Tottenham have reportedly held talks with a title-winning manager to replace Igor Tudor, and it is now claimed he's made a key demand.
Tottenham urged to sack Igor Tudor after disastrous reign
Tudor is somehow still standing.
After the worst week in Tottenham's recent memory — a 5-2 thrashing in Madrid, six consecutive defeats, the club's worst run in 144 years of history — the 47-year-old somehow survived the immediate axe and will take charge at Anfield on Sunday.
That stay of execution came with the narrowest of margins.
Spurs are one point above the bottom three going into the weekend, and with West Ham and Nottingham Forest both playing, the potential results around them have made the Liverpool trip feel like a genuine crossroads moment.
The Lilywhites could find themselves in the bottom three if West Ham and Forest win, and they lose on Merseyside, which makes for pretty grim reading, even if Nuno Espírito Santo's side face title-chasing Man City.
Just 10 months after winning the Europa League and their first major trophy since 2008, a truly historic moment under Ange Postecoglou, the horrendous slide has been a devastation to behold.
The owners, the Lewis family, are said to be scratching their heads in bemusement at the situation as supporters continue to aim their own frustration towards CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.
Senior players are angry too, and The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has demanded emergency action.
And yet, as of Thursday, Tudor remains in his post — with the board grappling with the messy reality that sacking him brings its own set of complicated problems.
Many names have been touted for the potentially soon-to-be vacant Spurs manager's job, with Sean Dyche believed to be keen on replacing Tudor.
Harry Redknapp has put forward his own willingness to jump into the Tottenham hot seat too, while reports suggest that Spurs have held talks with former striker Robbie Keane.
TEAMtalk reported earlier this week that the north Londoners have spoken to Keane about the job amid his excellent spell at Hungarian side Ferencvaros, with the same outlet sharing another update.
Robbie Keane makes key demand to join Tottenham after talks
The 45-year-old has impressed in his first senior management role, and there is genuine enthusiasm within certain quarters about the prospect of bringing him home.
Keane won the title with Ferencvaros last season, his second league crown after also winning the Israeli first division title with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
He could be a great shout, but there is a significant problem.
Keane is open to returning to N17, TEAMtalk say, and would do so regardless of what division the club finds themselves in next season.
The loyalty is real, and the desire is genuine, but the Irishman wants a long-term contract before fully committing — a permanent appointment, not a short-term lifeline.
Tottenham's current thinking runs in the opposite direction. At this stage, they would only offer a deal until the end of the season, preferring to keep their options open depending on whether they survive the drop.
That mismatch is the crux of the problem. If Spurs stay up, their ambitions for a permanent manager will stretch considerably beyond Keane. If they go down, the financial and structural landscape changes completely. Neither scenario currently suits handing the Irishman the long-term deal he is seeking.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that Keane is not short of interest elsewhere.
Celtic have him prominently on their managerial shortlist as they search for a permanent successor to Martin O'Neill, and that option represents a very credible alternative.
Tottenham's other targets are equally tangled.
Mauricio Pochettino is said to be open to a return in any division, but his financial demands in the Championship would be enormous, while Roberto De Zerbi is a top summer target as well, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Tudor has until Sunday to prove his doubters wrong, but the queue outside Spurs' door is only growing.