Tottenham are expected to complete the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach this week, as talks with both the manager and Celtic continued today.
Postecoglou last week emerged as the frontrunner to permanently succeed Antonio Conte but, as reported by Standard Sport, Spurs wanted to wait until after Saturday's Scottish Cup Final before escalating their interest in the 57-year-old, out of respect for Celtic.
Personal terms are expected to be a formality - with reports suggesting Postecoglou will agree a two-year deal with the option of a further year - and talks with the Scottish champions should also be straightforward, with Postecoglou on a 12-month rolling contract at Parkhead.
Postecoglou has impressed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in talks and also has a supporter in compatriot Scott Munn, who knows him personally from their time in Australia and will officially join the Premier League club as chief football officer next month.
Spurs want Postecoglou to start work immediately ahead of a huge summer in the transfer market and one of his first priorities is likely to be discussions with Harry Kane, who is wanted by Real Madrid as a replacement for outgoing captain Karim Benzema.
Postecoglou refused to commit to Celtic after clinching a domestic treble with a routine 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park on Saturday, and he is understood to have indicated to the Bhoys that he wants to join Spurs.
The Greek-born Australian has been on Spurs' list of candidates since Conte was sacked in mid-March, although Levy also held talks with Luis Enrique, the out-of-work former Spain head coach, and considered ex-Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann and Feyenoord's Arne Slot.
LIVE BLOG: All the latest summer transfer news and rumours
Postecoglou has never managed in one of Europe's top five leagues but won five of six trophies with Celtic after joining from Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos in the summer of 2021.
He is committed to playing a high-octane brand of possession and high-pressing football, which has won him admirers across Europe, while he has also been credited with a number of canny pieces of business in the transfer market and his ability to unify clubs.
Postecoglou's coaching experience also includes spells at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in his homeland, and just over four years in charge of Australia, who he led to the 2014 World Cup.
Spurs finished a wretched season with acting head coach Ryan Mason in charge, having dismissed Conte and his immediate successor Cristian Stellini in a shambolic final few months of the campaign.
Levy is continuing to search for a new director of football to succeed Fabio Paratici, who resigned in April after losing an appeal against a global ban from working in football.
Spurs are adamant that Kane, who has a year remaining on his contract, will not be sold to a Premier League rival, although Real are expected to test their resolve to keep the England captain with a formal approach after Benzema left the Spanish club on a free transfer.
