Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag - a reported target - signs one-year contract extension with Dutch club on Friday; Brendan Rodgers ruled himself out of becoming permanent successor to Jose Mourinho earlier this week; Ryan Mason in caretaker charge
Friday 30 April 2021 22:52, UK
Tottenham are yet to settle on a preferred candidate as they begin making enquiries into a number of potential successors to Jose Mourinho.
Spurs have embarked on a meticulous appraisal of their situation and which direction the club should move into next, and they therefore intend to assess a number of different options for their next permanent manager over the coming weeks.
Sky Sports News has been told not to expect an announcement before the end of the season, suggesting the coaches they wish to speak to are already in a job and must finish their current campaigns first.
A string of names have been linked but Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has already publicly ruled himself out while Erik ten Hag signed a one-year contract extension with Ajax until 2023 on Friday.
Ryan Mason has been placed in caretaker charge of Spurs until the end of the season.
Spurs are deciding what kind of head coach they want to take the club forward - having seen a beleaguered squad fail to impress across two seasons under Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino.
It will be a challenging task with the Spurs job having slipped from being one of the most attractive in Europe to one at a crossroads.
Like most, the club have taken a significant financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic and will not be able to fund any drastic changes in the transfer market - needing to sell to buy.
Spurs also look unlikely to secure Champions League football next season, instead staring at another arduous run in the Europa League, and the club have also taken a reputation hit from the European Super League fiasco.
Interim boss Ryan Mason is confident Tottenham can still attract a top manager to take over permanently.
Mason is in control until the end of the season after stepping up from the academy to take over from the sacked Jose Mourinho.
Spurs have hit difficulties in their pursuit of their next permanent boss, though, missing out on Julian Nagelsmann, Rodgers and Ten Hag this week.
"This is Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. There's always going to be people interested," he said. "We have the best stadium in the world in my opinion.
"And also the best training complex in the world. It's a fantastic group of players and a fantastic fanbase.
"So of course it's going to be appealing. It's a great football club. I'm probably biased because I feel passionately about it. But it's a big football club as well.
"I think there's going to be speculation because of the situation we're in. I don't want to spend too much energy talking about managers, because at this moment in time I'm the one leading and preparing the team and everyone associated with the club has to be pulling in the right direction these next five games.
"We're not thinking about the next manager or who's coming in."
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has admitted he wants to win team trophies after losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City.
Kane is expected to tell Spurs he wants to leave if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season - but will not make a final decision on his future until after the European Championship this summer - where he will captain England.
Sunday's defeat at Wembley means Tottenham's 13-year wait for a trophy goes on with Kane still yet to win a major trophy with them since making his debut in 2011.
"When I look back at the end of my career, these are all the things I'll go over and take in a little bit more, but the goal right now as a player is to win team trophies," he said.
"As much as this is great, I want to be winning the biggest team prizes. We're not quite doing that. It's bittersweet, but it is what it is. I'm proud to win [Premier League Player of the Year], it's been a good season on the pitch."
