Football FanCast

Before the Ange Postecoglou era, the permanent manager of Tottenham Hotspur was none other than Antonio Conte.

Now, it would be fair to say that for all of his success with other teams, the Italian icon didn't fare too well in North London, as while he secured Champions League football for the club in his first season, he didn't even make it to the end of his second one in charge.

The former Chelsea boss was infamous for playing a pragmatic, boarding-on-tedious style of football that couldn't be any more different to the one Spurs try to play today.

However, while it didn't quite work out for Conte, he did leave the club with a points per game average of 1.78 and now looks on track to win Serie A with Napoli, so recent news linking the Lilywhites with another manager who could easily be compared to the 55-year-old should excite fans.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the manager in question, it's worth looking at some of the other managers linked with the Tottenham job in recent weeks, like Brentford's Thomas Frank and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

The former has done an exemplary job in West London, taking the Bees from a Championship side and turning them into one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League, who still score goals for fun, even in the absence of former star striker Ivan Toney.

In a similar vein, Iraola took charge of the Cherries when they looked destined to return to the second tier last season and has transformed them into a team now fighting for a place in Europe next year.

However, a club like Spurs requires someone who can do more than improve the fortunes of smaller teams, which helps to explain their interest in Simone Inzaghi.

According to reports from Italy, the idea of the Italian coach moving to North London in the summer is 'gaining traction' and could soon develop 'into something concrete.'

The report claims that a combination of a Premier League salary and his project at Inter coming to an end could convince the talented manager to move to N17 at the end of the season.

While it could be a challenging deal to get over the line, Spurs must do all they can to secure Inzaghi's services. Not only would he be a monumental upgrade on Postecoglou, but he could be a more successful Conte 2.0.

How Inzaghi compares to Postecoglou

Okay, so before we compare Inzaghi to Postecoglou, why could his arrival be described as Conte 2.0?

Well, simply put, he'd be joining Tottenham from Inter Milan, a fellow Italian and, crucially, while he's not quite as defensively minded as the former Spurs boss, he can be just as pragmatic.

Moreover, and this is one of the big advantages he has over Ange, the 49-year-old is a proven winner in a top-five league, having led Lazio to the Coppa Italia in 18/19 and then winning another two with Inter Milan, as well as leading them to the Scudetto last season.

In contrast, all the Australian's successes have come in smaller leagues, be that in Scotland, Japan or Australia, and while that is not meant to demean his achievements, it is undeniable that the pressure to succeed in those leagues is far less intense than it is here or in Italy, for example.

Moreover, when we compare the two managers' records at their current sides, it's abundantly clear who is doing the better job.

For example, since taking the job at the San Siro, the "phenomenal" Italian, as dubbed by Felipe Salvador Caicedo, has overseen 138 wins, 40 draws and 34 losses, which comes out to an average of 2.14 points per game.

In contrast, the former Celtic boss has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses since taking charge of the North Londoners, which comes out to a rather paltry 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, Inzaghi has shown himself to be tactically flexible, has won major trophies and has far more experience in a top-five league than Postecoglou, so if Spurs can hire him this summer, they should.

It now feels more like a matter of when and not if Ange Postecoglou is relieved of his duties as Tottenham Hotspur manager.

The Australian coach has done well enough in the Europa League this year and stands one game away from the final, but in the Premier League, they sit in 16th place with 19 defeats to their name.

Understandably, then, there have been numerous reports in recent weeks linking a number of top-class managers with the club, with Andoni Iraola being one of the most notable.

Yet, while the Spaniard would likely do a brilliant job, a recent report has now linked the North Londoners with an even better candidate.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the manager in question, it's worth looking at a couple of the other names that have been linked with the Tottenham job in recent weeks, such as Niko Kovač and Oliver Glasner.

The former would be difficult to take away from Borussia Dortmund, but it would almost certainly be worth the effort, as not only has he turned the side around, but he's also got an impressive track record of winning major silverware with Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Interestingly, Glasner has also got a track record of success with Frankfurt, winning the Europa League with them in 2022, and on top of that, he's led Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final this season, which would have been unthinkable when he took over.

