Tottenham Hotspur have discussed hiring AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as their new manager in the summer, but the Cherries boss is in high demand, according to the i Paper.
While Tottenham chiefs will already be looking for the perfect candidate to be their next permanent manager, the short-term focus will be on ensuring they have Premier League football to attract the person they decide they really want.
What is clear is that interim boss Igor Tudor won't be at Spurs beyond this season, and he could even go sooner than that given what's happened during his first month in charge of the north Londoners.
Tuesday night's 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid summed up his reign so far, as Tottenham players collapsed when things started to go wrong, with the changes the 47-year-old had made pre-match not working out.
Sitting just one point above the Premier League relegation zone ahead of a visit to Liverpool, Spurs are in genuine danger of being a Championship club next season, and it could stop them attaining manager targets like Iraola.
Bournemouth Looking to Stave Off Iraola Interest
According to the i Paper, both Spurs and Premier League rivals Manchester United have internally discussed appointing the highly-rated Spaniard, while he is also a target for Crystal Palace as they hunt for Oliver Glasner's successor.
One of the main attractions of Iraola, away from his coaching qualities, is the fact that as things stand, they wouldn't have to pay any compensation for him as his contract at the Vitality Stadium runs out at the end of the season.
Bournemouth don't want to lose the 43-year-old though, with him keeping the club in the top half of the Premier League despite losing top players like Antoine Semenyo, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez in recent transfer windows.
They are set to reopen contract talks with Iraola during the upcoming international break, in a final bid to agree a deal for him to extend his stay on the south coast.
GIVEMESPORT revealed in October that Bournemouth sporting director Tiago Pinto wanted the Spaniard to sign a new deal.
Iraola is a Long-Term Tottenham Target
Tottenham will need to preserve their Premier League status if they are to have a chance of convincing Iraola to join them, but he has been a long-term target for the club.
He was on their shortlist before they appointed Thomas Frank from Brentford last summer, and will figure in their thinking if they do stay up.
Iraola appears to be keeping his options open with recent reports that he was set to sign a new deal not accurate, according to the i Paper.
The Spaniard is known for lining his teams up so that they press high, but they are also flexible, with Bournemouth having the sixth-best goals against record in the Premier League this season.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp is certainly a big fan of the Cherries boss, labelling him as 'elite' and 'one of the best managers in the world' earlier this season.
How Would Tottenham Line Up Under Iraola?
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT how Tottenham would line up if Iraola became manager, and this is what it said:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Guglielmo Vicario
RB: Pedro Porro
CB: Cristian Romero
CB: Micky van de Ven
LB: Destiny Udogie
DM: Yves Bissouma
DM: Pape Matar Sarr
RW: Dejan Kulusevski
AM: James Maddison
LW: Manor Solomon
ST: Richarlison
Why this suits Iraola: