Tottenham Hotspur have put Ajax boss Francisco Farioli at the top of their managerial shortlist as their 'ideal' candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou, according to reports - with talk over the Australian gaffer's future refusing to go away after continued shambolic results on domestic soil in recent months.
Spurs lost to Crystal Palace on Sunday in a comprehensive battering by the Eagles, falling 2-0 on home turf to go 17th in the Premier League - which would be on course to record their worst-ever finish in the competition's history. And with Postecoglou walking a tightrope for his job, that has seen club chiefs put Farioli at the top of their shortlist to replace him if he's given the boot.
Ange Postecoglou will be looking nervously over his shoulder
The report by Italian journalist Rudy Galetti via TEAMtalk states that Tottenham consider Farioli to be the 'ideal' candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou ahead of the summer transfer window - despite Ajax blowing a nine-point lead with just five games to go in the Eredivisie table.
Sources have told TEAMtalk that Tottenham are considering sacking Postecoglou once the season finishes, though club chairman Daniel Levy hasn't made his final decision yet.
Spurs will understandably wait until after the Europa League final against Manchester United next Wednesday, with limited disruption to their squad needed ahead of what is their biggest game in almost six years on the continental scene. However, the report further states that Levy has been working behind the scenes to find a suitable replacement for the beleaguered Australian gaffer, who sees only relegated trio Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton below him in the table.
Farioli has become a 'serious name' at Tottenham if they do decide to sack Postecoglou, and having been talked about in Premier League circles, they see his £4.2million release clause as affordable, also fitting into the long-term vision of the club, given that he's just 36 years of age and been labelled as 'one of the best young coaches in Europe'.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Francisco Farioli has seen his Ajax side score 100 goals in just 53 games since joining.
Fabio Paratici, who is returning to Tottenham as a sporting director once his ban is over, is the 'main supporter' of a potential move for Farioli, and it's his recommendation to Levy that has put the former Nice boss at the top of Tottenham's wishlist if they do sack the former Celtic gaffer in the coming week after his poor campaign in the Premier League this time around.
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 15-05-25.