Football Insider

Tottenham next manager: Andoni Iraola update emerges after new twist

Andoni Iraola looks increasingly unlikely to be appointed as Tottenham’s next permanent manager this summer.

Iraola has been linked with the Spurs job in the last few weeks after Thomas Frank was sacked and Igor Tudor was hired on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

He is rapidly approaching the end of his Bournemouth contract this summer, but their chiefs are confident of tying Iraola down to a new deal.

The 43-year-old is not a frontrunner to be the next Tottenham boss in the summer, with other candidates ahead of him in their thoughts right now, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast.

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Andoni Iraola unlikely to be next Tottenham boss after Igor Tudor

Iraola has led the Cherries into eighth place in the Premier League as it stands, despite losing a host of key players over the last two transfer windows.

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Bournemouth are confident of keeping him on past the end of this campaign, and he does not look set to end up in North London regardless of whether he leaves the Vitality Stadium.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I think there’s growing optimism from Bournemouth that they can persuade Iraola to stay at the club.

“Obviously he is out of contract at the end of the season, and there will be a number of clubs that are looking at his situation, not just in the Premier League but also overseas, especially in his native Spain.

“I’m sure they’ll be doing everything they can to keep hold of him. He was linked with the Tottenham job as well, but it doesn’t seem like he’s among the frontrunners for that role right now.

“If there’s no other possibilities for him, I’m sure that Iraola will be happy to stay at Bournemouth and continue the great work that he’s done over the last couple of seasons.”

Who are the leading candidates to be Spurs’ next permanent boss?

Doubts have already emerged among Spurs fans over whether Tudor is the right man to manage them on an interim basis following their heavy derby loss to Arsenal last weekend.

He looks set to be given until the end of the campaign to make sure Tottenham stay in the Premier League though, but the top UK bookmakers are offering odds on their next permanent boss.

Mauricio Pochettino is currently the favourite to be their manager for the first game of next season, at 11/8, with Roberto De Zerbi close behind at 5/2.

Tudor’s odds of landing the role permanently sit at 13/2 right now, while Robbie Keane is priced at 12/1, Marco Rose is 16/1, and Iraola’s odds are currently 16/1.

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Igor Tudor on verge of humiliating Premier League record ahead of Fulham vs Tottenham

Tottenham are set to travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday as they look to return to winning ways.

Igor Tudor’s reign got off to the worst possible start last weekend as they were mauled 4-1 against Arsenal.

Now, they will be looking to quickly bounce back, but face a Fulham side who are on form and on the hunt for European football.

Therefore, Tudor is at serious risk of being humiliated once again if the Cottagers score at least four times.

No Premier League manager has conceded four goals or more in first two matches

For Tudor, his instructions at Tottenham will be clear – pull the club away from the relegation zone and to safety.

However, little was on show against Arsenal to suggest that this could be done.

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Spurs were sloppy, defensively fragile, and were rightly beaten at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With Tudor’s appointment already being controversial, he will be determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Now, according to BBC Sport on 27 February, if Fulham also net four goals past Tottenham on Sunday, Tudor will become the first Premier League manager in history to concede at least four times in his first two matches.

This perhaps isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds, as the Cottagers scored four times against Man City earlier this season, and netted three times away to Sunderland last time out.

Tottenham’s record vs Fulham explained

Despite traditionally getting the better of Fulham, Tottenham have a terrible record against their opponents in recent years.

Spurs have won just one of their last six meetings, despite winning eight of the past nine before this run.

On top of this, Fulham has usually come out on top, winning four of the last six matches, with the other game ending in a draw.

With the Cottagers beating Spurs 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season, there is now a chance to get revenge.

However, the odds of the North London club achieving this appear slim given the contrasting forms of the two sides.

Nevertheless, it is vital that Spurs at least look to pick up something on the weekend, with the relegation zone edging ever closer as West Ham continue to pick up points.

