The search for a new manager at Tottenham Hotspur goes on. Following Antonio Conte's departure from the hotseat, suppoerters were drawn to two names in particular - a return for Mauricio Pochettino and then, when he was sacked by Bayern Munich, Julian Nagelsmann.
However, Spurs fans have had to come to terms with the fact that Pochettino will be back in the Premier League, but not at their club. The Argentinian looks set to put pen to paper on a deal to become the new head coach at Chelsea. After weeks of speculation, the Blues have agreed a deal with the former Spurs boss that will see him take over permanently from the sacked Graham Potter, with interim boss Frank Lampard to step down at the end of the season.
Nagelsmann also went out of the running to join Spurs, with no contact made over a deal and that left suppoerters wondering who it could be instead.
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Feyenoord title-winning coach Arne Slot then became the next name to be heavily linked and it looked as if Tottenham were making progress and a deal could eb done. However, Slot has committed his future to the project at Feyenoord, which almost leaves Spurs back at square one.
Pochettino had previously been linked with a return to Tottenham, who are looking for a replacement for Antonio Conte. Spurs had contacted the popular boss while he was still at Paris Saint-Germain, after Jose Mourinho had been sacked.
PSG did not want to let him leave then, but when Spurs were once again in the market for a new manager this season, after sacking Conte, Pochettino's name made the the shortlist, with his appeal now even greater given he is out of a job and no compensation package would need to be paid.
However, it is Chelsea who look to be appointing the Argentinian, rather than Spurs.
football.london understands that Pochettino is expected to be in London to sign the contract and finalise the deal to see him take over at the end of the season. The former Tottenham manager is expected to sign a three-year deal at Stamford Bridge, but a deal has been in the pipeline for a number of weeks, with no announcement forthcoming.
Could Tottenham, therefore, make a late bid to bring Pochettino back to north London? Spurs have not settled on a new name to take over as yet, with Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and now Slot all out of the running.
football.london understands Spurs have not made contact with Pochettino at all during their managerial search, nor are there any plans to do so. While they could agree a deal with Pochettino to hijack Chelsea's move, with only an agreement in place with the Blues and no confirmation, it is highly unlikely at this stage.
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