feyenoord manager.
"He is really appreciated internally at Tottenham and is a concrete chance for the job.
"With Arne Slot there will be direct conversations with Feyenoord this week to understand the potential conditions compensation needed for him to go to the Premier League.
"Let's keep the names of Luis Enrique, Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim in the list. Sources close to these managers feel that Slot is the big favourite. Lets wait for the new director and for Levy to make a new decision over the new manager."
Slot agrees Spurs offer
Arne Slot has said "yes" to joining Tottenham this summer, according to reports. The Dutchman is now the favourite to land the Spurs gig as successor to Antonio Conte.
According to Dutch paper De Telegraaf, agent Rafaela Pimenta has been in talks with Spurs, and has indicated that her client would like to move to north London this summer.
The Feyenoord boss is likely to cost around £6million to prise away from the Eredivisie club. Slot reportedly earns around £1.7m a year with the Dutch side and could receive a significant salary increase in the Premier League.
Pimenta is set for talks with Feyenoord chief Dennis te Kloese on Wednesday - when Slot's outcome could become more clear.
Agreement expected 'soon'
Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is open to leaving the club this summer amid interest from Tottenham, according to the Evening Standard. Slot is under consideration for their managerial vacancy, though the Eredivisie club insist no approach has yet been made.
The 44-year-old manager turned down Leeds earlier this season before guiding Feyenoord to the league title, but now says he could leave as he looks for clarity over his future.
"Everyone needs clarity quickly," he told ESPN. "I [rejected] Leeds in the winter and now I’m staying or leaving.
"My departure can also be good for the club, but if there is no dream club then I will stay. In football it is commonplace that you talk to clubs. I am not saying that I have done it now, but it is not forbidden that I talk to other clubs."
Tottenham have 'four-man back up shortlist'
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has reportedly identified four potential back-up managerial candidates to pursue in case his pursuit of Feyenoord boss Arne Slot falls flat over the coming weeks, according to reports. The north Londoners are still on the lookout for a new permanent manager in advance of next season, with Julian Nagelsmann having emerged as an early target before ruling himself out of the running last month.
Sky Sports have claimed that Spurs are yet to settle on Slot as their preferred choice, with several other high-profile candidates still in the running to replace Antonio Conte on a permanent basis.
Feyenoord are reportedly becoming increasingly resigned to losing Slot ahead of the new campaign but there is still every chance that he ends up staying in the Netherlands if Tottenham decide to pursue one of their other targets instead. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is also thought to be keenly admired by those in power in north London, while Thomas Frank of Brentford has emerged as another option after excelling with the Bees during their time in the Premier League.
Fulham manager Marco Silva has also been identified as a possible target after leading the Cottagers to a top-half finish in their first season back in England's top flight, although he previously distanced himself from the Tottenham job when quizzed on the speculation prior to Conte's dismissal earlier this year. Meanwhile, it is said that Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is also on Tottenham's list of names after guiding the Bhoys to their second Scottish Premiership title in as many years earlier this month.
Everything Arne Slot said amid Tottenham links
Arne Slot has called for clarity over his future amid links with Tottenham Hotspur as the Dutch media expects him to leave Feyenoord for the north London club if the two can strike a deal.
The 44-year-old won the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord last week and furthered the good feeling within the club as they won 3-1 at Emmen on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points with a goal difference of plus 52 thanks to their attacking football and second-tightest defence in the league.
Read every word Arne Slot has said about Tottenham links here.
Arne Slot response to Tottenham links
As relayed by twitter user @KuipTalk, Slot refused to comment on his future in the Netherlands but did go on to drop a major location hint for his next position. "If my next step is in the Netherlands, I completely failed in the next few years."
Feyenoord stance on Arne Slot exit
Feyenoord general manager Dennis te Kloese says he expects Arne Slot to turn down any approach from Tottenham, according to the Evening Standard.
Slot is under consideration for the Spurs job but Te Kloese insists Dutch champions Feyenoord have not received an approach for their coach. Speaking to ESPN, Te Kloese said: "[Slot] still has a contract for two years. That has been said before and we have not been approached by any club.
"It is up to Arne to say something about that [his future]. But for us there is no ambiguity about it. We assume that he will remain the trainer of Feyenoord.
"He has a contract for two more years and this summer there is no release-clause in his contract, so we can say no if we want. And we have quite a good story here as well.
"Champions League next year, a lot of new players were signed last summer and they proved real good players in this team and their contracts also run for quite some years to come. So we have something here to look forward to."
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