Carlton Palmer does not believe that Tottenham Hotspur will sack Jose Mourinho, telling Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that the ex-Chelsea boss will be given at least two seasons to prove his worth in north London.
Spurs have endured a difficult spell this season and fell as low as ninth in the Premier League table.
That has led to reports of interest in rival managers, including both Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers and RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann.
Palmer, though, does not think that Spurs will be looking to sack Mourinho any time soon.
Indeed, reports suggest that it would cost the club around £30m to sack the Portuguese.
Should Spurs sack Mourinho?
Yes
No
While Palmer, an ex-England international, thinks that Mourinho’s position may come into doubt if the club fail to finish in the top four, he expects him to be given the 2021/22 season to shape Spurs in his own image.
He told FFC: “I don’t think Spurs will be looking to relieve Mourinho of his duties. But I certainly think that they’ll be, with the money that’s been invested in bringing Mourinho in, I think they would have been expecting to finish in the top four.
“I don’t know if that’s possible for Spurs this season. If you’re looking at Man United and Man City, Chelsea, they’ve taken a very, very strong manager. And so I see them finishing in the top four. And that leaves one space.
“So what would happen if they’ve finished outside the top four for Mourinho? I don’t know.
“But listen, I’m a big fan of Mourinho and it takes time to build a winning mentality, to build a winning team. And he should be at least given two seasons and I think he will be given two seasons to try and improve Spurs’ fortunes.”
Spurs’ link with Rodgers is interesting, given that one report has claimed that chairman Daniel Levy attempted to appoint him after he sacked Harry Redknapp, but ended up bringing in Andre Villas-Boas instead.
Palmer is surprised by the link, and he has pointed out that the ex-Liverpool boss seems to be touted as a potential appointment whenever a top manager runs into difficulties.
He added: “Well, Brendan Rodgers must have a brilliant agent, every top job when the manager is in slightly a bit of doubt, he gets linked with, he got linked with the Arsenal job before Arteta went in there.
“He must have a brilliant agent for doing that. But I mean, don’t get me wrong, Brendan Rodgers has done a fantastic job at Leicester City.”