Jose Mourinho is becoming increasingly under pressure at Tottenham Hotspur and his latest escapades have done himself no favours at all.
According to the Telegraph’s Matt Law, the current crop of Spurs stars are now losing patience with the Portuguese boss over his scathing criticism and the insinuation that they cannot contend for the top four.
During their rough patch in February, the same reporter implied that Mourinho was fighting for his future, so this will not have helped things in the long run.
Should Levy replace Mourinho with Nagelsmann?
YESSSS!
NOOOO!
And amid both columns, there is a suggestion that Daniel Levy’s top target to replace the one-time ‘Special One’ is RB Leipzig supremo Julian Nagelsmann.
The north Londoners have dropped a whopping 15 points from winning positions this season, are facing an impossible task of qualifying for the Champions League and are out of both the FA Cup and Europa League in embarrassing fashion.
It could all boil down to their Carabao Cup final with runaway Premier League leaders Man City, though with the form they’re in, don’t hold your breath.
But what would Nagelsmann’s Spurs look like? This current squad needs a vast shake-up and the young, progressive gem could be the man to do exactly that – if backed in the transfer market…
Firstly, the 33-year-old’s preferred system appears to be a 3-4-3 of sorts with attack-minded wing-backs the source of creativity through the flanks, whilst the striker has the support of two inside-forwards up top.
A lot of Spurs’ current options would fit right in here.
We’d be very likely to see Sergio Reguilon thrive on the left, in a similar manner to that of ex-City flop Angelino, who has provided eight goals and seven assists in all competitions this term.
On the right, however, it’s clear to see that neither Serge Aurier nor Matt Doherty are cut out for the long term, so Levy could make a free-agent swoop for Lucas Vazquez, who is set to leave Madrid for nothing this summer.
He has thrived in a new wing-back role under Zidane and won’t cost Spurs a penny in terms of a transfer fee. That’s right up the chairman’s alley.
In the middle, ex-midfielder Eric Dier’s ball-playing ability should have him in ahead of Toby Aldweireld, who could return to his home country in the summer, and Davinson Sanchez, who is far too calamitous to trust.
Joe Rodon could also feature as he has a big part to play in Spurs’ future. And they may well be joined by one of Spurs’ top central defensive targets in Milan Skriniar.
Alasdair Gold claims they are chasing a new leader for their backline and Skriniar fits the bill greatly.
There are also doubts over the future of current skipper Hugo Lloris, and even though England shot-stopper Nick Pope has been linked, Levy could find a cheaper alternative in Wolfsburg colossus Koen Casteels, who Nagelsmann would’ve seen in action first hand in the Bundesliga over the past few seasons.
Similarly, Spurs’ chances of signing mooted no.1 target Marcel Sabitzer would increase tenfold should his current boss make the switch. He’d be the perfect compliment to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the middle as the fourth new arrival to the starting XI.
If the north Londoners can keep hold of Harry Kane, then we could see Heung-min Son and forgotten 24-year-old gem Dele Alli just in behind him in a mouthwatering front three.
Attacking midfield duo Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg play this role to great effect.
AND in other news, £31.5m-rated “real liability” must get the Eric Dier treatment after latest blunder