Yet, to be comfortably described as 'far better than Iraola,' Spurs potential hire would have had to do something even bigger than that in recent years, which is where Xavi Hernández comes in.

According to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in hiring the former Barcelona boss.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that German giants Bayer Leverkusen and Saudi Pro-League side Al Hilal are also keen on the Spaniard.

As he's currently unemployed, the World Cup winner has the luxury of joining whichever side he wants, so Daniel Levy and Co should do what they can to convince him, as he'd be an even better hire than Iraola.

Why Xavi would be a better hire than Iraola

So, if the decision Spurs have to make in the summer is between Xavi and Iraola, why should they go with the former?

First and foremost, while the Bournemouth manager did a great job getting Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga and has turned the Cherries into an upper mid-table Premier League side, he has no experience managing a huge club.

Moreover, this lack of experience at the top means we have no idea how he'd cope with the added pressure to get over the line in competitions.

In contrast, the former Barça boss led his former side to the title and Spanish in 22/23, which was their first in four years.

On top of that, when you compare their recent records, it further makes the case for the league winner, whom Joan Laporta dubbed "the best manager in the world."

For example, he won 91 games in charge of the Catalan giants, drew 23, lost 29 and averaged 2.07 points per game, while the Cherries boss has won 34 games, drawn 20 and lost 30 since taking the job on the south coast, which comes out to 1.45 points per game.

Ultimately, while Iraola would be a good hire for Spurs, Xavi has the experience and record to suggest he'd be an even better one.

Tottenham Hotspur are now prepared to shell out a significant sum for one "impressive" forward wanted by Bayern Munich, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange doing their homework ahead of the summer window.

Tottenham preparing for Bodo/Glimt with Europa League final at stake

Carrying a 3-1 lead into their Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, the north Londoners have a major chance to seal their place in the final and potentially clinch a first major trophy in 17 years.

Uncertainty still surrounds the long-term future of manager Ange Postecoglou, but if the Australian does end up departing N17, he'll be determined to end his two-year stay on a major high, following the tactician's early-season suggestion that he always wins trophies during his second term in charge.

Some bad news for Spurs is that star midfielder James Maddison will be absent from their semi-final clash and most likely the final, with the England international sustaining a serious knee injury.

Postecoglou has some key decisions to make in regard to who starts Thursday's vital clash in Norway, and their London derby draw against West Ham over the weekend served as an audition for potential starters.

"The beauty about today was that a lot of our guys who haven't played a lot of minutes recently, we've got some real meaningful minutes and I thought we did well on the day," said Postecoglou after Tottenham's 1-1 draw against West Ham.

"It's important for Deki to play. He's missed so much football with his injury, and he's just getting back into some rhythm.

"Pape, Archie Gray, the two wingers, Mathys and guys like Djed and Kevin, I just think it's really important those guys play and have Biss back up again for another 90 minutes and even Richy to play again. It's been a juggling act for sure to try to get to a position where we've got a squad that's capable of tackling what's ahead. We're still cursed with some bad luck along the way, but I was really pleased the guys that got the minutes today."

Tottenham "ready to pay" £25 million-plus for Tim Kleindienst

Following a 2024/2025 campaign riddled with injuries to key men, Levy and Lange must back Postecoglou or any prospective new manager with fresh faces ahead of next season.

Tottenham are believed to be in the market for a new forward, and another name now attracting their attention is Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst.

The "underrated" and prolific German is enjoying the season of his life, having racked up 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, not to mention four goals in six caps at international level.

According to CaughtOffside, who labelled him "impressive", Tottenham are "ready to pay" £25 million-plus for Kleindienst this summer and potentially sign him ahead of Kompany's Bayern.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally keen on one manager to replace Ange Postecoglou, and it is believed the tactician is now becoming more tempted by the prospect of a north London move.

