Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur 'earmark Luis Enrique, Arne Slot as top managerial candidates'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 21 May 2023

Tottenham 'earmark Enrique, Slot as top managerial candidates'

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy reportedly identifies Feyenoord's Arne Slot and Luis Enrique as his top two candidates for a new manager this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has reportedly whittled down his list of managerial candidates to just two names in Luis Enrique and Arne Slot.

The Lilywhites have gone through two interim head coaches since Antonio Conte's explosive exit at the end of March, firstly promoting his former right-hand man Cristian Stellini to the top job.

Stellini had shown promise when stepping in for Conte earlier in the season, but his reign was brought to an end after just 29 days in the wake of a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Newcastle United.

As he did at the end of the 2020-21 season when Jose Mourinho left, Ryan Mason has taken over operations between now and the end of the campaign, and he has opened the door to a permanent role.

However, the 31-year-old has not done himself many favours with just one win from five games in charge so far, and a new face is expected to arrive through the doors at Hotspur Way this summer.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot on April 20, 2023 © Reuters

The likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino were initially linked with the role, although the latter's return to Tottenham was never considered a realistic prospect as he closes in on a move to Chelsea.

On the other hand, Nagelsmann was seen as the frontrunner after pulling out of the Chelsea race, but the ex-Bayern Munich manager is no longer in the running for the Spurs job either.

As a result, talkSPORT claims that Feyenoord boss Slot and Enrique - once of Barcelona and the Spanish national team - are now the two top candidates on Levy's shortlist.

Enrique has been out of work since ending his second stint in charge of Spain last year, stepping down off the back of a disappointing World Cup campaign as La Roja went out to Morocco in the last 16.

Having experienced La Liga, Champions League and Club World Cup success with Barcelona, the report adds that Enrique wants assurances over Tottenham's ambition after 15 trophyless years for the North London club.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot before the match on March 9, 2023 © Reuters

Meanwhile, Feyenoord players are supposedly growing increasingly concerned that Slot will leave for the Premier League after guiding the club to their first Eredivisie title in six years.

Tottenham are believed to be progressing in talks with the 44-year-old, who recently remained tight-lipped on links with the Lilywhites when questioned in a press conference.

Slot remains contracted to the Dutch champions for another two seasons, meaning that Spurs may have to fork out at least £6m in compensation to prise him away from Feyenoord this summer.

The Pride of Rotterdam have every intention of keeping Slot at the club for the upcoming campaign, although the Dutchman can expect to double his salary in the Premier League.

Tottenham's 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday left Mason's side in eighth place in the table ahead of next weekend's trip to Leeds United, where they must better Aston Villa's result against Brighton & Hove Albion to sneak into the Europa Conference League spot.