Club in urgent discussions to block former Bayern Munich title-winning coach from completing a switch to Tottenham Hotspur after initial contact.
Tottenham’s search for a new permanent manager is set to gather pace this summer, with the club hoping to still be competing in the Premier League when that process formally begins.
Spurs line up managerial targets amid disastrous season
The north London side are in turmoil, and the pursuit of a long-term appointment threatens to become increasingly complicated.
Igor Tudor remains in charge on an interim basis at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having stepped in after Thomas Frank was dismissed in February, just eight months into his tenure. Frank’s record made for bleak reading, with a win rate hovering around the 25 per cent mark, but results have failed to improve under Tudor.
Heavy defeats to Arsenal and Fulham have extended Spurs’ miserable run to 10 Premier League matches without a victory in 2026, leaving them just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Less than a year after lifting the UEFA Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham now find themselves battling for survival — a collapse few could have predicted.
Turmoil behind the scenes
Instability off the pitch has mirrored the struggles on it. Fabio Paratici exited in February after briefly returning from a FIFA ban, only to depart for ACF Fiorentina three months later, delivering pointed criticism of Spurs as he left. The club are currently without a permanent co-sporting director, without a permanent manager, and without a clearly defined football identity.
Tottenham are reportedly intensifying their search for a new director, with Dougie Freedman among the names under consideration. However, the managerial situation may take longer to resolve.
Mauricio Pochettino remains the preferred candidate. The prospect of a return for the Argentine continues to resonate strongly with supporters, and he is understood to be open to the possibility.
Andoni Iraola had also emerged as a serious option following his impressive work at AFC Bournemouth, though indications suggest he could instead commit his future to the south coast club.
Elsewhere, Roberto De Zerbi has been listed among the leading contenders, while some reports have even floated the possibility of a move for former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas.
Dortmund determined to keep Kovač
Attention has also turned to Niko Kovač. Tottenham are reported to have made contact with the 54-year-old, currently in charge of Borussia Dortmund, as they expand their search across Europe.
Kovač has previously expressed a desire to manage in the Premier League, and with his Dortmund contract entering its final year this summer, the timing has raised eyebrows.
However, Dortmund are unwilling to sanction his departure. Despite recent pressure following their Champions League elimination by Atalanta BC — a defeat said to have significant financial repercussions — the club’s hierarchy continue to back their manager and are prepared to resist any approach.
That leaves Tottenham facing a complex situation. While they weigh up their options and continue to pursue their preferred targets, Dortmund are intent on preventing the former Bayern Munich title-winning coach from making the move to N17. Another summer of uncertainty appears to lie ahead.