Tottenham share London derby spoils with West Ham ahead of Bodo/Glimt

A season-defining encounter awaits Postecoglou's side on Thursday, and if they can get the job done, Spurs will book their place in the Europa League final, where they will likely face Premier League rivals Man United.

The Lilywhites travel to Norway and face-off against Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their Europa semi-final, carrying a 3-1 lead from their clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they go into the game off the back of a 1-1 London derby against fierce rivals West Ham.

Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Wilson Odobert's opener and first ever Premier League goal for Spurs, but Postecoglou was full of praise for his players after they came away from east London with a draw.

"Yeah proud of the players' efforts," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's 1-1 draw against West Ham.

"It's not easy making so many changes and it's going to affect fluency and even the rhythm of the team. But even the individual players haven't played a lot regularly and it wasn't just the changes, I mean I only made one sub so a lot of them played a lot more minutes than they have recently. I thought the efforts that they put in today were outstanding.

"They were really disciplined and organised. We were disappointed with the goal we conceded but aside from that I thought we nullified their threat as well as we could, and they had some decent firepower up front and I still thought we were dangerous going the other way. So I'm glad the boys get some reward. It's obviously not a win but get some reward for their efforts because I thought on a difficult day they handled themselves really well."

As the Australian attempts to end Spurs' 17-year wait for a major trophy, uncertainty continues to surround his long-term future, following reports that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of Europa League success (The Telegraph).

Marco Silva is now open to joining Tottenham

Many managerial candidates have been linked with the potentially vacant Tottenham job in recent weeks, and one of them is Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The Portuguese's £4 million-per-year contract, which expires in 2026, also includes an £8 million release clause, and it is believed Silva is one of the frontrunners to replace Postecoglou if he is sacked.

Now, Football Insider journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared a fresh update on the 47-year-old's future.

The reporter claims Silva is now open to taking the Tottenham job this summer, and Levy is a firm admirer of the ex-Everton boss, who has impressed at Craven Cottage again this season.

He is currently more likely to be pursued than Andoni Iraola as well, considering Bournemouth are growing in confidence that the Spaniard will commit his future by signing a new deal.

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to make an opening bid of £13m for a Premier League forward, according to a report.

Spurs set sights on new forward

As we approach the summer transfer window, Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a new winger, and they are particularly fond of AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, with the Ghanaian catching the eye in the Premier League this season.

Daniel Levy is now readying a £50m+ bid to sign the Bournemouth star, which would be enough to convince the Cherries to cash-in, and there is a belief that he would be a perfect fit in Ange Postecoglou's side.

With Son Heung-min now arguably in the twilight years of his career at 32-years-old, the need to bring in at least one new winger this summer is exacerbated, and Spurs are in the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are also looking at signing an up-and-coming Premier League talent, namely Leicester City's Jake Evans, who has managed to force himself into first-team contention this season at just 16-years-old.

Such is their level of interest in the teenager, Spurs are willing to submit an opening offer of €15m (£13m), which is considered a significant fee, given his age, although there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United.

Leicester also have no desire to sanction a departure this summer, as they believe he could make an impact in the Championship next season, so it could be difficult to get a deal over the line.

"Very exciting" Evans is one for the future

Despite only featuring briefly in both games, it is very impressive that the youngster has managed to make two appearances for Leicester this season at the age of just 16, and it indicates that he could have a very bright future ahead of him.

Those thoughts are echoed by football scout Ben Mattinson, who has praised the starlet for his finishing ability, while also claiming he could be capable of playing at striker.

The young Englishman has also been prolific in front of goal at youth level this season, netting ten goals in 14 Premier League 2 outings, which also demonstrates that he may be able to play in a central role.

£13m is a large fee for such a young player, but there are plenty of signs that Evans could go on to be a top player in the Premier League.

It's been a rough ride for the Lilywhites this year. The end of the 2024/25 campaign is just one month away, but despite the pain that Tottenham Hotspur have endured, there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel.

Ange Postecoglou made a big claim in the early stage of the season, suggesting silverware may be on the way. Well, even though Spurs are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League with just a few years of the term left to play, they have one foot in the Europa League final.

