After Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur manager in the summer handed fans a new sense of optimism, but it appears such an emotion is already running thin.
The Dane has now lost four of his last seven Premier League outings in charge of the Lilywhites, which has no doubt cranked up the pressure on his shoulders.
Rumours have been swirling over the manager’s long-term future in North London, especially with the side once again sliding down the table, as seen by their 11th-place standing at present.
It remains to be seen if the hierarchy will be willing to hand the 52-year-old the benefit of the doubt over his recent form, or whether an immediate change will be made.
However, numerous managers have since been touted with taking the reins should the club decide to make a swift dismissal of the manager despite his arrival this summer.
Spurs' number one manager target revealed
Over the last couple of days, numerous outlets have been reporting about a potential change in manager, which has led to Fulham boss Marco Silva being named as a candidate to take over.
It’s been claimed that he’s just one of the options being considered by the Lilywhites, with the 48-year-old already securing a win over Frank’s side in 2025/26.
Silva is also out of contract at the Cottagers come the end of June, which could make any potential deal for his services a cheaper one - with a compensation fee still needing to be paid.
However, it appears as though other targets are ahead of him in the pecking order at present, with former boss Mauricio Pochettino another option being considered by the board.
According to CaughtOffside, the Argentine is the hierarchy’s first choice to take over from Frank should the Dane be dismissed from the role in the coming months.
The report also states ENIC see the former boss as the strongest replacement available, but it’s unclear if the 53-year-old would be open to a return to North London.
Why Pochettino would be perfect for Simons
During the recent summer transfer window, the Spurs board spent a fee in the region of £52m on the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons - but such a move hasn’t been plain sailing.
The Dutchman has already racked up 21 appearances for the Lilywhites, but has only racked up a measly total of five goals and assists across all competitions.
There’s no doubt the 22-year-old has shown glimpses of his quality, as seen against Brentford, but he’s been unable to demonstrate his talents on a consistent basis.
However, Frank has often utilised the youngster in a somewhat unnatural left-wing role in numerous matches, which he no doubt had an effect on his lack of success to date.
Pochettino’s potential return to North London could allow Simons to become the next version of Dele, with the Englishman reaching some incredible heights in North London under his guidance.
The Argentine, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Todd Boehly, gave the attacking midfielder the best years of his career during his time in charge of the Lilywhites, as seen by some of the remarkable feats achieved in the Premier League.
Dele originally joined from MK Dons for a reported £5m back in the summer of 2015, subsequently having an immediate impact in the first-team despite arriving as a teenager.
His first three years at the club saw him register 146 appearances, which led to the Englishman scoring on 46 occasions whilst also laying on 35 assists for his teammates.
During such a period, he managed to win the PFA Premier League Young Player of the Year award on two separate occasions, even becoming a consistent performer at international level.
After Pochettino’s departure from Spurs in November 2019, Dele’s career has never been the same, with the midfielder now currently without a club after leaving Como in September.
His form under the former Lilywhites boss is evidence that he’s able to get the best out of the players at his disposal, something which could happen with Simons should he be reappointed.
There’s no denying the Dutchman has shown glimpses but Pochettino could well work his magic and help the youngster reach the same heights achieved by Dele at the club.
As for Frank, there’s little denying he’s struggled to live up to expectations in the role, which could result in an early departure from his position in the coming months.