Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a new manager is continuing, but it seems that two issues are greatly decreasing the chances of Julian Nagelsmann being appointed. A second source has doubled down on Daniel Levy eyeing a Dutchman who will make an ‘instant impact.’
Nagelsmann, a forward-thinking and progressive coach, emerged as a credible contender to lead Tottenham into the next campaign and beyond. The German is viewed as someone who can bring an attractive brand of football back to north London. However, the Telegraph recently reported that the cost of prising Nagelsmann out of his Bayern Munich contract, which is still active, is making Spurs pause for thought.
Nagelsmann’s prior deal at Bayern did not contain a termination clause. As such, he is effectively on ‘gardening leave’ and is still being paid by Bayern. His annual salary is a hefty €12m (£10.6m), and his deal has another three years to run. ESPN doubled down on the claim that Tottenham is hesitant to pay what’s required to appoint Nagelsmann. A second update from the Telegraph highlighted two further issues.
Firstly, the lack of a sporting director in place is cause for concern for Nagelsmann. Fabio Paratici recently resigned from that position at Tottenham after his appeal to overturn a global 30-month ban from football for financial malpractice in Italy was rejected. Nagelsmann wants to know who’ll be heading up the recruitment and strategy at his next club, and the fact Tottenham doesn’t have anyone in place makes everything an unknown.
The second new issue stems from a difference in ambition when it comes to splashing out for high-earning players. Nagelsmann would reportedly target high earners once appointed, though it’s claimed Spurs would be resistant to signing too many of the type of players Nagelsmann would demand they buy.
With numerous issues clouding a Nagelsmann to Tottenham move, chairman Daniel Levy is exploring alternative options. ESPN claimed Feyenoord’s Arne Slot is a ‘serious’ contender for the job. The 44-year-old is primed to lead Feyenoord to just their second Eredivisie title since the turn of the century. That comes despite Feyenoord boasting just a ‘fraction’ of Ajax’s budget for player salaries.
The comparisons between Slot and Erik ten Hag, another Dutchman, are clear. Ten Hag was a previous target for Tottenham but was snubbed in favor of Jose Mourinho. Levy has learned from his past mistakes and is now considering Slot, who, according to scouting circles, is a manager who could mirror Ten Hag and make an ‘instant impact’ in the Premier League.
Another tick in Slot’s column is the fact he’ll likely rely heavily on transfers from the Netherlands, just as Ten Hag has. Signing players from the Eredivisie can and has often proved cheaper than when buying from one of Europe’s top five leagues. Furthermore, Spurs have found great success when buying from Holland in the past, most notably with Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen.
Other candidates believed to be in the frame, albeit as outside contenders, include Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers. It remains to be seen who will take charge of Tottenham for the 2023-24 season and beyond, but it appears that Levy is casting his net wide and weighing up all the options available to him.