Despite his polarising time at the helm, Postecoglou may yet leave an unforgettable legacy down N17.

Postecoglou's Spurs legacy

Tottenham have fallen by the wayside this season, of that there is no doubt. However, they could yet pick themselves back up, with Ange's attacking philosophy looking to dig its claws back in ahead of the penultimate hurdle in the Europa League.

He's received a lot of stick for his team's issues across the term, but Postecoglou's reign has unfortunately been characterised by persistent injuries.

Even so, he's managed to create a semblance of offensive quality that was vacant in the years preceding his tenure, those post-Mauricio Pochettino years when things went awry and Tottenham regressed away from their staple flair and fearlessness in the final third.

And it's remarkable that he's achieved this. Long gone are the days of Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in an £86m deal two years ago. The Three Lions skipper became Tottenham's record goalscorer when netting against Manchester City in February 2023, scoring 280 goals across 435 appearances.

His partnership with Dele Alli and Heung-min Son was truly a thing to behold, but Son, now skipper, is the only one still kicking around down N17.

Dele might have endured his share of off-field issues in recent years but he will always be remembered for his prodigious start to life in the Premier League, scoring 37 goals and supplying 27 assists across his first three top-flight campaigns alone.

Son, meanwhile, has long been regarded as a "world-class" forward, as has been said here by former boss Jose Mourinho, with his 127 goals in England's top flight placing him joint 16th in the all-time scoring charts.

Dele and Kane's brilliance felt irreplaceable, and Son's influence and longevity in the Englishg capital too, but Postecoglou's formula appears to have found a new generation of forwards capable of collecting the torch from their Tottenham predecessors.

Postecoglou took on quite a weight when replacing Antonio Conte, but he's succeeded in restoring Spurs' attacking quality, their flair. In fact, he's even moulded the Londoners' frontline back into top shape, with three current stars looking like the next version of the iconic trio.

Spurs' new attacking superstars

Though this has been a campaign fraught with peril, Postecoglou has still managed to keep his attacking identity somewhat intact, with the 16th-placed Premier League side still among the division's top goalscorers.

This is largely down to Dejan Kulusevski, whose energy and creativity have been an invaluable source of respite for a sinking ship. However, he's not done it alone; Brennan Johnson has hit 16 goal contributions in the Premier League alone, despite only starting 23 times throughout an injury-affected year.

Then there's Dominic Solanke, Kane's belated replacement as the focal frontman. Injuries have been the crux of Tottenham's struggle this year, and their club-record signing has very much been a victim of the blows. Even so, he's been a worthy presence at number nine, notching 22 goal involvements across just 34 starts.

The trio, whose combined wages total some £270k per week, have definitely staked their claim for central roles over the coming years, be that under Postecoglou's wing or in a different manager's system.

Having each registered over 20 goal involvements across all competitions, they've proven their attacking credentials, with Son and James Maddison also hitting that mark.

But Son is indeed approaching his twilight in the Premier League, and Ange and co will be well aware that Tottenham need a new attacking lifeforce, one which could revive the feeling that the South Korean provided when alongside Dele and Kane.

Of course, these were attacking superstars capable of firing their way to lofty hauls every year, actually becoming the first trio to hit 20 goals each in a campaign back in the 2016/17 year, when the Pochettino era was in its heyday from an attacking standpoint.

Now, Postecoglou has found new players capable of breaking such records, and though there's been plenty to be desired this year, this certainly bodes well for the years ahead.

Three of Tottenham's brightest stars of the modern age, they may well be reborn through this new batch of talent, one which might just go one further and end this ceaseless wait for silverware.

Tottenham Hotspur star Lucas Bergvall will miss at least the rest of the season and the next round of international fixtures, according to reports in Sweden.

Bergvall injured as Spurs hunt Europa League glory

There's no question the Lilywhites won't have 100 per cent of their focus on the all-London clash with West Ham this weekend, despite the unquestionable morale boost a win over the Hammers would provide.