Sources: Tottenham turn attention to signing new goalkeeper after Guglielmo Vicario sold

Tottenham are plotting a move to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window as they prepare for Guglielmo Vicario to leave the club.

The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Serie A and could be allowed to leave Tottenham after what has been a disappointing season for him.

However, they will not permit his exit unless they have a replacement lined up, with work now ongoing to identify an upgrade on the Italy international.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, there is “no doubt” Spurs know they will need to bring in a new goalkeeper.

A number of options have been linked with the move in recent weeks, with Vicario increasingly likely to move on come the end of the season.

Tottenham eye Guglielmo Vicario replacement

Former Tottenham chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Tottenham are prepared to let Vicario leave at the end of the season.

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Inter Milan and Juventus are both keeping a close eye on his situation and would be prepared to bring him back to Italy, while he would be interested in the move.

Doubts about his recent performances at Spurs have increased speculation over his future, and the club are now eyeing potential replacements.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “If Vicario does end up leaving Tottenham in the summer, they’re going to have to bring in a replacement.

“There’s no doubts about that, they know they will need a new goalkeeper if they’re going to let their first choice move on in the window.

“His performances this season maybe haven’t been at the level Tottenham would have hoped for, it’s been a difficult season for them.

“So they will be looking at their options for that in case they are forced into the market.”

Tottenham set sights on move to sign James Trafford

As part of their plans to strengthen in goal this summer, Tottenham have set their sights on Man City goalkeeper James Trafford, who could be available.

Trafford, 23, is unhappy playing second-fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma and recently made his feelings clear in a revealing interview after City’s FA Cup win against Salford.

Brown told Football Insider that Tottenham are interested in Trafford and have been placed on alert over his potential availability as they eye a new goalkeeper.

Trafford would represent a younger option than some of their other options, with more of a long-term outlook, and is believed to be high in their estimations.

An England international, there are no shortage of suitors for the Man City goalkeeper, and Spurs will face a battle if they are to bring him in.

Tottenham sponsors pulling out amid ‘toxic’ environment, Daniel Levy role revealed

Tottenham will find it tough attracting new sponsors to the club amid their problems on and off the pitch.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states that Spurs are on a “downward spiral.”

Daniel Levy’s departure as executive chairman in September led to changes at the top of Spurs, with Vinai Venkatesham taking control of the club day-to-day.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici left Spurs after the January transfer window, with the club hovering above the relegation zone and in danger of Premier League relegation for the first time in their history.

Tottenham could lose out on sponsorship deals

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Spurs will miss Levy’s negotiating skills in agreeing future deals.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states there are currently “more attractive” opportunities for sponsors in the Premier League than Spurs.

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He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, Daniel was always the master in terms of striking great commercial deals. He was always known as one of the best negotiators.

“I’ve dealt with him myself, and I’ve got full respect for his skills. He was very good. We’ve worked together on different player deals, and I’ve seen him in action.

“But look, I think sponsors are looking at the new stadium. Well, it’s a fantastic facility. It’s got a toxic environment right now. It really is. I mean the club’s in a downward spiral, there’s this leadership vacuum.

“They haven’t quite splashed in the transfer market to bring in marquee players to replace the Son’s and the Harry Kane’s. So really, if you’re a sponsor and the Spurs want top, which they did want, they wanted top dollar for their sponsorship. You’ve got to think, well, hang on, there are other options around right now. And there are other options in the Premier League right now that are probably more attractive.”

Tottenham in James Trafford pursuit

Spurs have joined the race to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, with the 23-year-old unhappy with not being first choice at the Etihad.

With Guglielmo Vicario potentially returning to Italy, Spurs want to strengthen the goalkeeping position in the summer, with Crystal Palace‘s Dean Henderson also mentioned as an option.

Odds slashed: Thomas Frank set for instant Premier League return

Thomas Frank has seen his chances of becoming the next Crystal Palace manager grow in recent hours as he bids to make an instant return to the Premier League.

