Another big name has emerged as a potential candidate for Spurs’ vacant managerial role this week…
What’s the word?
According to Corriere dello Sport, the North London side have held positive talks with Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte over a potential return to the Premier League.
It is claimed that the 51-year-old, who was formerly in charge of arch-rivals Chelsea, has kept the door open despite leading the Serie A giants to their first title in 11 years this campaign.
Conte is under contract at the San Siro until 2023 but reportedly would be enticed by the idea of a stimulating challenge such as Spurs, who have not won silverware since 2008, though he does remain committed to Inter for the time being at least.
Do you want Conte at Spurs?
Yes please!
No thanks!
A serial winner
Given that Spurs had targeted some intriguing options, including Julian Naglemann, Erik ten Hag and Brendan Rodgers, and missed out on them all, Conte is certainly the calibre of manager they should now be gunning for.
Some of the names mooted with the vacancy are simply underwhelming, especially with the Lilywhites on a downward trend. It was only in 2019 that they made the Champions League final, and now they have struggled to make it past the Round of 16 in the Europa League and are out of top-four contention.
This has been something that talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham alluded to this week.
“I look at the lack of goals and think it’s got to get better than that. [Graham] Potter, [Scott] Parker or Eddie Howe – and then I look at Antonio Conte, who’s just won the title at Inter Milan,” he said. “That’s who Spurs should be trying to attract to their football club. If they go with any of the first three, with the greatest of respect to them, there’s no way [Harry] Kane stays.”
The Italian has won a total of nine major honours throughout his managerial career, including a Premier League and FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, something that the aforementioned trio of names can’t even get close to combined.
He has got Inter back to their very best, averaging 2.1 points and 2.03 goals per game at an impressive win rate of 62.2%, which is far above the 52% which saw Mourinho sacked.
Club legend Javier Zanetti, now I Nerazzurri vice-president, lavished Conte in praise in a recent interview, he told Ansa (via CultofCalcio): “This victory was born two years ago when Conte and his staff first walked into our training centre. They brought a top-notch working culture and begun transmitting the correct mindset.”
CEO Giuseppe Marotta also waxed lyrical about the Italian, claiming he’s “transparent” and is a “winner.”
Some Spurs fans may soon forget his Chelsea links as he once labelled Mourinho “a little man” and “fake,” especially as many in N17 were glad to see the back of the man they dubbed a “dinosaur” in his final few months in charge.
Conte has fixed the Portuguese’s mess before, too.
The ‘Special One’ left the Blues in peril before they went onto register their worst-ever finish since 1996, placing tenth. In came the former Juventus boss, who clinched the title in his very first season – some turnaround, and surely a hugely appealing prospect for Spurs.
If Levy wants to get his club back on track, then there cannot be many candidates better than the Italian veteran this summer. He must throw the chequebook at him.
AND in other news, Imagine him & Kane: Levy must deliver next Spurs boss “remarkable” £18m-rated monster…