Ange Postecoglou's side travel to Norway next week with a 3-1 aggregate lead over Bodo/Glimt, knowing if the manager can fulfil his second season trophy promise it would not only rescue a diasastrous domestic campaign but also present more opportunities in the transfer market with Champions League football on offer.

They will have to do it without perhaps their player of the season however, with Swedish starlet Bergvall injured in training and since spotted wearing a protective boot.

Explaining the problem in his pre-West Ham press conference, Postecoglou said he expects the 19 year-old, who has just signed a new contract, to miss most or all of the remaining matches: "Just something you see all the time. It wasn't a tackle, he was on his own, he just went to turn and just his ankle gave away, so it's just one of those things.

"Sometimes life works in mysterious ways and it's denied Lucas the opportunity to play in a big game last night (Thursday). He's been a massive contributor to us, but I've got no doubt he'll come back stronger from that."

According to Swedish outlet Fotboll Direkt, translated by Sport Witness, Bergvall is without a doubt set to miss the entire Spurs fixture list, including a potential all-English Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21.

However, Ange may have underplayed the issue, with this update suggesting the teenager's return is "at least eight weeks" away, meaning he would also miss Sweden's matches against Hungary on June 6 and Algeria on June 10, as well as the opening stages of Spurs' pre season, with a return date expected around July 1.

This would of course be a massive blow for a player who has taken huge strides this season, having featured in 27 top flight matches and 12 more in European competition.

The young midfielder expressed his delight this week after signing a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2031, but will now have to wait until the middle of the summer to continue that journey.

"I worked really hard for this and, with help from my team-mates and the staff, I've developed a lot this season."

As for Ange, he will have to rely on a combination of Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Bergvall's compatriot Dejan Kulusevski to fill the gap against West Ham, in Norway on Thursday and beyond.

Set to return for his second spell behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur, Fabio Paratici has reportedly set his sights on signing a Premier League-winning defender this summer.

Tottenham eyeing back-to-back wins

After defeating Bodo/Glimt to take one step into the Europa League final in midweek, Tottenham now have the chance to secure back-to-back victories in all competitions for the first time since beating Manchester United and then Ipswich Town at the end of February. In a London derby no less, Ange Postecoglou has the opportunity to keep his side in the winning habit ahead of a vital second leg in the Europa League next week.

The Australian spoke about Tottenham's visit to the London Stadium in his pre-match press conference whilst confirming a number of injury doubts, telling reporters: "Dom is not too bad. He is still a bit sore from last night, but we don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously, [Solanke is] a doubt for weekend. Madders, we’re a bit more concerned about.

"He was heading for a scan [on Friday]. We’re just wait to hear that outcome. Sonny is working hard. He’s out on the grass every day. We’ll see how he’s going by [next] Thursday.”

With next week's Europa League trip in mind, it seems unlikely that any risks will be taken by Spurs even as a London derby awaits. Aside from bragging rights over their rivals, the North London club have nothing to play for as they head into their final four Premier League games in a season to forget domestically.

It's become clearer every weeks that Spurs must welcome a number of reinforcements this summer if they are to turn thing around under Postecoglou and the return of Paratici should certainly help on that front. If reports are anything to go by too, the sporting director is wasting no time before setting his sights on key targets.

Tottenham chasing Eric Garcia deal

According to reports in Spain, Spurs now wants to sign Eric Garcia in what could be a cut-price deal given Barcelona's financial struggles and also Paratici's first capture back in the helm.

The former Manchester City defender has endured a mixed spell back in Spain, which included a loan spell at Girona, and could now be on his way back to the Premier League. Spurs aren't the only side interested, however. They reportedly face competition from Girona, Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Como ahead of the summer transfer window - potentially leaving Garcia with a decision to make.

Of course, the Spaniard already knows exactly what it takes to perform at the highest level in England's top flight after he became a Premier League champion at Manchester City. And although the Tottenham challenge would throw up different obstacles, that experience would likely go a long way in North London.