Tottenham sacked the Dane earlier this month, after an eighth consecutive Premier League game without victory.

The Lilywhites were left just five points away from the relegation zone, and the situation has worsened in the days since his departure.

In Igor Tudor’s first game in charge on Sunday, Tottenham were smashed 4-1 by Arsenal in the North London derby, and have seen the gap to the drop zone cut to four points.

The Croatian will hope to see his side bounce back in the coming days, but the once ridiculous idea of relegation from the Premier League is now rapidly becoming more realistic.

Bookies slash Thomas Frank odds

Palace are set to be without a manager in the summer, with Oliver Glasner due to leave at the end of his contract.

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The Austrian confirmed his intention to leave in a press conference in January, with the likes of Man United and Tottenham linked.

Glasner had been a hero at Selhurst Park after leading the Eagles to a first major trophy in their history when they beat Man City at the end of last season to win the FA Cup.

But a catastrophic few months have seen the 51-year-old’s relationship with the fans completely destroyed.

They chanted and held up banners against Glasner on Sunday, as Palace secured just their second win in 16 matches across all competitions by beating Wolves.

The manager had angered the fans by telling them to “stay humble” after last week’s draw at Zrinjski Mostar.

For now, though, Palace appear keen to allow Glasner to see out the rest of the season. Robbie Keane leads one major bookmaker’s race to replace the Austrian at 2/1.

Frank‘s odds have been slashed to 5/1 in recent hours, however, while Sean Dyche is also a major contender at 5/2.

The stats behind Frank’s horrendous Tottenham tenure

Frank took charge of just 38 Tottenham games before he was dismissed earlier this month.

The Dane had arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium off the back of a brilliant tenure at Brentford, but within weeks, there were issues.

The 52-year-old led his side to just 13 wins across all competitions and lost 15 of them. Just seven of those wins came in the Premier League, and even more staggering, only two league wins came at home.

Palace will very much be looking at his time at Brentford if they are to appoint Frank, but his terrible Tottenham tenure cannot be ignored.

Tottenham’s chances of relegation from the Premier League have almost doubled in recent weeks.

Sunday’s 4-1 defeat in the North London derby has further worsened the situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and there is no sign of a reprieve coming.

Tottenham were battered by Arsenal, with Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both scoring twice to seal the three points for the visitors.

There was small positives for Igor Tudor’s side – Randal Kolo Muani took his goal well, and was unlucky not to make it 2-2 when the referee penalised him for a light push on Gabriel.

Nevertheless, it is a losing start for the new Tottenham manager, who was appointed on an interim basis following the sacking of Thomas Frank.

Supercomputer updates relegation prediction

Sunday’s dismal defeat marked a third consecutive loss in the Premier League for Tottenham, and the worry is that several of the remaining 11 fixtures are not ideal.

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Tudor’s side will travel to take on Fulham on Sunday, before matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Past that, and trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea still remain. And that is not to mention the threadbare state of the Tottenham squad.

Tottenham played the North London derby with 11 senior players missing through injury or suspension, and it showed.

Some of those players are expected to return imminently, but others will miss much of the rest of the season, if not all of it.

Of course, there is the danger of the teams below them, as well. Just four points separate Tottenham from West Ham, and the Irons have lost just one of their last six Premier League games.

Nottingham Forest have not been in as good form, but new manager Vitor Pereira produced a much-improved display against Liverpool on Sunday.

Opta‘s supercomputer retains its belief in Tottenham’s ability to stay up with just a 4.35 per cent chance of relegation, although this has almost doubled in recent weeks.

West Ham remain the favourites to join Burnley and Wolves at 71.44 per cent, while Nottingham Forest have a 23.08 per cent chance.

Igor Tudor keen to avoid relegation talk

Interim manager Tudor is under no disillusion about the situation facing him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Sunday’s performance would have reiterated its peril.

