Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has been encouraged to do everything in his power to appoint former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann to succeed Antonio Conte as Spurs manager. Former player-turned-pundit Jamie O'Hara believes the German would be an "unbelievable appointment", and described the out-of-work boss as the "best young manager in the world".
After Conte was sacked on Sunday night, Tottenham have reportedly 'made contact' with Nagelsmann over their managerial vacancy after the 35-year-old was dismissed himself that same week, according to Sky Germany. The German is thought to be taking time over a decision about his future despite reports also linking him to Real Madrid - with Carlo Ancelotti rumoured to become Brazil's next manager.
Levy is thought to be aware of how difficult it is going to be to attract Nagelsmann to Spurs, however, given he is likely to have numerous options this summer. O'Hara believes Tottenham should be placing themselves at the very front of the queue in acquire his services ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
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"I’d love Spurs to get Julian Nagelsmann, he’d be an unbelievable appointment," O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport. "He’s a top, top manager. Bayern Munich were mad to sack him.
"He was only one point behind Borussia Dortmund, he had a 70% win ratio, he won every Champions League game and was in the quarter-finals. I think it was a crazy decision to get rid of him. He’s the best young manager in the world and I’d love him to go to Spurs."
O'Hara also claimed that appointing Nagelsmann is Spurs' best chance of holding onto striker Harry Kane. The England international has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, with Manchester United reportedly keen, which could make this next managerial appointment a particularly key one for Levy.
"Harry Kane still has a year left on his contract so he has the power in terms of being able to see his contract out," he added. "He will look at it at the end of the season and Daniel Levy will look at it from a business point of view and say I can’t let Harry Kane leave for nothing, so if I’m going to sell him I need to sell him now.
"If Nagelsmann comes in, they’ve got a better chance of keeping him as he’s a top quality manager and Harry Kane will want to buy into his ideas of how they can play football. But I just don’t know if Kane is going to sign another four-year contract at Spurs, I can’t see it.
"There’s going to be a lot of teams that want to sign him so I think he will probably move on. I can see him lining up at Man United next season. They’re in desperate need of a proper centre-forward; Wout Weghorst is not good enough.
"I don’t think Man United are a million miles off challenging for the Premier League title. A couple more really good signings and they are going to be close to it. If they want any chance of winning the title next season, and the season after that, they have to sign Harry Kane and go all out to sign him."
Failing that, O'Hara said his former club should instead turn to an old flame in Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine was sacked by Tottenham in November 2019 but has been hotly tipped for a reunion following three disappointing runs for the club with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte.
In the years following his exit, Pochettino has not held back when explaining his love for Tottenham and his eventual desire to return. In April 2020, he told BT Sport: "Deep in my chest, my soul, my heart - I am sure that we will cross [paths] again.
"From the day that I left the club, my dream is to be back and to try to finish the work that we didn't finish. We were so close to winning the right trophies, the Premier League and the Champions League.
"Maybe in five years, maybe in 10 years, and now I'm going to conspire with the universe and to throw out the idea that before I die, I want to manage Tottenham again and try if possible to win one title."
O'Hara added: "Tottenham have to go and get one of Nagelsmann or Mauricio Pochettino. That’s it, no-one else. Nagelsmann, for me, because he’s become available, he has to be the number one target. A manager like him doesn’t come along very often, so Spurs should do all they can to try and get him.
"If not, they’ve got to bring in Pochettino, because he knows the club, he knows what it’s about, he’s still got the love with the fans, the fans still love him and I think him coming back would bring that feel-good factor. But how long does that last? If he’s not getting backed, and he’s not bringing the right players in, things can turn sour quickly.
"But for me, they are the only two managers Spurs should be looking at.” O’Hara conceded that no matter who Spurs bring in, a systematic change within the club needs to take place to bring about success.
"The only problem you’ve got if you appoint Nagelsmann is the philosophy and mentality of the club is still the same, because they’ve had top managers in the past – Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino – and they didn’t win trophies. Something’s got to change at the actual football club otherwise it doesn’t matter what manager you bring in, you’re not going to get the results that you want.
"Daniel Levy needs to get the right people in the club with players, recruitment and the manager. The whole mentality of the club has got to be better. Spurs sign too many average players, give them long-term contracts and they aren’t worthy of them or good enough.
"If you want Nagelsmann or Pochettino to come in, it’ll be a tough ask for them to turn the fortunes of the club around. But they are still top managers, so they’ll need to get the best out of the players and get it right. Spurs aren’t a million miles away from it."
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