With Fabio Paratici set to return to the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly in constant contact with an impressive defender who's also found himself on the radar of Real Madrid.

Fabio Paratici set for Tottenham return

Having left the North London club in 2023 following a two-and-a-half-year ban by FIFA which he is still serving, Paratici has reportedly agreed to return to Tottenham. The Lilywhites have plenty of work to do this summer and the return of an experienced sporting director may well go a long way towards things finally changing for the better under Ange Postecoglou.

How much room Spurs have to manoeuvre in the transfer window is the big question. Should they miss out on winning the Europa League and, subsequently, a place in next season's Champions League, those in North London are unlikely to have a large budget to spend. After taking one leg in the final with a 3-1 first leg victory over Bodo/Glimt, however, Europa League victory is still very much a possibility.

Many will be quick to assume that a place in Bilbao is now firmly in Spurs' grasp and Postecoglou reiterated that a repeat of his side's performance on Thursday night next week will see them advance.

He told reporters: "Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn't reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it'll be enough for us to get through.

"Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves."

Europa League victory would no doubt help to turn the narrative of their season on its head, perhaps saving Postecoglou's job in the process and even luring top transfer targets to the club.

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are in constant contact with Jonathan Tah over a summer switch following the expiry of his current Bayer Leverkusen deal at the end of the season. The Lilywhites are far from alone, however, with Manchester United and now even Real Madrid also looking to convince the defender into a move.

As Paratici plots his first transfer back, those in North London could end the summer having landed a true bargain. The Leverkusen defender played a pivotal part in last season's invincible domestic double and has impressed once again throughout the current campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur could sign a big-name Premier League star if they manage to win the Europa League, according to reports, with a lot already on the line as Spurs aim to make history by lifting their first major trophy in 17 years.

Tottenham face Bodo/Glimt in crunch Europa League semi-final

Norwegian minnows and this year's unlikely Europa semi-finalists, Bodo/Glimt, stand between Ange Postecoglou and Spurs' first European final since 2019.

However, they would be foolish to take them lightly, considering Bodo/Glimt are in this position for a reason, not to mention fresh off knocking Serie A giants Lazio out in the quarter-finals.

On paper, the north Londoners blow them away in terms of quality, but crazier upsets have occurred in Europe. Postecoglou will be fully aware that his side have a tough task on their hands, with the Australian praising Bodo/Glimt heading into their two-legged tie.

"Yeah, they have been pretty consistent the last few years, obviously the same manager and core group of players, but definitely a distinct style of football that they have stuck to, and they've had success with," said Postecoglou about Bodo/Glimt.

"They've been pretty consistent in the Norwegian league but also in Europe and every game they've played, irrespective of the opposition, they've played some really good quality opposition in Europe and always been really competitive. I think that is very borne from the fact they are very stable, have a clear understanding of how they play their football. It will be a good challenge for us."

Tottenham are in dire need of a successful European campaign after their dire 2024/2025 domestically, having lost an unacceptable 19 Premier League games, with real uncertainty surrounding Postecoglou's long-term future as a result.

Postecoglou could even leave Spurs regardless of their success in the Europa League (The Telegraph), but even if the former Celtic boss is destined to leave N17, winning the competition could significantly boost their hopes of attracting key transfer targets in the summer.

Victory in the Europa League would mean qualification for next season's Champions League, with £300,000-per-week Man United outcast and current Aston Villa star Marcus Rashford on Spurs' shortlist.

Tottenham could sign Marcus Rashford if they win the Europa League

Tottenham are believed to be in the race to sign Rashford this summer, once his Villa loan expires, and the England forward appears to have many options after an impressive temporary stint in the Midlands.

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, the Lilywhites are outside contenders for the 27-year-old as things stand, and Tottenham only stand a chance of signing Rashford if they win the Europa League.

This comes as a pretty intriguing update, and one which adds yet more weight to their semi-final tie. Rashford would be a great addition for Postecoglou or any prospective new manager, but there will be some negotiating to do around his mammoth salary.