“This is an emergency, an emergency situation, when you need to find fast what suits the 10 plus three players and it’s totally different,” he said after his appointment.

“When I coach I never watch the classification. Maybe it sounds strange. I don’t watch where we are. It’s a process.

“If you ask me what we are going to see on Sunday, I believe that we are going to see something concrete, something good that the people will like.”

Tottenham fans certainly did not get something they liked, but Tudor has at least shown a willingness to push his players forwards and demand intensity.

‘It’s so stupid’ – Ex-PGMOL chief hits out after analysing Randal Kolo Muani footage vs Arsenal

Randal Kolo Muani did not deserve to see his goal chalked off during Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referee Peter Bankes bought Gabriel Magalhaes‘ exaggerated fall on Sunday, 22 February.

With the Gunners 2-1 ahead, thanks to efforts from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres, Kolo Muani appeared to have bagged a brace in the 54th minute, only to be disappointed by the referee’s whistle.

The Arsenal duo would go on to grab their respective braces, handing Spurs their 12th defeat of the Premier League season, leaving them 16th in the standings with 11 games remaining.

Randal Kolo Muani punished as Gabriel Magalhaes’ dive bought

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee was disappointed to see Kolo Muani’s goal chalked off by the referee for a push on the Gunners’ No.6.

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He said: “What the referee has to decide is whether the Arsenal player is backing in. What makes it so stupid in this situation is that we see grappling going unpunished, but something as soft as this is punished.

“No wonder spectators are confused by the quality of these decisions. The player is backing in with the intention of achieving exactly what he’s achieved.

“A push starts with a bent arm, and it straightens – that’s a push. Here, we have a straight arm, and the player is using a degree of balance while maintaining space.“

Igor Tudor has already upset Tottenham fanbase after Arsenal comments

Spurs were second-best to nearly everything in the North London derby, which clearly includes being on the right side of the referee’s decisions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, the new manager is likely to have upset the fanbase the most following his post-match comments about the club’s biggest rivals, labelling them the “best team in the world in this moment”.

It is what most managers are probably thinking after playing against the Gunners, but after watching their team lose 4-1 in their local derby, Tottenham fans do not want to hear this from their new boss.

Tudor has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him, and that has been made even harder after the North London derby.

Tottenham have been slammed for their use of two sporting directors, instead of just having one man for the role.

This is coming from Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider that the policy could cause issues for Spurs down the line.

Both Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange were sharing the duties until the former left for Fiorentina at the beginning of February.

Instead of handing full control to Lange, Tottenham are now hunting for a replacement to maintain their two sporting director policy.

Keith Wyness: Two sporting directors do not work

Tottenham are currently rife with problems both off and on the field.

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Going into the North London derby on Sunday, Spurs are desperate for a result to pull away from the relegation zone.

Speculation is also continuing to persist regarding the Lewis family’s long-term commitment to Spurs, amid rumours of a potential sale.

Therefore, the recruitment needs to be spot on in the summer in order to restore the quality in Tottenham’s team.

However, speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes this could be a challenge with two sporting directors.

He said: “Well, Spurs’ view is that the sporting director position is so broad and so big that they need two people to focus on different skill sets within it.

“My view is, no, I think you keep as few voices as possible, and you have one sporting director, and he delegates below him, and you’ve got to have one person who is accountable.

“I think it’s very dangerous having two people, they could play each other off, and you never quite get to the real story when problems happen.

“It’s all right when success is there; they both want to share in success, but it’s when the problems happen that you never quite know what really got done.

“So you have to have one person who’s accountable. So I don’t like the model of the two sporting directors.

“I think there should be one, and there could certainly be junior people, but there’s got to be a hierarchy with somebody who’s accountable in my view.”

When will Tottenham have a replacement for Fabio Paratici?

As it stands, Tottenham are yet to replace Paratici since he moved back to the Serie A.

According to The Telegraph on 4 February, Spurs have begun the search for his replacement.

