Mauricio Pochettino reportedly ‘wants to return to Tottenham’ should Antonio Conte leave the club in the summer.
The future of Antonio Conte is uncertain, with the Italian’s current deal due to run out at the end of season.
Spurs have been hopeful of tying the former midfielder down to a new deal, and while the club have an option of extending his deal by a further year, they do not want to keep him against his will.
According to the Times, Conte is ‘increasingly likely’ to return to Italy in the summer, and they report that former boss Mauricio Pochettino would be keen to replace him.
Pochettino oversaw one of the best spells in the clubs recent history, transforming them into regular top-four finishers, as well as to the 2019 Champions League final.
The Argentine is out of work after being sacked by PSG in the summer, despite leading the Parisiens to the Ligue 1 title, while was overlooked for the Manchester United job who opted to appoint Erik ten Hag.
Spurs are said to be ‘aware of the negativity’ that has come from appointing three pragmatic coaches – Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte – though it remains to be seen whether the club would take Pochettino back.
Firstly, the report says it is not clear whether chairman Daniel Levy would ‘swallow his pride’ to reappoint the man he sacked in 2019.
There would also potentially be an issue arising with an ‘internal power struggle’ and ‘tactical conflict’ with managing director Fabio Paratici.
They add that Pochettino is likely to be a candidate for Real Madrid should Carlo Ancelotti stand down in the summer, while former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel would also be considered by both Spurs and Los Blancos.
