Tottenham will be stepping up their search for a new manager in the coming days as the club are set to contact Chelsea-linked Luis Enrique, according to a new report. The former Spain boss had been briefly mentioned in the new manager conversations from north London but those talks went somewhat quiet following the surprise sacking of Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann who almost immediately became Spurs' number one target.
Just a week on from the departure of Antonio Conte, Chelsea confirmed Graham Potter had left the club which meant both London clubs were then looking for a manager. The Chelsea hierarchy have laid down considerable groundwork in their pursuit of a new head coach holding in-person talks with both Nagelsmann and Enrique and Spurs now look set to do the same.
According to the Telegraph, Spurs are planning to make contact with Enrique over their vacant managerial position. Face to face talks were held between the 47-year-old and Chelsea earlier this month with Nagelsmann having his own opportunity to present his ideas in London last Thursday.
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A mid-season permanent appointment at both clubs always appeared unlikely given their need to ensure the next manager brought in is the right one. There would have also likely been significant difficulty in bringing in Nagelsmann as any club wanting to welcome him before the end of the season would have needed to pay Bayern a compensation fee.
The young German coach was also said to be keen to take a short break from the game to reflect on what may have gone wrong in Germany. Enrique meanwhile, was of a contrasting opinion with the Spaniard after an immediate management return, according to Fabrizio Romano.
"What I can say for sure is that Luis Enrique wants to return as soon as possible after the World Cup and he’d love to be back at work in the next months, he doesn’t want to stop," the Italian journalist said.
In previous years, Enrique has delivered his stance on managing in England revealing in a 2013 interview with FourFourTwo: "I'd like to manage England at some point," he said. "My wife wouldn't like the weather, she's from Barcelona and likes the sun. It would depend on the team and the football they played."
With that comment coming nearly a decade ago, Enrique delivered a fresh opinion regarding his thoughts on working in the Premier League earlier this year. "I follow above all the Premier [League] because I would like to go to England to work," he said.
"I wouldn't go to any team but to one that could do important things, which greatly reduces the number. I don't put my hopes up, really, because there are many candidates.
"I am lucky because my personal life fills me up. That it takes longer, that no offers arrive, well, it is what it is. I would go to a team with possibilities. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't work in Spain."
At this moment in time it is unclear whether or not Enrique is the priority option for Tottenham. However, given his comments on the need to be at a team that can do "important things", Daniel Levy will likely have to prove to Enrique it is worth becoming Spurs manager despite their current worrying predicament.
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