However, it is unclear how long this process will take, with the summer transfer window edging ever closer.

Whoever comes in will be expected to help improve Tottenham’s transfer business dramatically, with the winter window being criticised by the likes of Cristian Romero.

Tottenham could soon find themselves under new ownership as questions continue to rise about the Lewis family.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider that he does not believe that the current ownership is committed to the long-term future of the club.

Tottenham have long been linked with a sale despite Spurs’ owners insisting that the North London club is not on the market after Daniel Levy’s departure.

Keith Wyness: Another party will look to buy Daniel Levy’s shares

Despite leaving as chairman in September, Levy still has direct investment in Tottenham due to his 29.88 per cent share in the British investment company, which owns 86.91 per cent of the club.

As a result, reports have suggested that Levy is willing to sell these shares as he looks to end his final links to Spurs.

One potential route would be for the Lewis family to simply buy Levy’s shares and further strengthen their hold over the club.

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However, speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness does not believe this will happen, sparking debate on their long-term commitment to Spurs.

He said: “I think the Lewis family have got to look at this now. Are they looking longer term at a sale themselves? That’s another factor that’s got to be taken into account.

“But certainly, I don’t think the present people that have been touted as being the ones that are going to try and buy the Levy’s stake, I don’t think will be the ones that get it.

“I think there’ll be somebody who will come out from the shadows and will eventually do a deal with the Lewis family directly and get it done under fair terms.

“So we’ll have to sit and wait, but it really depends on what the Lewis family are looking long-term.

“The Daniel Levy share will be a sideshow compared to the bigger picture.”

Summer window could be deciding factor for Tottenham fans

For many Tottenham fans, they will be looking towards this summer with particular interest.

Providing they manage to keep themselves in the Premier League, investment will be expected to ensure they don’t end up dragged into another battle for survival next season.

However, if this does not come, it may indicate that the ownership is not interested in Tottenham anymore, and they may be looking to sell.

In comparison, if they invest heavily in new, quality additions, it may prove that the Lewis family are here to stay at the North London club.

Nevertheless, only time will tell whether the current ownership will stick around at Spurs or look to leave.

Declan Rice has become the laughing stock of the North London derby before Tottenham take on Arsenal on Sunday.

It will be Igor Tudor‘s first game in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 22 February, and what a debut it is for the former Juventus boss, who was appointed just six days ago.

While the Lilywhites are in a relegation battle, sitting five points above the dropzone, Mikel Arteta‘s side are aiming to win the club’s first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season.

Having dropped two points against Wolves, Man City and Aston Villa have both been given confidence of catching up to the league leaders, so the North London derby will be crucial for the Gunners.

The Arsenal players are being accused of bottling the league title to Pep Guardiola’s side once again, and now, many are criticising Rice for his interview ahead of the game.

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Declan Rice accused of having wrong mindset ahead of North London derby

With Rice saying that Arsenal “can’t lose” the local derby, rather than it being a “must-win,” Spurs fans believe the result could go either way, with their rivals buckling under the pressure.

Many fans believe that “another draw is loading,” while another supporter suggested that the Gunners are “there for the taking” when they welcome Arsenal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Rice’s captaincy has also been questioned, with the England international often tipped to take the armband off Martin Odegaard, but Arteta might think twice after this interview.

Igor Tudor has not enjoyed his first week as Tottenham boss

Tudor has been at the helm for just six days – not very long to prepare for a North London derby.

In a rather honest assessment, he revealed that he is “not here to enjoy” but rather “here to work,” with Spurs doing everything in their power to avoid relegation down to the Championship.

Arteta is also under pressure at the Emirates Stadium, in desperate need of lifting silverware, having not done so since his first year in charge, beating Chelsea to the FA Cup trophy at Wembley Stadium.

A lot rides on Sunday’s meeting, and that’s just putting it lightly. Emotions could fly, tempers could spark. Very few would want to be in Peter Bankes’ shoes.