Tottenham, fallen to 16th and facing relegation danger, has reportedly chosen a "closer" to fundamentally rebuild the team.
British outlet CaughtOffside cited Italy's Calciomercato on the 14th (Korean time), reporting that Tottenham has placed Enzo Maresca (46) at the top of its recruitment list as the long-term successor to dismissed manager Thomas Frank (53).
Maresca, who is from Italy, is a "proven" coach who led Chelsea to UEFA Europa Conference League victory in May last year and to FIFA Club World Cup victory in July.
However, Maresca was dismissed by Chelsea amid poor results and clashes with the club leadership. It was reported that trust broke down after Maresca held talks with other clubs during the season and demanded a contract renewal that included a pay rise.
Tottenham are currently in the worst possible situation. A 1-2 defeat to Newcastle United on the 11th dropped them to 16th in the league (29 points). They are only five points clear of 18th-place West Ham United (24 points), in the relegation zone.
Tottenham have not made an official announcement, but are reported to have taken the gamble of appointing former Juventus manager Igor Tudor (48) as interim boss until June. Tottenham desperately need a firefighter to steady the team ahead of the North London derby against Arsenal on the 23rd.
European transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said on his social media that Tottenham have agreed a temporary contract with Tudor. But locally there has been concern, calling Tudor — who has no Premier League experience and a fiery coaching style — a "huge gamble."
For that reason, Maresca could also be Tottenham's choice. Despite friction with club leadership, his ability to lift two trophies in a short period ranks him among the top tier for the Premier League.
Some media outlets say Manchester City are also interested in him, but analysis suggests Tottenham have the advantage in the transfer race because they can promise clear authority and resources.
However, Romano emphasized that Tottenham have Maurizio Pochettino (54), the U.S. national team manager, and Roberto De Zerbi (47), former Marseille manager, among their candidates for the next permanent manager and are weighing their options.
[OSEN]