Arne Slot is now the favourite with the bookmakers when it comes to the Tottenham head coach vacancy. Earning rave reviews in the Netherlands for his work with AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, the 44-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to north London ever since Antonio Conte departed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of March.
Rejecting the hotseat at Leeds United back in February and instead opting to stay with his current club, Slot looks destined to make the switch to England at some point in the future. Former Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm believes that his fellow countryman is ready to manage in the Premier League amid links with Spurs.
"I think he's ready. He showed that, because I know the Dutch league well and what he's done before, and I speak with a lot of players in Holland, and over the years at AZ and now at Feyenoord how positive they are about him and the style of play, how he communicates and treats all the players and they have done so well," he told football.london in an exclusive interview.
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"If you see how they did last season and then now they've won the title. He's done an amazing job and for me he would definitely be a good fit."
Known as a head coach who wants to entertain with attractive football, Slot ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to the Tottenham job. Having played in a 3-4-3 system ever since Conte took on the job in November 2021, the potential appointment of the Dutchman would see Spurs revert to a formation they know very well as the Bergentheim-born coach uses either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 setup.
So how exactly would Tottenham line up under Slot and which positions need strengthening ahead of August? football.london takes a look below.
4-2-3-1
One of the first things Daniel Levy and Tottenham need to address in the summer transfer market is the acquisition of a new goalkeeper who can be the club's No.1 for years to come. With a new goalkeeper in the starting XI, Tottenham must also look to bring in a new centre-back to play alongside Cristian Romero as it is imperative they improve the level at the back.
A switch to playing with full-backs would suit Emerson Royal down to the ground as he has spent the majority of his career playing as a right-back, although it would in turn raise questions over Pedro Porro as he is a wing-back and he has struggled defensively at times for Tottenham.
On the opposite flank, Ivan Perisic cannot operate as a left-back and it remains to be seen if the position would bring the best out of Destiny Udogie as he has mainly played as a left wing-back for Udinese. If Udogie cannot convert to the left-back role then Ben Davies or potentially even Sergio Reguilon, if he is in the head coach's plans, could be utilised there instead.
Rodrigo Bentancur, once back to full fitness, takes up one of the two midfield berths, with then players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr fighting it out for the position next to him. Bissouma has struggled in his debut season at Tottenham and looked a shadow of the player who wowed at Brighton but the upcoming managerial change really could bring the best out of him.
Amid links with Leicester City's James Maddison, the England international would be the ideal player to take on the attacking midfield role in Slot's team. One other option would be to drop Harry Kane back slightly and have him operating behind Richarlison.
Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min would then be the wide players in the three behind the striker and provide the creativity and goals needed to make Slot's team work. Perisic would also be another option to play out wide and playing slightly higher up the pitch could potentially work in his favour.
Potential Tottenham XI: New goalkeeper; Emerson/Porro, Romero, new centre-back, Davies/Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, new attacking midfielder, Son; Kane.
4-3-3
Tottenham would not be tied down to just the one formation if Slot takes over as he does also play with a 4-3-3 setup. Exactly the same at the back as if using 4-2-3-1, the key change would come in the middle of the park due to having another body in there.
With one player rather than two taking on the holding role, one of Hojbjerg or Bissouma could play in the deeper role for Slot. Utilising Bentancur slightly further forward, the Dutchman would then need to decide his other option to pair alongside the Uruguayan.
Bissouma could be used there but Maddison, if he joins from Leicester City, also has experience of playing in the role and his attacking nature would certainly benefit the players further forward. If players such as Tanguy Ndombele or Giovani Lo Celso are to have a future at Tottenham under the new head coach, the pair would also be good options in a three-man midfield.
Potential Tottenham XI: New goalkeeper; Emerson/Porro, Romero, new centre-back, Davies/Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur, new midfielder; Kulusevski, Kane Son.
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