Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham following Spurs' defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby.
Antonio Conte faces an increasingly uncertain future at the club with his deal set to expire at the end of the season. With the Italian yet to pen an extension and the Lilywhites struggling for form, it's said that Tottenham higher-ups are beginning to doubt whether he's fit for the job at N17.
According to the Daily Mail, as quoted by The Express, the Spurs board are becoming reluctant to activate the option to extend Conte's tenure by 12-months. The 53-year-old has won just three of his last nine games in the Premier League, with a place in the top-four looking unlikely.
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Manchester United, who currently sit fourth, are five points ahead of the Lilywhites and also have a game in hand. The report adds that there is an 'understanding between both parties' that extending Conte's stay 'would not be beneficial' if they don't share the same vision.
Conte has a reputation for lifting silverware though he hasn't managed to do so at Tottenham despite significant backing from Daniel Levy. With speculation over his future, Tuchel has emerged as a candidate to replace the Italian - ironically, another former Chelsea boss.
The German showed great promise at Stamford Bridge as he led the Blues to numerous cup finals, winning the Champions League and Club World Cup. And, Spurs may have struck gold; Tuchel has admitted that he used to love Tottenham while growing up as a child.
When asked last season whether he would consider taking on the job at Spurs one day, he laughed before joking about the amount of work he still has to do at Chelsea. Tuchel said: "I have enough to do here [at Chelsea]."
But, in 2016, after Borussia Dortmund knocked Spurs out of the Europa League, he had some kind words for the north London side. Tuchel said: "I just have something to say because as a little kid in my garden when I played I was always a team from the Bundesliga, of course, but there was one game I played with my friends when I was Tottenham Hotspur because I liked the name so much.
"I had not a picture, I did not even know that they play in London and so on. For me to play them in two legs was very special and when what I didn't know as a kid, what I felt today and yesterday, so many friendly people here in around the club.
"The coaching staff, first of all, from the opponent, team and all staff around down in the stadium in front of the dressing rooms at the benches and so on was unbelievable. Such great support, such a good atmosphere and so many friendly people made us feel very, very welcome."
Chelsea and Tottenham supporters will be anxiously waiting to see whether Tuchel's spell in west London will impact whether or not he decides to replace Conte. But, if Jose Mourinho's example is anything to go by, expect the unexpected!
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